10 years ago - The Times

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Deficit soars to €271m

The government deficit soared to €271 this November, €71 million more than the Finance Minister has projected for the end of the year. 

Originally, the government planned to end the year with a deficit of €68.4 million or 1.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. However, in his November Budget speech, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech revised the figure upwards to €200 million. 

Last month, when reacting to October’s official figures, which showed that the government’s plans had already been derailed when compared to the revised target by €43 million, Mr Fenech said he expected to reduce the gap by the end of the year. 

Mepa reform document before Cabinet shortly

Cabinet is expected to discuss a document on the long-awaited reform of the planning authority in the coming weeks. 

The consultation process on the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was launched in July, two months after the election.

25 years ago - The Times

Monday, December 27, 1993

Christmas charity campaign – ‘best ever’

This year’s Malta Community Chest Fund Milied Flimkien charity campaign was yesterday described by the fund’s vice-chairman, Mrs Maria Tabone as the “best one ever”.

Mrs Tabone said the penta-pyramid put up at Freedom Square had helped to attract greater attention to the fundraising activities.

Campaign chairman Alfred Camenzuli said the money collected was immediately sealed and deposited in a bank. It will be counted next month by members of the committee and bank staff. Campaign activities continued yesterday with a swimming marathon at the Neptune’s waterpolo club’s heated swimming pool.

Despite the bad weather, sponsored swimmers swam between 9am and 4pm to raise funds. In the first marathon last year, some Lm2,000 were collected.

Another attraction at yesterday’s marathon was Mr Albert Rizzo’s demonstration of water treading with his hands and feet tied.

Mr Rizzo had broken a world record 10 years ago when he trod water, tied up, for 36 hours.

He also trod water for more than 72 hours in 1980, and then broke his own record again when he trod water for 132 hours in 1984. His feats had won him mention in the Guinness Book of Records.

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Friday, December 27, 1968

Prize Day at Maria Assumpta Secondary Technical School

The Prize Day ceremony at Maria Assumpta Secondary Technical School, Ħamrun opened with the school choir singing the school hymn and the opening chorus from The Bells of Bruges, an operetta which the school will be presenting later in the year.

The headmistress report was comprehensive. She considered the role played by her school in the education of the students within the context of human rights.

Welcome Club’s annual dinner

The Welcome Club held their annual dinner at the Villa Rosa, and unlike other years, husbands were invited. It proved to be a great success.

The retiring president, Mrs Whapshott, who is leaving the island in January, thanked the committee for all their help, especially Mrs Dye for her untiring work and she said how much she had enjoyed her time as president.

She also mentioned how nice it was to see Mrs Baker, the oldest of the members in the Welcome Club, and how pleased she was to see Mrs Broderwick who had been so ill for such a long time.

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