In the Press - President to be in charge of commissions, business roundtable to begin today

The Times of Malta

PM says president’s new responsibilities ‘perfectly legal’

Joseph Muscat’s plan to give the president new powers has been met with uncertainty as to whether the constitution allowed such actions. But Muscat defended his decision, saying that the legal advice he received on the matter found no obstacle to such changes.

President-to-be Marie Louise Coleiro Preca will be in charge of several social commissions, triggering speculation that she had accepted the post on condition that she retained some of her ministerial portfolio. Muscat denied these claims.

In-Nazzjon

Malta shows retail trade decline in five of last six months

Eurostat data shows that Malta’s retail trade has experienced a decline for a number of consecutive months. PN representatives said that this, coupled with rising unemployment and a reduction in imports and exports, shows that Malta’s economy requires immediate attention to remedy what appears to be a lack of confidence in the economy, leading to a reduction in spending.

L-Orizzont

Offices of social services a mixed bag, will combine all services in future

A report in L-Orizzont says that those who require social services are met with different levels of efficiency and help – some are fast and reliable while others less so. Head of civil service Mario Cutajar announced that from the coming year, every social service office will become a ‘one stop shop’ for a range of services.

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The newspaper also reports that offices of the Department of Health will move from their current location in Merchant Street, Valletta, to the Outpatients Block in St Luke’s Hospital, Gwardamangia.

The Entitlement Unit, National Contact Point for Crossborder Healthcare and the Treatment Abroad Coordination Office in Valletta will be making the move tomorrow, when the offices will be closed. They will begin to operate from their new offices as of Monday.

The Malta Independent

Business roundtable with the government to begin today

In an event organized by The Economist, several past and current European politicians will meet with members of the Cabinet to discuss local and international economic issues.

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The Independent also ran a story on the plight of the Charlotte Louise, a sailing ship of historical value, that is facing the risk of sinking for a third time.

The ship, built in Scotland in 1942, was used in several locally shot films and was found sunk at its moorings in 2007. It has since sunk and been raised twice before being towed to Marsaxlokk, where it is precariously close to sinking away from its makeshift buoys.

Italian-born Gabriele A. Tortorici has purchased the ship and wants to restore it but bringing it to the surface is proving difficult. Letters have been sent to the OPM in an attempt to override regulations at the Hard Standing Facility in Marsaxlokk that say that the facility may only be used for fishing vessels.