David Thake steps down from parliament, wants to ‘be the change’

Jan 13 2022

Nationalist MP David Thake announced that he is stepping down from his parliamentary position following the revelation that one of his companies didn’t file its accounts for a decade.

Thake insisted he was only guilty of what he deemed a ‘stupid’ administrative mistake, but wants to nonetheless send out a message that the Party, and his, standards are higher than those of the Labour Party.

In a video, Thake said that he hopes his decision makes people stop and think about what standards to expect from their MPs.

‘I hope you ask yourselves what you want for this country and whether you want people in charge who view the country as their own personal playground and piggy bank. If that’s what you want, that’s what five more years of PL will give you.’

Thake’s resignation frees up a PN seat on the twelfth district. The PN co-opted St Paul’s Bay councillor Graziella Galea in his stead since Thake was elected via a casual election.

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Obligatory mask wearing removed for less than 2 people in public

Jan 13 2022

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne announced that as of next Monday, fully vaccinated people (with booster) out in public and in groups less than 2 can remove their face masks.

Fearne revealed that due to the festive seasons being over, people can now safely remove their masks should they be fully vaccinated with a booster shot.

The Health Minister also went on to announce that sports events will now be open for spectators given that those attending present proof of vaccination upon entering.

The two meter rule in establishments will also be removed and establishments can as of Monday 17th January adhere to whatever their permit allows in terms of space between tables and seatings.

The Minister said how the aim is to have 70% of those eligible for all three COVID shots to be vaccinated by the end of this week as the rollout continues with several mobile units opening up in different localities.

He went on to highlight Omicron’s impact on the world, quoting WHO’s Hans Kluger in saying that in two months, half of Europe’s population will have tested positive with COVID.

Fearne reiterated that the vaccine is the way out of this pandemic and that other measures such as mask wearing can help mitigate the spread.

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January 17th restaurant measures remain in place as Fearne reveals exemptions

Jan 13 2022

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne unveiled several exceptions to be given for those who for some reason could not receive their booster shot as the January 17th measures draw closer.

With next Monday requiring a valid certificate, the Health minister revealed that an exemption will be made for employees in terms of whether or not they make direct contact with clients.

Employees who do not interact directly with clients will not need to present a vaccine certificate whereas those who do make direct contact with clients, workers must present a valid vaccine certificates. He still urged employees who do not work directly with clients to still get vaccinated.

Kids under 18 will not need to present the COVID certificate with a booster shot, with kids younger than 11 not needing any certification whatsoever. As for establishments to certify whether someone has a valid certificate, owners can use the new CoVPass app to certify this.

Travel exceptions were also included, with residents of Malta wishing to come back to the island being given an extension period to the 1st of February. This, given, that they apply to receive their booster shot.

There will also be a notable six week exception for all those who were quarantined and thus could not receive the booster shot.

Fearne did clarify that Malta has no intent on making vaccination mandatory unlike other countries and even hinted at even removing such measures if the epidemiological situation improves.

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Milk and bread prices spike due to global supply crisis

Jan 13 2022

Staple food products’ prices such as those of bread, butter and other dairy products increased sharply as local producers attempt to cover costs due to the global shortage of raw materials and freight expenses due to COVID.

Both Malta Dairy Products, the company which produces Benna dairy products, and bakery Golden Harvest said they had to increase prices to cover January costs.

The recent increase in prices was noted in a Facebook post by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi who said that anyone buying essential food items would have noticed ‘large increases in wheat and dairy products.’

He went on to list increases ranging from 10c to 83c in flavoured milk ranges, fresh cream, yoghurt and butter. Malta Dairy Products Limited said that the company had managed to keep prices of fresh milk products stable over recent months. During this, the costs of feeds on the international markets as well as other operational, logistical and raw material costs, significantly increased.

Saying that as of the 1st January 2022 some prices of its products were adjusted, MDP revealed that this decision has been taken after the company absorbed the increase in costs for a number of months. The company said that the price adjustment was also necessary to sustain the local dairy industry.

A spokesperson for Golden Harvest said that similarly, just like other local bakeries had raised their prices at the end of last year, the company was forced to do so as well. A spokesperson told Times of Malta that ‘we have been trying to absorb the costs and delayed increasing prices at the end of the year not to burden consumers.’

‘But we had to cover our costs. I assure you that the price increase does not reflect the increase in prices of raw materials which we have been experiencing due to the pandemic. We are in no way making more profit, we are just covering some of the costs.’

The materials included flour, yeast, sugar and packaging, with prices having shot up across the board. Suppliers explained this was a global situation brought about by a wide array of factors impacting the supply chain.

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