Weekly News Highlights

last Sunday Alfred Sant told the Malta Labour Party's general conference that the coming budget would be a test for the prime minister and not, as Dr Eddie Fenech Adami had intimated, vice versa.

During last Sunday's session of the general conference, the delegates approved by secret ballot the motion moved by the MLP executive and parliamentary group, but incorporating an amendment moved Friday week by former party leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.

The essence of the motion was that the delegates were urging the party in opposition and in government to do its utmost to mitigate the negative effects of the accession agreement the government signed with the European Union.

Sabotage at Ta' Kandja

Thousands of people in the south were left without water last Monday after Ta' Kandja pumping station, in the limits of Siggiewi, was sabotaged and the water contaminated with a petroleum mixture.

It is the first such incident of sabotage on the island's water system. A magisterial inquiry is now under way to track down the person who sliced the rubber pipe leading to a tank of chlorine, used to disinfect the water, and instead attached it to a 20-litre jerry can full of petroleum mixture.

The Water Services Corporation is considering stepping up security. WSC chief executive Anthony Rizzo said on Tuesday this premeditated attack on the island's water supply had shocked the corporation, which was now discussing measures to safeguard against a similar attempt.

Central Bank cuts growth forecast

The Central Bank of Malta has taken a far more pessimistic outlook for Malta's economy this year, in the light of new information on both the external environment and domestic developments.

Its forecast for real GDP growth has now been cut to a range of 1 to 1.3 per cent, from the previous range of 3.1 to 3.7 per cent published in its annual report in April.

This revision was prompted by a deterioration in growth prospects for the semiconductor industry, the continued drop in inventories and the worsening of the external balance.

Archbishop offers to resign

The Archbishop, Mgr Joseph Mercieca, offered his resignation to the Pope on Tuesday, but no details on the date of his departure or his successor were given.

Mgr Mercieca turned 75 on Tuesday and, as such, is bound by Canon law to offer his resignation as a diocesan bishop, the Curia said in a brief statement.

Mgr Mercieca became archbishop on December 12, 1976. Speculation has been rife in recent weeks over Mgr Mercieca's successor, but there is no known favourite for the post. Nor is it clear whether the Vatican will accept his resignation with immediate effect.

Malta accedes to anti-terrorism convention

Malta has deposited the instrument of accession to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The convention entered into force in Malta yesterday. The convention is one of the 13 anti-terrorism conventions identified by the UN, which have now all been ratified by Malta.

Accession to this convention required the establishment of a national regulatory authority to address issues on physical protection of nuclear material.

Second hand car imports up

Second hand car imports between January and September this year totalled 4,115 compared to 3,964 for the whole of last year, according to figures given in parliament on Tuesday by Transport Minister Censu Galea in reply to a question by Adrian Vassallo (MLP).

250 shipyard workers opt for early retirement

About 250 workers out of the 900 who are to be transferred from the shipyards have already applied for early retirement under one of four schemes offered, sources said on Thursday.

The sources said that although the closing date for applications for early retirement had been extended by a week to November 21, past experience showed that the bulk of applications was normally received early.

However, the sources said they were still expecting more workers to take up the schemes.

Majority favour EU constitution referendum

A survey just published by the European Commission shows that 57 per cent of the Maltese believe it is essential for the people to air their opinion, through a referendum, on the new European constitution.

The survey was the second held by the Commission in the member and acceding countries, which specifically targeted the work of the Convention for the Future of Europe, the draft European constitution and the intergovernmental conference.

The results show that a further 23 per cent of the Maltese believe that holding a referendum on the European constitution would be useful but not essential.

Only nine per cent said holding a referendum on the subject was useless. Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said recently there were no plans for a referendum on the constitution.