Resources Minister George Pullicno this afternoon welcomed the fact that the pitkala (middle men)had returned to their stalls at the vegetable market but defended the fine which he said they have become liable for, saying the government would like to at least partially compensate farmers for the losses they made on Thursday, when the pitkala went out on strike without notice.

Speaking at a press conference on the work of his ministry on the fourth year of this government, Mr Pullicino highlighted the focus which his ministry has placed on restoring and upgrading open spaces, such as squares, the development of parks, as well as the massive programme for the restoration of the bastions, saying they helped generate economic activity.

He said waste management initiatives, such as waste recycling and bring-in sites, were becoming more popular.

On agriculture, he said that more than 8,000 farmers and fishermen had received government assistance for investment that would make them more efficient.

He also announced that Malta had teamed up with Scotland, the Netherlands and Switzerland to present a research project on deep offshore wind farms. The purpose, he said was to ensure that Malta had access to the latest technology for the wind farm which it planned to build on Is-Sikka l-Bajda off Ghadira Bay. He said that wind measures taken from a mast at l-Ahrax had shown that the site was suitable for wind farms.

Mr Pullicino said the government was also going ahead with its project to install as many PV panels as possible on government buildings, 15 companies had responded to a call for tenders and they have now been short listed to three.

The Resources Ministry has announced a revamp of Karin Grech Garden in San Gwann. The Bocci club will be moved elsewhere in San Gwann and a civic centre will be built on the site. The garden will be enlarged. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH-hwLYBbB0&feature=player_embedded#!