10 years ago - The Times
Thursday, August 21, 2008
1,050 object to co-cathedral museum expansion proposals
The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation’s museum extension proposals attracted a record number of objections to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority – 1,050 over the past two weeks as opposed to the last highest figure of 120 against Gozo’s Ħondoq ir-Rummien project.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, together with Friends of the Earth, yesterday continued their crusade against the two proposals: a three-storey excavation or, alternatively, a three-storey building in the co-cathedral’s courtyard. According to FAA, the works would spread from Republic Street to Merchants Street and into the entire depth of St John’s Square and street, including the water reservoirs, while the foundation had said they would extend from Merchants Street to the middle of the parvis, underneath the paved area and not touching the underground cisterns.
The excavation proposal to house the Gobelins tapestries would see St John’s Square being dug down to a depth of beyond 11 metres, over three storeys, Miriam Cremona said. She described the result as a “quarry” in the heart of Valletta and highlighted the impact of the trucks and the dust on the World Heritage Site and the co-cathedral itself, tourism and the commercial community. The development only took into consideration the needs of the co-cathedral, she said.
25 years ago - The Times
Saturday, August 21, 1993
Task force set up for new household budgetary survey
The government is planning to hold a new household budgetary survey late this year or early next year, Prof. Josef Bonnici, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance said. “My aim is to have the survey conducted in the best possible way and in fairness and transparency.” A task force has been set up and is looking into how such surveys are done elsewhere. “We are looking at what income coverage they give in other countries and seeing how pensioners are dealt with.” Until now, local budgetary surveys have ignored pensioners. The survey, to be carried out among over 2,000 people and which will take about a year to complete, will be the first since the government liberalised trade. The last one was held in 1988-89. The survey is carried out every five years.
Flour mill owners planning to set up one company
Flour mill owners are planning to set up one company and have been asked by the General Workers’ Union to indicate how this could affect their workforce. There are seven flour mills, located mainly at Marsa, and employing, it is believed, under 100 workers.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Wednesday, August 21, 1968
Two badly hurt in fireworks explosion at Qormi outhouse
The condition of George Debattista, 53, who was badly injured in a fireworks explosion at his outhouse in St Catherine Street, Qormi, on Monday, remained serious. Frances Cassar, 16, who was with Debattista at the time of the incident, was also badly injured. Public Works Department employees were at the shattered outhouse yesterday clearing the rubble. Preliminary police investigations had indicated that fireworks were being clandestinely stored and possibly manufactured in the premises.
Boy injured by paper bomb
Rocco Cutajar, 10, of Żurrieq, was slightly injured when he set fire to a small paper bomb he found in a field.
Youth gangs fight at Sliema
A number of youths were involved in a free-for-all at Għar id-Dud, Sliema, on Monday evening. One of the youths was badly manhandled. Women and children on the benches on the sea front had to leave the area as gangs of youths gathered and a commotion ensued.