Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1224129
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MARCH 2020 NEWS MCAST is an equal opportunities employer. • Project Administrator - ERDF 9.036 (Jobsplus Permit No. 679/2019) Closing date Wednesday 25 March 2020 by 12.00pm. For further details, requirements and application process go to MCAST jop portal http://jobs.mcast.edu.mt MCAST IS RECRUITING Opera onal Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a compe ve and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Project part-financed by the European Regional and Development Fund Co-financing rate: 80% European Union; 20% Na onal Funds such a team would have to be proposed by the media houses themselves. "It is important that such a team remains objective and independent," she said. On the stipulated costs of such an initiative, Comodini Cachia said the government had already forked out €4.5 million in ad- vertising for Vistajet contracts. "It would be able to do the same for the country's newsrooms." The PN also proposed the fi- nancing of administrative pro- jects by newsroom websites which would help in dissem- inating informative content surrounding COVID-19. Such content could include online debates with health experts and a Q&A for the general public, among others. Another proposal by the PN is that of financing online in- fluencers, whose already estab- lished platform would help in delivering factual information. According to Comodini Cachia, the government should be financing videos and features for students on the latest up- dates on the coronavirus. Such content would be made availa- ble on the MySchool platform. The PN said that the govern- ment should establish a mes- sage information system with COVID-19 updates where people can register to receive the information. This would be government-sponsored and established by an inter-media house group to ensure the inde- pendence of messages. Delia: COVID-19 measures half-baked OPPOSITION leader Adrian Delia has criticized the govern- ment for doing "the bare min- imum" during the COVID-19 crisis. Adrian Delia was interviewed on party radio station NET FM, where he was questioned on the ongoing developments. Delia complained that while the government prided itself on achieving a surplus, it was turn- ing to everyone to shoulder the burden in a time of need. "We have an incompetent government that is ignoring its workers, and showing that it doesn't know how the country's socio-economic model works," he says. Delia said that while interna- tional governments are forking out 70% of wage salaries for their country's workers, Malta is not even paying for 50%. He criticised the government's €1.8 billion rescue package, stating that €900 million will be guarantees for loans that busi- ness will not be taking. A further €700 million will be tax deferrals that will be paid later on. "Businesses need a direct liq- uidation injection, and the gov- ernment is not providing this," he said. Delia said that all unions, as- sociations and institutions have called the government's meas- ures "half-baked". "All the government is doing is pitting employers against their employees, and this will result in a lot of people losing their job," he said. The Opposition leader also called out the government for hijacking the national broadcast- er, insisting that on prime-time shows, only its officials are be- ing given a chance to voice their statements. "This happened yes- terday with the education min- ister and the economy minister, and happened last week with the Prime Minister," he said. He also said that during com- mercials, "propaganda mes- saging" is then broadcast. "We should be debating the issue, and yet the government is leaving no room for that debate to happen," he said. Balluta Bay: Residents and council file PA appeal KARL AZZOPARDI ST Julian's residents are fighting back, with the local council and NGOs filing an official appeal against the Planning Authority's decision to approve the Fortina Group's ferry landing in Balluta Bay. In early March, the Planning Commission approved a per- mit for the construction of a ferry landing place in Balluta Bay, proposed by the Fortina Group, despite previously indi- cating that it would be refusing the application. Eighty-seven appellants, in- cluding the St Julian's Local Council, residents and NGOs Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Futur Ambjent Wieħed, Green House and Moviment Graffitti, rallied together to appeal the Planning Authority decision. "This is a difficult time for the country," said a spokesperson, "but we are steadfast in our commitment to save Balluta Bay from becoming another port". The appellants argued that the bay is one of the remaining few where bathers can swim, kayak, dive for free, and said that a "massive catamaran en- tering and leaving the bay 21 times a day", would render the area unsafe. "The applicant can easily pro- pose the relocation of the jetty to a safe location which is not a bathing area. Why does the public always have to give up its open space? We will fight on so that the public can still have its bay to enjoy," a state- ment read. The project involves berthing facilities for a hop-on hop-off ferry service in Balluta Bay run by the Fortina Group. The decision was postponed last month after the commis- sion indicated that it would be refusing the project on policy grounds. The two reasons for refusal were that the project is locat- ed in close proximity to an ar- ea designated as a coastal area with leisure uses and will be in- compatible with the other adja- cent water uses as stipulated by two local plan policies. The proposal was also deemed to be in breach of the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED) which seeks to ensure that new de- velopments do not create risk hazards through design and lo- cation.