253 traffic accidents between January and August registered

Oct 5 2022

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri revealed that there were 253 traffic accidents between January and the end of August 2022 registered with the police.

The question was tabled in parliament by PN MP Joe Giglio and asked how many of the accidents caused injuries and how many were fatal.

It was subsequently revealed that 235 of these accidents resulted in injuries, with 16 of these being fatal. Comparatively, the National Statistics Office reported 3,595 road traffic accidents in Q1 of this year and 4,240 in Q2, amounting to an 18% increase in traffic accidents over 2021 during 2022’s second quarter

This is due to the NSO taking into account all accidents, whereas the parliamentary question referred to those registered by the police.

It was reported earlier in August by the National Statistics Office that there were up to 47 traffic accidents everyday between April and June.

The amount of accidents has also raised concerns about the current road situation in Malta due to the seeming increase in accidents and fatalities.

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560 inmates currently in Malta’s prison reveals Minister

Oct 5 2022

According to Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, the Corradino Correctional Facility currently houses 560 inmates.

Responding to a parliamentary question posed by Nationalist MP Joe Giglio, Camilleri revealed that of the 560, there are 339 serving a prison sentence whereas 221 are under preventative arrest and awaiting trial.

Maltese are the majority of inmates serving a prison sentence (219), compared to 120 foreigners. To the contrary, foreigners make up the majority of preventative arrest inmates at 142, which is almost double the amount of Maltese inmates at around 79.

The Minister did not disclose the details as to the figures of the nationalities of the foreign inmates, but did say that there are inmates from all over the globe.

Meanwhile, 457 workers are employed at the facility, spread over various departments pertaining to the field.

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Four new key officers appointed for db Group

Oct 4 2022

The db Group’s Board of Directors has appointed four key officers to take forward its vision and oversee its execution.

The move also marks a watershed in the family’s succession planning moment. Robert Debono has been appointed as the Group’s CEO with a clear brief to continue to drive an already robust business and investment strategy and to consolidate financial success on all fronts.

Dr.David Debono, a lawyer, is the Chief Legal Officer overseeing all legal matters as well as those pertaining to HR and Alan Debono will be the Chief Procurement and Accounting Officer responsible for financial and purchasing policy and execution. Victoria Debono is now the Brands Manager in charge of nurturing and expanding the Group’s local and global brand portfolio. Silvio Debono remains Chairman of the Board. Robert Debono comments:

“This is an exciting and humbling challenge for my siblings and myself. The Board is trusting us to sustain and enhance the success of a group of companies on which the livelihood of 4,500 families and individuals depends.

It is also happening as the tourism industry and the economy are expected to get a post-pandemic reboot. The future looks bright and we are ready for it.” Silvio Debono comments:

“My wife and I gave our children the freedom to choose their individual paths in life. They took different ones which, as luck would have it, are converging at this very moment. I am convinced that they will continue to expand and deepen our Group’s vision and prudently execute it. As the Group’s chairman, I shall oversee this positive transition, ensuring that our strong financial standing is sustained and to see that our excellent track record remains extends to the future.”

db Group Performance The db Group’s post-pandemic recovery is exceeding forecasts, with figures at March 2022 comparing well with those of March 2020, the last month before the pandemic struck. The March 2020 financial results were better than those of the year ending March 2021, the year in which the pandemic took its biggest toll.

Accordingly, comparisons with the March 2020 benchmark, at the end of a record year for tourism in Malta, lead to a more balanced picture of the Group’s performance. As it did during the financial crisis, the Group once again continued to invest even during the darkest pandemic months. Throughout, the Group maintained its position as Malta’s largest local hotel operator. New Starbucks outlets and two new restaurants, LOA and Sonora were inaugurated, the latter two after March 2022.

This growth was also complemented with an extensive rebranding and modernisation programme of the hotels and their restaurants. The strategy paid off as it did at the end of the 2009 financial crisis. It drove the uniquely fast recovery of the Group as the worst of the pandemic was put behind us.

In March 2022 Group revenue stood at €40 million, just €20 million less than in March 2020. EBITDA in March 2022 stood at €24 million, just €3.5 million less in the same period. Profit after tax in March 2022 was €10.5 million when compared to €12 million in March 2020. Capital expenditure in March 2020 was almost €8 million against a Capex of almost €5 million in 2022.

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Father and son arraigned over cocaine lab and money laundering

Oct 4 2022

An elderly man and his son were remanded in custody on aggravated drug possession, money laundering as well as bail breach charges, being arraigned before magistrate Josette Demicoli this afternoon.

Mario Brignone, 68, from Bormla and his son Josef Zammit, 30, from Marsaskala pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against them and did not reply when asked about their employment.

The charges concern the discover of a crack cocaine lab as well as various other hard drugs. Inspector Mark Mercieca informed the court that Zammit was arrested while signing his bail book in Zabbar yesterday.

With a large amount of cash fund on his person, a raid on his vehicle found several sachets of what is suspected to be cocaine and heroin.

Cannabis plants were found at his residence, with cash found in his father’s house. A key was also found under the doormat and it opened the door to an abandoned residence opposite the house. More drugs and cash were located, with equipment used to manufacture crack cocaine.

A bail request was rejected by the court in view of the risk of the men tampering with evidence. The men also did not satisfy the legal requirements for bail, with a freezing order placed over both their assets.

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