[ANALYSIS] As election looms, will Abela raise or lower the bar?
Robert Abela raised hopes of a general clean-up of the mess inherited from his disgraced predecessor. His efforts paid off in ensuring Malta is not grey-listed by Moneyval. But his yardstick in addressing blatant abuse – ranging from crass nepotism to million-euro contracts – suggests he is still fire-fighting and with elections looming on the horizon, he may be increasingly tempted to lower the bar
5 May 2021, 7:09am
by James Debono
In a damning 177-page report, the NAO this week said that St Vincent de Paul, a government institution for the elderly, the Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity and the Department of Contracts, “acted in breach of legislative provisions” when they sanctioned a negotiated procedure for the management of the new hospitality blocks on the basis of urgency, breaking public procurement regulations in the deal. The NAO was “incredulous” at the role played by parliamentary se
Michael Falzon on damning audit report: ‘Lives of the elderly not NAO’s concern’
Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon has shrugged off responsibility on an NAO report that found government broke the law when awarding a €274 million management contract at St Vincent de Paule home for the elderly.
What was intended to be a catering contract was turned into a mega-contract for the award of a new hospital wing built by the DB Group and James Caterers, by way of a negotiated procedure.
“I can only speak about myself, there was no political interference, at least from my end. The sector also no longer falls under my remit,” Falzon said.
[WATCH] Malta drug report: Cannabis, cocaine usage up, decrease in heroin users
Social Solidarity Minister Michael Falzon says government is looking at a harm reduction approach in a White Paper on cannabis regularisation
5 March 2021, 11:49am
by Karl Azzopardi
The use of cannabis and cocaine in Malta has increased, while the abuse of heroin has gone down, a report published on Friday shows.
The statistics form part of the National Report on the Drug Situation in Malta for the year 2020.
Cannabis is the most frequently seized drug by the police, with the substance being the only illicit drug known to be produced in the country. Resin is also imported from Morocco via Tunisia and Libya.
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