10 years ago - The Times
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Unions want utility rates postponed to January 1
The Prime Minister will meet unions today to make his counterproposals to their nine-point package, which includes a postponement of the new energy bills to January 1.
The proposals, seen by The Times, were submitted to Lawrence Gonzi on Tuesday during a meeting that followed the protest unions had held against the new tariffs last week. The unions called for an elimination of the rise in meter charges and to push the consumption ceiling from 1,500 to 1,800 units per person per household.
They argued that the government should make sure people were not made to shoulder the inefficiencies of Enemalta Corporation, which are valued in conflicting estimates as standing at between €16 million and €27 million.
They also asked the government to leave unchanged the rent on the three-phase electricity system for domestic users and demanded increases in the eco reduction benefit, to apply more of a consumer-pays progression.
On these lines they requested an increase on the eco reduction system from the present 20 to 25 per cent on the first 1,000 units and from 10 to 15 per cent on the second 1,000 units.
25 years ago - The Times
Monday, November 22, 1993
PN wins nine of 11 councils
The Nationalist Party has a majority of seats in nine of the 11 local councils elected at the weekend, official results show.
Of the 65 seats voted for, PN candidates won 35.
The counting of votes in Żebbuġ local council will continue this morning.
Nationalist Party candidates are in a majority at Ta’ Xbiex (three councillors out of five), Mellieħa (four out of seven), Balzan (four out of five), Valletta (four out of seven), St Paul’s Bay (four out of seven) Qrendi (three out of five), Għasri (three out of five), Fontana (four out of five) and Nadur (four out of five).
All the other 23 seats, where counting has been completed, were won by independent candidates with the exception of a seat at Balzan, which went to Alternattiva Demokratika.
The PN failed to obtain a majority of seats at Żurrieq where it lost heavily to independent candidates there – obtaining just two of the seven seats.
The outcome of the election of nine councillors at Żebbuġ still remains to be seen today.
The voting was put off to 8am today after a discrepancy in votes (reportedly eight missing) was identified after the seventh count.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Friday, November 22, 1968
Governor General at Salina and St Paul’s Bay
His Excellency the Governor General yesterday toured the Salina Bay Hotel, at Salina, and Fondatore and the Winter Garden Hotel, both at Xemxija, St Paul’s Bay.
On arrival at the Salina Bay Hotel, Sir Maurice received a warm welcome from Mr J. Saliba, managing director, and Mrs Saliba, Mr J. Saliba, Mr W. Kind, manager, Mr P. Battista, food and beverage manager; Mr N. Reece Jones, consultant and Mr Alex Saliba and Mr Emanuel Saliba, two of the directors.
Freak storms hit Sydney
Three successive storms bringing wind gusts of up to 66mph hit Sydney causing thousands of dollars worth of damage in many suburbs.
The storms unroofed houses, brought down power lines, uprooted trees and brought down a new factory under construction at Padstow, 12 miles south of the city.
In Denison Road, Arncliffe, five miles south of the city, a four-year-old daughter of a Maltese migrant was watching television when the wind swept a corrugated fibre off the two-storey brick house.
The girl, Lisa Sammut, was not hurt, neither was her mother Pamela Sammut who was with her in the house.