Retirement bonus for government workers pledged by PN

Mar 21 2022

Nationalist party leader Bernard Grech pledged to give all public service workers a tax-exempt one-off bonus when retiring from their government job.

The initiative forms part of a package of proposals in the manifesto of the Opposition which aim to improve the conditions of work for public service employees.

However, Grech gave no costings for the measures he listed, adding that these will be released in the coming days. Acknowledging that the proposals will cost money, he said that it is not an expenditure but an investment. ‘Costings have been done and will be published in the coming days’ he insisted.

The bonus for public service workers will be equivalent to one-year’s wage and will be implemented immediately. He labelled it as a thank you gesture tho those who dedicated their energy in public service.

Grech went on to explain how a PN government will revise and improve pay scales of all government employees to better reflect market prices. He accused the PL of side-lining talent to make way for persons of trust. ‘They promised us meritocracy and delivered nepotism.’

Grech said that the bonus to front liners he had also promised will be self-sustaining because a PN government will cut down on the number of persons of trust.

#MaltaDaily

Bernard Grech vows to stay ‘with Malta after Saturday’ as PN leader

Mar 21 2022

When asked by journalists about what would happen if he were to lose the election next Saturday, Opposition leader Bernard Grech said that he will remain with voters for Malta.

Grech seems to be showing no signs of dropping from his position as leader of the Nationalist Party. ‘I am with you for Malta and after Saturday, I will remain with you for Malta’ he said.

Grech did not want to speculate on the general election and the projections of surveys. He said that the best and only survey is that of Saturday.

He went on to highlight how when people go to vote they will be alone in the polling booth and no one will know how they voted. He said that that in that room, one can decide to put an end to oppression and ‘take power away from Robert Abela.’

#MaltaDaily

Man in court for punching barman for refusing to serve more alcohol

Mar 21 2022

A man was charged over a drunken incident at a Marsaxlokk bar yesterday due to having allegedly punched a bartender who refused to serve more alcohol.

The 33-year-old resident of the same locality was arraigned before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras by inspector Doriette Cuschieri. He was charged with having caused voluntary damage at the bar, slightly injuring the air man, breaching the peace as well as being drunk and incapable of taking care of himself in public.

He was also accused of being a recidivist and breaching bail conditions. The inspector told the court how the Birzebbuga police station received a report about the incident at 7:30 pm yesterday.

After the bartender refused to hand the man more drinks to him being already intoxicated, the accused punched him and damaged an outdoor umbrella canopy belonging to the establishment. The victim had also told the police that he had seen a weapon in the accused’s hand.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, with bail granted against a €2,500 deposit and a €3,000 personal guarantee. The court also ordered him to sign a bail book three times a week, observe a curfew and keep his distance from the bar in question.

#MaltaDaily

World is sleep-walking to climate catastrophe warns UN chief

Mar 21 2022

A stark warning by UN chief Antonio Guterres was issued on Monday, saying that the world is ‘sleepwalking to climate catastrophe’.

Speaking at a sustainability conference in London, Guterres said that the planet saving goal of cutting global warming at 1.5 degrees celsius is already on life support.

If this goal is to be reached, the world requires a 45% drop in emissions by 2030 as well as carbon neutrality by the halfway point of the mid-century.

Even if nations were to honour the revised Paris Agreement pledges, emissions are still set to rise 14% before the decade ends. ‘If we continue with more of the same, we can kiss 1.5C goodbye’

This comes just hours before the International Panel on Climate Change kicks off a two-week meeting to confirm a report on options for reducing carbon pollution.

The report is expected to conclude that CO2 emissions must peak within a few years if the temperature targets are set to be met. The pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine, said Guterres, have been major stumbling blocks for the goal.

He also criticised the addiction to fossil fuels as madness and ‘mutually assured destruction.’ This is being heightened due to the war in Ukraine as countries rush to replace Russian oil and gas.

#MaltaDaily