25 years ago - The Times

Monday, April 25, 1994

Sant against VAT: MLP plans protests

The Opposition will fight every clause of the VAT bill tooth and nail when it is debated in Parliament, Labour Party leader Alfred Sant said yesterday. The Labour Party also plans to hold protests and carry out an information campaign against VAT. It will support all organisations that oppose the tax.

Speaking at a workers’ day mass meeting at Mosta, Dr Sant said trade unions had a responsibility and a duty to make it clear that VAT would adversely affect the workers’ families.

VAT was a regressive tax which hit most those who could pay least, he argued.

Unions should insist that collective agreements incorporate assurances that workers would be adequately compensated for cost of living increases brought about by VAT, Dr Sant said.

Malta against abortion at UN

Malta has supported several Latin American and African states backing Vatican positions on outlawing abortion under any circumstances and circumscribing family planning to married couples, Reuters reported yesterday.

The Vatican was successful in blocking agreement on key points of an action programme to stabilise in the next century.

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Friday, April 25, 1969

Budget Day tomorrow

Tomorrow is Budget Day. The Minister of Finance, Customs and Port, Dr G. Felice, presents the general estimates of expenditure for the financial year 1969/70, to Parliament in the morning.

As in previous years, the Minister is expected to review the progress made in every sector of the economy during the past year, besides outlining existing problems. Many believe that this year’s Budget will be a popular one, but until tomorrow morning, it is anybody’s guess.

A businessman said yesterday he would like to see some form of encouragement to persuade the Maltese to repatriate some of their investments abroad. He felt that, in granting financial or fiscal assistance,the government should give preference to companies having over 50 per cent Maltese capital participation.

Another businessman believes that the time was ripe when the 6d in the £ tax charged to new residents be raised to a flat rate of 2s. He also suggested an added tax on car licences allowing entry into Valletta. He felt that, apart from the fact that this would mean extra revenue for the government, it would perhaps ease the parking problem in the capital.

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