Financial aid scheme for bar and club owners extended until end-March The Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo announces the extension of government’s financial aid scheme for bars and clubs 26 February 2021, 8:30pm by Karl Azzopardi Government’s financial aid scheme to bars and clubs has been extended until the end of March. Addressing annual general meeting of the Band Clubs Association, the Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo said the decision has been taken in light of the announcement that bars and clubs will remain closed until the end of next month. Bars and social clubs were forced to close in October, after coronavirus cases in the country spiked. They were set to reopen before Christmas festivities on 1 December but are set to remained closed until at least the end of March.