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Maltatoday 22 October 2017

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maltatoday SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER 2017 10 News MASSIMO COSTA JOSEPH Galea, 71 and his wife, 69, have told MaltaToday of the distress brought about by the damage caused to their ground floor home when the property above theirs was knocked down to be converted into a number of flats. The construction has now re- sulted in extensive damage to their property, exacerbated by re- cent heavy rain. Speaking to Galea in the veran- dah outside his home in Triq il- Bwieraq, Birkirkara, he explained how the second-floor maisonette on top of his home was demol- ished in May to make way for the construction of an additional four storeys. The developer of the project is the former Nationalist MP Philip Mifsud, who is also the architect responsible for the construction. As work on the first storey start- ed, damage began to appear in ar- eas of Galea's home, with cracks and paint chips becoming visible in the ceiling and walls through- out the corridor and in some of the rooms. By the beginning of August, Galea informed the Building Reg- ulation Office (BRO) as well as Mifsud himself about the damage to his property. He tried also to seek assistance from the Planning Authority, but they informed him that their role was limited to issuing the plan- ning permit for the project. He claimed that work stopped abruptly on September 15, with the builder not returning to the site since, leaving the first storey only partially constructed. The situation was compounded when a storm hit Malta towards the end of September and another in the first week of October. Co- pious amounts of water seeped through the ceilings and down the walls of Galea's property, causing significant damage to the paint and fixtures. "As the heavy rain fell, you need- ed an umbrella to stand in certain areas of the hall," Galea said. "My wife and I collected three basins full of water mixed with cement from that area alone, and spent the nights of the storms mopping the floors and placing towels to soak up the water. This is not to mention all the buckets we repeat- edly filled to the brim – so much so that we ran out of buckets." This proved to be a very strenu- ous task for the elderly couple, leaving them exhausted. "We can- not cope with this any more," they said. Even after the water dried, bub- bles were evident beneath several sections of paint, and there were stains across various walls. Water seeped dangerously close to electrical fixtures and wires, including chandeliers and socket outlets. "My wife had a slight elec- tric shock when she turned on one of the wall switches," recounted Galea, as he showed us several power sockets covered in tape. Water trails were also noticeable along the electrical line leading to a chandelier. The door of one of the bedrooms was substantially damaged by the water, with the wood of the door- frame swelling, and the door end- ing unable to be closed properly. Both the BRO and Mifsud were kept informed, the latter through a number of calls and letters, on what was happening because of EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PART-TIME ADMINISTRATOR UNDER THE ONE TABLET PER CHILD PROJECT The The Ministry for Education and Employment notifies that applications are being received from interested persons willing to provide services on a "Contract for Service" basis as a Part-Time Administrator under the One Tablet Per Child Project for the period September 2017 to September 2020. Eligible Eligible applicants will be required to sit for an interview and are to bring their original certificates with them, as well as a valid police conduct certificate. Expressions of Interest are to be received at The Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills, Ministry for Education and Employment, Great Siege Road, Floriana, until Friday 3rd November 2017. Further Further information, including details about eligibility criteria, requirements and conditions can be obtained by referring to this Expression of Interest in the Government Gazette dated 17th October 2017. Enquiries can be made by email to jeffrey.zammit@ilearn.edu.mt or by calling on 2598 2742. Cowboy construction misery to elderly Elderly couple say they have ended up victims of property additions above their maisonette, as building works and heavy rain cause significant damage Miriam Dalli: 2018 budget enhances government's credibility THE 2018 budget enhances gov- ernment's credibility and pro- duces a clear vision for the fu- ture, Labour MEP Miriam Dalli said on Friday. Dalli, who was addressing a public dialogue at the Fortina Hotel in Sliema, said that the budget presented by the govern- ment last week was unique not only because no new taxes were introduced, but also because the Government had the occasion to lay out its vision for the future. "Budget 2018 is clear evidence of a credible government with a vision for the future to generate wealth," Dalli said. "It is this cred- ibility in the government which allows people to have trust in the government's visible future." She insisted that trust in the government was beneficial for all citizens, as they can now better control their future. "Budget 2018 is clear evidence of a credible government with a vision for the future to generate wealth" "The trust that Maltese and Gozitans have is the key for fur- ther investments and for peace of mind that can ensure that citizens have a better quality of life for themselves and their chil- dren." Dalli said that the surplus which some thought would be impossi- ble was now being shared among all citizens. "This budget has provided more money and incentives to families, whilst reaching out to society as a whole, including the elderly, pensioners, youths and workers," she said. Labour MEP Miriam Dalli

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