10 years ago - The Sunday Times
Sunday, January 25, 2009
PN backed out of deal to make Mintoff President in 1987 – KMB
The Nationalists reneged on a secret agreement to appoint Dom Mintoff President in 1987, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici claims today in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici says that as part of the discussions over amendments to the Constitution, it was originally agreed that the President would be granted wider powers – taking responsibility for the police corps among others – and that Mr Mintoff would be the first to assume such a role.
He says Mr Mintoff did not wish to take on the post but would have accepted it because there would have been political consensus on the issue.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici, who succeeded Mr Mintoff as Prime Minister in December 1984, says Mr Mintoff had always insisted that the President should be appointed either by two-thirds majority in Parliament or through a general election – though the latter proposal was opposed by a number of members of Labour’s parliamentary group.
He claims that the Nationalists never objected to Mr Mintoff assuming such an important role.
25 years ago - The Times
Tuesday, January 25, 1994
Development fund for venture capital launched
A new facility, the Malta Development Fund, was announced yesterday, meant to pump finance into local firms to help them get down to business within the European Union.
The government welcomed the launch of the fund yesterday, describing it as a timely boost for industry.
Economic Services Minister George Bonello du Puis said it would help Malta “hold its own in Europe” by being more competitive.
And Opposition industry spokesman Charles Mangion said the fund would give local businesses the opportunity to be more efficient.
The fund is being run by Hambros, one of the UK’s top merchant banks, jointly with the Malta Development Corporation.
PN majority on Birkirkara council
Vote counting for Malta’s second round of local council elections came to a close in the early hours of yesterday morning with the Nationalist Party obtaining a majority of seats on the 13-member Birkirkara local council, Malta’s largest and the only one where counting was not completed on Sunday.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Saturday, January 25, 1969
Car Assembly-GWU dispute
The Metal Section of the General Workers’ Union, in a statement yesterday denied that at the last conciliation meeting the management of Car Assembly Ltd had stated that, if their proposals were not accepted by the union by January 18, these would be withdrawn.
The management of the Car Assembly Ltd had said in a statement on Thursday that as no final agreement had been reached, they had informed the Minister of Labour that they would be puttinginto effect what had been stated at the last conciliation meeting – that is to withdraw their proposals.
Mr Lorry Sant, secretary, Metal Section, said yesterday that on Tuesday the mediator had discussions with the Metal Section on the dispute in general, both on the working hours for the employees working with the Industrial Motor Co. Ltd and Mizzi Bros and on wages for employees of the three companies.
The section’s statement said that as an act of compromise, the union made its own proposals to the mediator. The proposals were made for the three companies and, as far as it is known, these were submitted to the managements of the three companies.