LESA wardens are officially back…and so are the fines

Jul 8 2022

The General Worker’s Union (GWU) has temporarily suspended the warden’s industrial action due to the offer of a much more ‘advantageous financial package.’

This comes after the GWU issued a directive for the LESA officers not to issue traffic fines, tow away illegally parked cars or other aspects of the job the wardens are tasked with.

The talks that had taken place with the agency over a new collective agreement failed and, after being told that the agency will not be held responsible for any accidents resulting from the directive, the GWU intensified the industrial action.

The Malta Developers’ Association then revealed that, due to no traffic diversion or road closures due to the directive, building development projects had to stop.

However, a Facebook post released Friday by the GWU said that, in the past few hours, developments in negotiations have been made and a better financial package is being offered. As the union evaluates the new package, the directives which went into force have officially been suspended from Friday 8th July.

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‘Mr. Happy Face’ officially wins the ‘Ugliest Dog Contest’ 2022 edition

Jul 8 2022

Mr. Happy Face, a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mix, has just earned the title of the World’s Ugliest Dog at a well known annual contest in California.

The ‘fearlessly adorable’ dog was adopted by the family of Jeneda Benally from an Arizona Shelter in August of 2021. As described by his loving owner, he is not just any ugly dog as he has a massively long tongue and woofs in his sleep.

Mr. Happy Face is roughly 17 years old, and his life wasn’t at all a walk in the park. Before ending up in a shelter, he had a neglectful and abusive owner.

He was sadly given only a few weeks or a month to live by veterinarians due to his tumours and other conditions. ‘When I first met him, he was the happiest creature that I had ever met. He hobbled up to me and chose me… Love, kindness and mommy kisses have helped him defy the anticipated short life that we all expected him to have with our family’ said Benally.

The World’s Ugliest Dog contest returned this year after a two year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contest celebrates the imperfections which make all dogs special and unique.

It also however raises support and awareness for animals which are up for adoption ever since it started in the 70’s. In 2019, the prize was given to former stray Scamp the Tramp.

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Motorcyclist grievously injured in St Julian’s traffic accident

Motorcyclist grievously injured n St Julian’s traffic accident

Jul 8 2022

Police were yesterday informed at around noon of a traffic accident at 1330hrs. Police were informed that an accident happened in Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli, St Julian’s.

District Police convened immediately n the site and preliminary investigations showed that a crash occurred between a Kymco motorcycle driven by a 76-year-old resident of Ta’ Xbiex and a Mazda driven by a 52-year-old man resident of St Julian’s.

The motorcyclist was given medical assistance and subsequently taken to Mater Dei Hospital for further medical attention. He was later certified to have suffered grievous injuries.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Youth and Government come together to discuss the property market

Jul 8 2022

Held by the Ministry for Social and Affordable Accommodation, the first ‘Youths in Housing’ conference was held to give youth the space to voice their concerns about the reality they are experiencing in the property market.

In association with the ‘Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ’ (KNZ), the conference initiated discussions based on various studies which were presented by several experts on the subject.

Speaking at the conference, Minister for Accommodation Roderick Galdes said that it is crucial to maintain an ongoing conversation with Malta’s youth so that the island’s politics can truly address their challenges.

‘We have been closely monitoring the figures and conducting studies to understand the challenges that be when it comes to affordability in the past couple of months’ said Galdes.

He highlighted how, following up on last years’ schemes to give homes to whoever it may be, the programmes will continue and take a particular focus on Malta’s youth.

The Minister explained that in the past few years there has been collaboration between the government and the local banks and pointed to the fact that the majority of bank clients have changed from couples to singles. Many of these are approaching banks to become owners of their own homes and the age of these individuals is averaging at around 30 years.

Speaking at the conference, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation Keith Azzopardi Tanti emphasised the importance of ‘Youth in Housing’ as it can help the government truly understand what the youth are experiencing on the market.

‘The wish of many youths is that, one day, they can achieve a level of independence and have their own home. We have all undergone such sacrifices’ he said, and it is a journey which continues to change depending on the realities of today.

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