€1.2 billion deficit reported for 2021 by government

Mar 30 2022

By the end of last year, the Government’s Consolidated Fund reported a deficit of €1,242.2 million, which is around €200 million less than 2020. This was mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Recurrent Revenue amounted to €5,394.5 million, 22.9% higher than the €4,389.3 million reported a year earlier.

The largest increase was recorded under Income Tax (€554.1 million), followed by Value Added Tax (€202.4 million), Social Security (€136.0 million), and Grants (€49.7 million). By the end of the year 2021, total expenditure stood at €6,636.8 million, 13.3% higher than the previous year.

During the reference period, Recurrent Expenditure totalled €5,718.1 million, which is a rise of €1,079.2 million in comparison to the €4,638.9 million reported in the previous year. The main contributor to this increase was a €883.5 million rise reported under Programmes and Initiatives. Furthermore, increases were also witnessed under Personal Emoluments (€115.8 million), Contributions to Government Entities (€67.2 million) and Operational and Maintenance Expenses (€12.7 million).

The largest development in the Programmes and Initiatives category was related to the Pandemic assistance scheme (€378.1 million), which includes the COVID-19 Business Assistance Programme.

Other increases under Programmes and Initiatives were reported under Energy support measures (€180.0 million), EU own resources (€98.2 million), Hospital concession agreements (€38.5 million), Social security benefits (€37.8 million), St Vincent de Paul Residence service contract (€20.0 million), Waiting lists for medical services (outsourcing) (€13.8 million).

Increases continued for Church schools (€10.7 million), Residential care in private homes (€9.3 million), Extension of school transport network (€7.8 million), Interest rate subsidy scheme (€7.2 million), Allocation in respect of local councils (€6.0 million), Chief medical officer medicines (€6.0 million), Tax relief measures (€5.8 million), Grant for electric vehicles (€5.5 million) and Child care for all (€4.8 million).

The interest component of the public debt servicing costs totalled €183.8 million, which is an increase of €2.6 million when compared to the previous year.

By the end of December 2021, Government’s capital spending amounted to €734.9 million, €302.3 million lower than 2020. The drop largely resulted from the reclassification of the COVID-19 Business Assistance Programme (€384.2 million), which featured under Capital Expenditure between March and December 2020 but is now classified under Recurrent Expenditure. This decline outweighed an increase of €81.9 million reported in other capital projects.

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Beyonce poses up a storm in an embellished nude gown

Mar 30 2022

Beyonce has once again wowed the internet with the latest instagram post by posing in an incredible embellished new gown.

Showing off her look from her and Jay Z’s annual Gold Party at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood on Sunday night, Beyonce made sure to stand out from the a-list crowd.

The singer posed up a total storm in a jaw-dropping dressed as it barely concealed her modesty through its nude design. She was accessorised with a diamond knot necklace and sparkling sunglasses.

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One snap had Beyonce cosying up to her husband as they pulled off a couple of faces for the photos. Fans of the Crazy in Love singer went wild with Instagram posts from Oscars weekend after being absent from the platform for a month.

Earlier on Sunday, Beyonce posted photos of her red carpet look, dripping in $9 million worth of diamond jewellery. There was 150 carats worth of diamonds bangles, a 50-carat emerald-cut ring, a 20 carat cushion-cut ring, a 35 carat pinky ring and 150 carats on her earrings.

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LIVE: President George Vella swears in Robert Abela’s new Cabinet of Ministers

Mar 30 2022

This afternoon, President George Vella, together with newly-elected Prime Minister Robert Abela swore in the new Cabinet of Ministers. The official cabinet was revealed earlier today, with a few surprising shake-ups along the away.

Amongst others, Ian Borg was revealed to be appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Europe and Trade whilst Miriam Dalli took on the Environment portfolio in addition to Energy and Enterprise.

Watch the full event below:

What do you think of the new Cabinet?

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One man protests to ‘unmask the kids’ and hands out proper masks

Mar 30 2022

A one-man protest was launched by a father against face masks in schools, asking parents to sign a massive poster with ‘Unmask the Kids’ written on it. He also sent in his children without masks on Tuesday.

The protester, by the name of Daniele Baraggioli, said that he is fed up of the double standards around COVID-19 health measures which force kids to mask up all day in school despite crowds at counting halls, rallies and even clubs.

Baraggioli protested outside the gates of San Gwann primary school on Wednesday morning. He also handed out surgical masks to show that the type of masks which children were wearing did not match public health guidelines.

He said that if kids are to still wear masks, they should wear proper ones, going on to take his kids to school on Wednesday with masks and pledging to remove them if he saw a child without a proper mask.

On Tuesday, his children were provided with masks by the school which said that it was supporting his cause. The protester purchased 250 of what he deemed to be right masks.

Baraggioli had warned that if these surgical masks were not used, he would have no choice but to report the school to the health authorities for failing to abide by guidelines.

He also intends to personally deliver the signed poster of ‘Unmask the Kids’ to the health ministry later on Wednesday. Currently, schoolchildren must wear face masks all day and can only remove them during physical activity and eating.

Masks should stop being mandatory after the Easter holidays. This also comes as Prime Minister Robert Abela promised to lift all COVID-19 measures following the election of Labour.

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