Probe into first COVID voucher round inconclusive due to missing data

Dec 7 2021

The National Audit Office was unable to conclude the probe into the first COVID-19 vouchers round as data was missing and/or incomplete.

The round cost the government €45 million, but a new report published on Monday revealed that the NAO’s attempt to reconcile the vouchers proved futile.

The office expressed how it encountered significant problems whilst auditing the voucher scheme. The vouchers, launched in June 2020, saw every resident receiving five €20 vouchers by registered post.

The initial expiration date was set for September 30th, but it was extended to the 31st of October. It aimed at boosting the economy due to the pandemic.

The NAO discovered that payments to merchants for redeemed vouchers continued to be made until around March of this year.

The audit office said that since data continued to change, attempts to carry out reconciliations proved futile. Audit testing showed that around €850,000 were paid to merchants after closing date – translating to around 43,000 vouchers.

Despite the voucher scheme proving successful, improvements had to be implemented for the second round.

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Photo Source: Silvio Schembri FB, BusinessToday

The Mater Dei Ultimatum – doctors call to solve internal disputes.

Dec 7 2021

Doctors in Malta have issued an ultimatum for the government and Mater Dei Hospital’s administration to resolve an internal dispute with phlebotomists.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses previously issued a directive to its members so that they limit the number of patients they see every day due to a lack of progress in a new sectoral agreement.

The dispute led to young doctors stepping in to draw patient’s blood themselves. The doctor’s union has stepped in, expressing its frustration at the situation.

Times of Malta spoke to Medical Association of Malta president Martin Balzan, who said that the issue must be solved.

‘We’ve had enough of dangerous directives. We gave them a deadline and the management knows it. It is high time that management either acknowledges their claim or else goes to court.’

Balzan highlighted how it was the hospital management’s responsibility to ensure the safety of patients and that the hospital operates efficiently.

Not all phlebotomists (medical professionals trained to draw blood) followed the directives but enough did so for this directive to have massive impact on the hospital’s operations.

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Photo Source: Wikipedia, Training Direct

High Schools Musical cast members reunited for throwback TikTok

Dec 6 2021

High School Musical fans rejoice! The entertainment scene of yesteryear has scene quite a resurgence in recent times, with an impending Harry Potter reunion set to bring tears to the eyes of Potterheads around the world very soon… but that’s not all.

Fans of Disney Channel’s High School Musical will be happy to see that Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman, better known as East High’s Chad and Taylor, have posted a throwback Tiktok which broke the internet. The co-stars celebrated their 15-year friendship by posing in front of the camera and switching to a nostalgic photo from the film.

@corbinbleu15 years of friendship ❤️ @moniquecolemanofficial ##moniquecoleman ##corbinbleu ##hsm ##highschoolmusical ##mychildhood ##nostalgia ##friendshipgoals

♬ original sound – Corbin Bleu

The two have teamed up once again for Lifetime’s ‘A Christmas Dance Reunion,’ which is the first time they reunited in years. Bleu stated that “it’s a truly wonderful thing to be able to work with a person that you love from the bottom of your heart.”

Send this to a High School Musical fan.

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WATCH: Smart Supermarket’s Christmas video is all about family and it’s giving us all the feels

Dec 6 2021

The festive season is almost upon us, and everyone has started getting ready for the much-anticipated joy of the Christmas period. Long hours of browsing through shops or scanning websites for that special gift are interspersed with invitations to seasonal parties and family lunches. Houses are decorated accordingly, Christmas trees are dusted off and festooned with bright lights, and the musical notes of Christmas carols permeate the airwaves.

But Christmas is so much more. This celebrated feast is about families coming together for anticipated social occasions and indulging in each other’s company. It is about connecting through traditional events and seeking additional time with loved ones. And, of course, Christmas is synonymous with delicious food and cherished family recipes from bygone days.

These long-standing culinary delights are an ingrained custom which endures, long after these recipes were first created. Memories are revived as we savour the tastes and aromas from our childhood Christmases. These evoke recollections of our nearest and dearest, as well as precious times of family bonding and familiar occasions.

When Christmas Day comes around, family connections are renewed, as we gather around the table laden with mouthwatering food and tender warmth. Unexpected surprises abound, and affectionate hugs are shared. The turkey is placed at the centre of the table, and generous portions of food are passed around. There is no other fundamentally traditional occasion like the treasured Maltese family lunch on Christmas Day

For four decades, Smart Supermarket has journeyed with Maltese families and shared in the cultural traditions they love so much. Right from the start, Smart Supermarket has connected with the people who paved the way for their children and grandchildren and opened up a world of much-loved Christmas traditions and delicious treats for many generations. This well-established supermarket has always connected with families through committed support and a vast selection of choice products.

As Christmas approaches, we will spend long hours with our loved ones, browsing happily while searching for that special ingredient with which to complete our home-made custom recipe. Through the years, this significant day of jubilation has left us with nostalgic memories evoked by the traditional routines which are repeated every Christmas. Families can look forward to a remarkable celebration with fresh experiences of time-honoured customs, and together, they will create new memories to carry on into future festivities.

Smart Supermarket, Naxxar Road Birkirkara.

Show the video to someone who loves Christmas!

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