Movement Graffitti Slams Mosta Local Council Decision

Jul 24 2024

Movement Graffitti, a Maltese non-governmental organisation (NGO) active against the oppression and exploitation of people, the environment, and animals, has expressed their disagreement with the decision of the Mosta Local Council regarding the possibility of reversing the pedestrianisation of Mosta Square on weekends. “One step forward, ten steps back,” Graffitti wrote.

In their post, they stated that while the inconvenience caused by closing the square to vehicles is understood, the “chaos in Mosta” was not born with this problem but has been around for longer due to disorganisation in traffic and unplanned maintenance.

The organisation also addresses the Mosta Local Council, which has a Nationalist majority, as they believe that their promise has not been kept. As the party guaranteed priority to the environment and open spaces, Movement Graffitti said that “It is time to see these words become actions.”

Chris Bonett, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Public Works, also shared his thoughts on the matter on Facebook. Bonett started off by admitting his uncertainty when the Mosta Local Council proposed the pedestrianisation of the square on weekends.

He proceeded to say that after seeing it materialise, he thinks that “it was a good idea.” Bonett too is aware of people’s disagreement, but he states that he is choosing to stand by his belief. He went on to say that he “will not defend” the “hypocrisy of those who, before the election, and even after, came to lecture us on open spaces and then failed miserably at the first test.” Finally, he says that he wishes that the Mosta Square arrangement stays as it is, holding the responsibility for transport, and that it is replicated in other localities.

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Over 438,000 Cars On Maltese Roads in 2023 As Licenses Soar

Jul 24 2024

Malta saw a significant boost in cars in 2023 with 438,567 vehicles licensed across the island, according to the National Statistics Office’s most recent report. The Northern Harbour district led the count with 25.5% of the total vehicles.

Passenger cars dominated the landscape, making up 73.8% of all licensed vehicles. The report also highlighted a slight increase in the number of driving license holders, which reached 277,837—a 0.4% rise from 2022. The Northern Harbour district topped the charts once again with 26.1% of these license holders, while Gozo and Comino accounted for 9.6%.

Analysing vehicle density, the 2022 data revealed that Malta had 1,529 vehicles per 1,000 driving license holders. The Northern district registered the highest ratio of 1,053 vehicles per 1,000 residents, contrasting sharply with the Southern Harbour district’s lower ratio of 673 vehicles per 1,000 residents.

The average age of passenger cars in Malta stood at 15.73 years in 2023, with the Southern Harbour district recording the oldest fleet at an average of 17.11 years. Public transport also played a vital role, with 67,241,760 commuters using the service, though only 4.3% were from the Gozo and Comino region.

Traffic accidents saw a 4.5% increase over the previous year, with 35.8% occurring in the Northern Harbour district. Birkirkara topped the list of localities with the highest number of accidents at 1,084 cases, followed by Ħal Qormi and San Pawl Il-Baħar.

This data provides a comprehensive snapshot of Malta’s road transport dynamics, highlighting areas of high vehicle density, aging car populations, and the regions most affected by traffic incidents.

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Remembering Mark Mallia: Some of His Best Facebook Posts

Jul 24 2024

As tributes pour in for one of Malta’s most creative artistic minds, Mark Mallia, people are remembering that, in addition to his beautiful artworks and paintings, Mallia was also renowned for his remarkable uncensored Maltese Facebook posts.

These posts showcased his creativity not only with a paintbrush but also with words, highlighting his ability to provoke thought and entertain others, whether through his witty comments or his idyllic paintings.

His uncensored Facebook posts, along with his unique artworks, will undoubtedly keep Mark Mallia’s unparalleled legacy alive. They will continue to inspire all those entering the Maltese arts scene to push social boundaries as boldly as Mark did.

RIP to a real Maltese icon.

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Average Annual Salary In Malta for 2022: €20,989

Jul 24 2024

The average annual basic salary for Maltese employees in 2022 was €20,989, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) in its 2024 Regional Statistics report. Males earned an average of €22,096, while females earned €19,605. This represents an increase from the 2021 average salary of €19,823.

The NSO identified 85,797 individuals at risk of poverty, equating to 16.8% of Malta’s population and 15.1% for Gozo and Comino. Malta’s total population reached 542,051 in 2022, with a significant proportion aged between 30 and 39 years. Beyond figures, these are not only Maltese people who are at this risk, but also entire families who are going through this experience of poverty.

From 2017 to 2022, Malta saw a population increase of 61,596, and Gozo and Comino grew by 5,618 residents. The foreign population was 137,376, with the majority aged between 30 and 39 years. Malta experienced positive natural population changes in 2021 and 2022, while Gozo and Comino had a negative change.

In 2022, 2,546 marriages were registered. Two-person households were most common in Malta, while one-person households were prevalent in Gozo and Comino. The highest average household disposable income was in the South Eastern district (€42,855), and the lowest in the Northern Harbour district (€29,852).

Full-time employment increased by 8.6% in Malta and 5.7% in Gozo and Comino from 2021. The private sector employed 81.6% of Malta’s residents and 66% of Gozo and Comino’s residents.

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