10 years ago - The Times
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Falling oil prices: no plans to reduce surcharge
Consumers should not expect cuts on the surcharge levied on utilities despite plummeting oil prices, the government said, pointing out that the cost of crude is still higher than what had been paid when the surcharge was set at 95 per cent.
“The expectation that the recent relative decreases in the price of crude oil on the international markets should lead to an immediate reduction in the 95 per cent surcharge rate are not justified,” a spokesman for the Infrastructure Ministry said.
The declaration comes as oil prices return closer to double digit figures than they have been since last February when prices surpassed the $100 threshold for the first time, eventually peaking at $147 on July 1.
Since then, prices have been falling steadily, hovering again close to $100 a barrel in recent days. Despite the drop, the ministry said the subsidised rate of 95 per cent surcharge rate announced at the end of June was based on Enemalta’s fuel costs for the period April to June.
What is more, the corporation now has almost hedged all its fuel requirements for this year and half of its fuel storage for 2009.
25 years ago - The Times
Monday, September 13, 1993
Unions ‘incited’ against cost of living agreement
The Prime Minister waded heavily into the smouldering cost of living debate yesterday, charging that the unions were being incited to scupper the tripartite cost of living agreement.
He did not mention any names but must have been for one referring to Labour leader Alfred Sant, who has questioned the unions’ presence on the Retail Price Index Board.
The government, Eddie Fenech Adami said yesterday, was prepared to change the way cost of living was measured, to achieve the most accurate calculation of wage increases possible. The incomes policy agreement, under which cost of living wage increases are decided, was the best ever agreement between the government, trade unions and employers, the Prime Minister said.
Yet, he added, there was someone “who is trying to incite, who is trying to tell the unions the agreement has to come to an end, to change”.
In his muted but unmistakable criticism last May of the unions’ participation in retail price index board workings, Dr Sant had said the unions were giving the government credibility in its claims on the cost of living, which the index was under-reflecting.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Friday, September 13, 1968
Divers to explore war wrecks
Two Royal Navy shipwrecks and a Royal Air Force World War II aircraft lying in deep water off the coast of Malta, are to be explored by a party of eight enthusiasts from the RAF St Athan sub-aqua club whose headquarters are in Glamorgan, South Wales. One of the shipwrecks is believed to be a destroyer sunk by enemy action around 1942 in Grand Harbour, while the other is of an ammunition ship, also sunk by enemy air attack. Neither has been fully explored by RAF divers.
Malta Service family in Malta
The first member of Royal Air Force, Malta, to go to Cyprus under a new scheme, Senior Aircraftman Saviour Cassar, 34, was welcomed by Wing Commander A. Dick, Senior Personnel Staff Officer, Near East Air Force when, with his wife and family, he landed at Nicosia airport.
SAC Cassar, who has serviced for eight years with the RAF, is a photographer and before his posting was with the photo section, Luqa. In Cyprus he is attached to the Near East Air Force Public Relations Office.
This was his wife Sylvia’s first flight and her first trip away from Malta. Like their three children, Franco (eight), Rosella (five and Vittorio (three), she enjoyed the flight.