Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1108702
DAVID HUDSON A motorsport racetrack will be deliv- ered by the end of this legislature, Clift- on Grima has promised. The Sports Parliamentary Secretary said "planning is at an advanced stage" but would not elaborate. Grima was asked by MaltaToday on plans for a motorsport race track in the wake of concerns raised by enthusiasts that government had gone cool on its pledge. "The government is currently im- plementing a wide sports strategy, an ambitious plan where government is hoping to encourage success in all re- spective sports field. A race track is very much still on the agenda and I can con- firm that the promise will be fulfilled during this legislature," Grima said. KURT SANSONE OVERALL government finances ended with a surplus of €250.8 million last year, figures published yesterday show. The figures released by the National Statistics Office cover the finances for all the government, including agencies that do not form part of the central govern- ment. These figures include the money in the National Development and Social Fund, which is financed by 70% of the income from the sale of Maltese citizenship, known as the Individual Investor Pro- gramme. According to the NSO, the NDSF reg- istered a surplus of €133.7 million, by far the largest contribution by an external agency. However, the overall numbers show that the country would still have registered a surplus without the IIP funds. Just last month, a different set of statis- tics showed how the consolidated fund registered a deficit of €70.2 million when taking into account only the central gov- ernment. The latest figures are the ones on which Eurozone benchmarks for deficit and debt are based. The NSO said Malta registered a sur- plus of 2% of GDP in 2018, a decrease from 3.4% the previous year. The Maastricht criteria stipulate that Eurozone countries should aim for a defi- cit below the 3% mark. Malta has for the past three years registered a surplus. WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 Newspaper post WEDNESDAY • 24 APRIL 2019 • ISSUE 635 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY EDITORIAL • PAGE 9 PAGE 3 PAGE 2 Godfrey's big gamble Landing rights 'sale' gives government strategic control AIR MALTA ANALYSIS COURT PAGE 2 PAGE 5 PAGS 6 & 7 €250 million surplus in 2018 public finances 'Racetrack completed by end of legislature' CLIFTON GRIMA'S VOW: Man admits to assaulting PD candidate