Nationalist Party want to terminate Gozo hospital privatisation

Feb 23 2022

A new Nationalist Government pledged that if elected, it would immediately reacquire the Gozo general hospital and stop the contract with Steward healthcare.

This was announced on Wednesday as part of the party’s proposal for Gozo by leader Bernard Grech. ‘Immediately, if we are entrusted to govern, we will be ending the privatisation agreement of the only hospital in Gozo’ he said.

Grech said that they are ready to honour the contract but this is between two parties. ‘If a contract has serious shortcomings and is not honoured by Steward, it should be addressed. I am determined to stop the contract as I value the healthcare of the Gozitans more.’

Saying that the PN was presenting an ambitious, credible and doable electoral program, the party would, if elected into government, be constructing a new 400-bed hospital in Gozo to offer the best care possible to the Gozitans.

Grech promised that all employees working at the current hospital would be absorbed by the new one. The government would also be financing cancer treatment on the island whilst also providing a new MRI service.

This would be accompanied by the building of a new MCAST campus in Gozo and the introduction of courses to the 10 new sectors which the party pledged to create. Apart from this, a Malta Enterprise branch will be set up on Malta’s sister island to continue aiding the industry and businesses for them to have means to increase operations in Gozo.

Reiterating the pledges to increase the size of the Mgarr harbour and the increase of the fleet by two new ships, Grech said Gozitans have to deal with double insularity. ‘We will be improving the lives of Gozitans and reach a balance between excellent accessibility and a healthy economy.’

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UEFA set to strip Russia of Champions League final

Feb 23 2022

It is being reported that European football governing body UEFA are considering relocating the UEFA Champions League final from St. Petersburg in Russia, due to the country’s current tension with neighbouring country Ukraine.

This notion was also suggested by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who during parliament in the House of Commons, said that there is “no way” that Russia will be allowed to host a major football event after it’s decision to “invade a sovereign country”.

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As of right now many reports are saying that UEFA are looking at Wembley stadium as a potential replacement for the Gazprom arena in Russia. This idea was further supported after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Covid-19 restrictions will be coming to an end in the coming weeks in England, meaning it will be easier to organize for UEFA.

However a report from ESPN has stated quite the opposite with their sources telling them that whilst relocation of the final is quite likely, Wembley is not being considered. This is for a number of reasons primarily, the stadium has already been booked by the EFL to stage the promotion playoffs on the same weekend and that Wembley will already be the host of the final in 2024. The recent disorder and violence seen after the Euro 2020 final in Wembley is also another reason.ż

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The criteria’s for UEFA, for a substitute venue are it being a major European city with the stadium, transport links, infrastructure and accommodation to cater for around 100,000 visiting supporters. Other venues in London such as Tottenham’s and West Ham’s stadiums are reportedly being considered. Other cities like Rome, Barcelona, Munich, Paris and Amsterdam are also being considered.

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Arnold Cassola issues public letter on Transport Malta ‘abuses’

Feb 23 2022

Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has presented a four-page letter to Prime Minister Robert Abela on the ‘filthy’ scandals which he claims are taking place at Transport Malta.

Cassola’s letter includes cases of favouritism, downright ‘filth’ and even sexual harassment. Speaking on Wednesday, Cassola said that employee are scared to speak up. He said that he will be their voice and if elected to Parliament, he will speak for them.

In just four years the number of employees at Transport Malta has skyrocketed from 400 to over 1000, he said. A number of these new employees are from Transport Minister Ian Borg’s district.

The authority has become ‘an Ian Borg fiefdom, with a great deal of cronyism concerning his constituents or core Labour sympathisers’ said Cassola. ‘This is demoralising many qualified people in Transport Malta because it is difficult for them to get promoted.’

Cassola claims to have received numerous messages and reports on how arrogance became the norm at the agency. He went on to say that despite this, individuals are rewarded with promotions because they belong to either Labour or Ian Borg’s camp.

Cassola claimed he has also received reports of a case of sexual harassment case being covered up simply because the perpetrator involved is a hardcore voter for Labour. In his letter, Cassola says that he is ready to provide the names if Transport Malta is ready to have the agency cleaned up from the state of shame in which Ian Borg has reduced it to.

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Photo Source: Ian Borg FB, Arnold Cassola FB

Mużika Mużika changes date to avoid clash with election

Feb 23 2022

Following much discussion and speculation on whether or not Maltese language song festival Mużika Mużika would change its date after an election was announced for March 26th, Festivals Malta have just confirmed that it has been brought forward by a week.

The much awaited festival will now take place between Thursday 17th and Saturday 19th instead of election weekend. Some had commented on the lack of regard towards local festivals and that they should have changed the election date rather than the Mużika Mużika date, however that is clearly not the case.

This year’s edition is set to feature a myriad of local talent covering artists from all across Malta’s musical spectrum

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