10 years ago - The Sunday Times
Sunday, March 1, 2009
50% of HIV cases involve African immigrants
Half of the HIV cases being treated in Malta involve African immigrants, who make up just one per cent of the population, The Sunday Times has learnt.
New HIV-positive cases have quadrupled – from between seven and 10 cases a year to about 30 to 40 – in the past two to three years, coinciding with increases in the number of illegal immigrant landings.
Christopher Barbara, Malta’s only virologist in service and chairman of Mater Dei Hospital’s Pathology Department, has expressed concern about a problem which he insists cannot be ignored. There are currently 100 people being treated for HIV within the Malta health services, and half of these are immigrants.
Dr Barbara pointed out that illegal immigrants were coming from high risk populations and people should be knowledgeable about the dangers of having unprotected sex.
Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region in the world, according to the UNAIDS 2008 report. An estimated 22 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2007 and approximately 1.9 million additional people were infected during that year.
25 years ago - The Times
Tuesday, March 1, 1994
GRTU again in dispute with the government
Only days after having successfully concluded an agreement with the government on trading licences fees, the GRTU, Association of General Retailers and Traders is again in dispute with the government, this time over the allocation of a fish stall at the Valletta market.
Last week, four fishmongers presented a judicial protest urging the Commissioner of Lands and the Environment Minister not to allocate a new fish stall there.
Hotel Verdala up for sale
The Grand Hotel Verdala at Rabat is up for sale again.
The Malta Development Corporation, which owns the 160-room hotel, has made a call for tenders for its freehold sale together with the furniture and fittings and the Verdala Apartments adjacent to the hotel.
Offers must include the price and terms of payment and an undertaking to assume responsibility for all current employees in terms of their existing collective agreement. The hotel employs 80 workers.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Saturday, March 1, 1969
Opening of Casino restaurant today
What makes a restaurant a good restaurant?
Any answer is likely to be good food… and comfort. Catering experts say the diner must have both in order to patronise a restaurant. Clearly, therefore, the two are inseparable, although one would finally admit perhaps that the first is more important than the second.
The management of the Kursaal Co. Ltd kept these two requisites in mind when they decided to move the restaurant from its original site, overlooking the sea, in a more suitable part of the Casino, near the main gaming hall.
Although the operation involved structural alterations, guests at the opening this evening will agree that the new restaurant is superior, both in design and comfort, to the original restaurant which had a seating capacity of 200.
‘Open Day’ at Polytechnic
An ‘Open Day’ is being organised at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology on Wednesday, March 12, for school-leavers, parents and other people connected with business, commerce and industry.