Forty-four children who were under a protection order will start a new chapter of life with foster families because they cannot live with their biological paren
Family Minister Michael Falzon has admitted that a controversial multi-million euro contract to build and manage four new blocks at St Vincent de Paul Residence, signed on his watch, should have sought cabinet approval.
But he insists this does not mean there was anything wrong with the €274 million deal, saying the National Audit Office should issue a “correction” over some of its findings.
Last week, the NAO issued a report saying the contract at the residence for the elderly, awarded by direct order in 2017, broke procurement law, might not represent value for money and could be deemed invalid.
The damning report also criticised the absence of “any form of political authorisation” and the fact it was “not brought to the attention of cabinet, despite the materiality of the expenditure and the fact that this project was one of national importance”.
The following are the main stories in Thursday’s newspapers.
Times of Malta says the police are investigating plans of a suspicious property deal involving former police superintendent Ray Aquilina, construction tycoon Joe Portelli and murder suspect Yorgen Fenech. In another story, the newspaper says Family Minister Michael Falzon has admitted that a controversial multi-million euro contract to build and manage four new blocks at St Vincent de Paul Residence, signed on his watch, should have sought cabinet approval.
The Malta Independent says that four-storey apartment blocks in Xewkija have gone up for sale before the permit for their construction has been even granted.
The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Monday.
Times of Malta reports how Malta is defending its decision to allow trapping for songbirds a
Family Minister Michael Falzon is open to the idea of removing time-barring in sex abuse cases involving children and is ready to start discussions with the Justice Ministry to set the ball rolling.
The minister was reacting to a story published last week which quoted a number of bodies calling for the removal of time-barring in cases of child sexual abuse, mainly because victims only pluck up the courage to speak about their ordeal after several years.
The call was made after it emerged that former Xagħra archpriest Eucharist Sultana had avoided criminal proceedings for sexually abusing an altar boy for four years.