25 years ago - The Times
Wednesday, April 27, 1994
Tower demolition: Call for inquiry into why PA gave the go-ahead
The Planning Authority is declining at this stage to comment on allegations that it sanctioned the demolition of part of a historic tower by developers, just six months after the Museums Department prohibited it.
The historic group Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is calling for an inquiry into why the demolition by the Corinthia Group of Companies of the ‘fire control tower’ built at the back of St George’s Tower in St Andrew’s was given the go-ahead by the authority. “We informed the Museums Department the fire tower was being pulled down in January last year,” FWA spokesman Godwin Hampton said.
“The developers were ordered to stop and they did. They were then warned the building was to be preserved.”
Report on Mnajdra damage
The Museums Department had consistently objected to quarrying operations in the immediate vicinity of the Mnajdra megalithic temples, it was revealed yesterday. But despite repeated representations by the department, quarry rock blasting continued, the DOI said.
Half a century ago - Sunday times of Malta
Sunday, April 27, 1969
Taxes go up by £440,000
New taxation measures to meet additional expenditure and to give the community a large measure of participation in the fruits of development were announced by Dr G. Felice, Minister of Finance, Customs and Port in his Budget Speech to the House of Representatives yesterday morning. In a speech lasting over 90 minutes the Minister also announced increases in old-age pensions and social assistance rates.
Savings interest rates up
Interest on Government Savings Bank deposits are to be raised from 2.5 per cent to three per cent on savings accounts and from 3.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent on fixed deposits.
Total expenditure for the year 1960-70 is estimated at £23,386 million (£3,185 million more than last year’s outlay) with total estimated revenue at £22,391 million giving an excess of expenditure over revenue of £995,000 to be covered by the £1,035 million remaining available in the Consolidated Revenue Fund on April 1 of this year and leaving a small balance of £40,000 at the end of the financial year on March 31, 1970.