10 years ago - The Sunday Times
Sunday, August 31, 2008
GWU optimistic about shipyards deal
General Workers’ Union general secretary Tony Zarb is optimistic of a breakthrough in discussions over the shipyards, he tells The Sunday Times in an interview today.
The government and GWU are holding talks through a mediator on the privatisation of the ’yards in a bid to reach a breakthrough in talks over retirement schemes and job security for the workers.
Mr Zarb said that during the past week, the union and the government inched closer to an agreement. “Before we know it, we could strike a deal,” he said.
Convicted sergeant back on beat
The police sergeant convicted of assaulting a French woman last year was reinstated less than two months after an appeal court handed down a suspended jail term, The Sunday Times has learnt.
Sgt David Sant was catapulted into the limelight after video footage of him kneeing the 56-year-old woman in the chest appeared in the media. The incident, which took place on May 10, 2007, had initially gone unreported.
25 years ago - The Times
Tuesday, August 31, 1993
Electoral commissioners sworn into office
Seven of the nine members of the new electoral commission took their oaths yesterday at the Attorney General’s Office in Valletta.
The other two are abroad and will do so as soon as they return to Malta.
Headed by chief electoral commissioner Carmel V. Vella, who is giving up his post as Malta’s ambassador in Brussels in October, the other members of the commission are Mr Frans Spiteri, Mr Salvu Brincat, Mr Dennis Cauchi, Dr Ena Cremona, Mr Henry Distefano, Mr Vanni Ganado, Dr Carmel Chircop and Mr Mario Callus. Mr Spiteri and Mr Brincat are abroad.
The commissioners took an oath of allegiance to the Republic of Malta and two oaths of office, one for general elections and the other for local councils. Their immediate task will be related to local councils: the first local government elections will be held in November.
Dr Cremona, the first woman to be appointed to an electoral commission, asked the Attorney General why the oaths were read out in English and not in Maltese, but members of the media could not hear the answer.
Addressing the press after the oaths were taken, Mr Vella stressed the commitment of the new commission to work fairly for the country’s democracy.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Saturday, August 31, 1968
Repair work on Concordia Fjord
Extensive repair work is being carried out on the Norwegian freighter Concordia Fjord at No. 2 Dock at Malta Drydocks. The Concordia Fjord is the only ship whose owners did not cancel their contract to repair at Malta Drydocks during the recent spell of industrial action.
Over 400 industrial employees are working on the ship. A Drydocks spokesman said yesterday that the contract was one of the biggest won so far by Malta Drydocks. Work on the interior and exterior of the freighter is expected to be completed within two weeks.
There is not enough work at the Drydocks at present to keep all the workers fully occupied.
Minister of Health leaves for Commonwealth medical conference
Dr A. Cachia Zammit, Minister of Health, left yesterday for Rome en route to Kampala, Uganda, to attend the second Commonwealth Medical Conference to be held between September 2 and 13.