Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1409324
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 SEPTEMBER 2021 10 NEWS LUKE VELLA ECONOMY minister Silvio Schembri yesterday announced that the COVID spending vouchers scheme will be ex- tended till the end of October, as €12 million worth of vouch- ers are still to be redeemed. Originally the vouchers were launched on 7 June and had to be redeemed by 15 September. This was the second round of €100 vouchers, distributed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, in order to stir up economy activity and aid businesses re- cover from the pandemic. €40 voucher sets are redeemable in retail, whilst the other €60 are redeemable at restaurants, bars and hotels. "So far, more than €33 mil- lion have been used in vouch- ers, which means 74% of the total number of vouchers. Of this amount, €30.6 million were used in Malta while € 2.4 mil- lion were used in Gozo. To date, €10 million out of €12 million in digital vouchers have been used, 83.3% of the amount of down- loaded digital vouchers, while €23 million have been used out of €32 million of printed vouchers, meaning 71.9% of the number of printed vouchers," Schembri said. 3.58 million vouchers were issued to 447,669 people for the value of €44.77 million. Of these, 117,485 people down- loaded their vouchers digitally while 330,184 people preferred printed vouchers. The distribution of postal vouchers in Malta and Gozo ended on 5 July 2021. 300,757 vouchers were mailed or col- lected as well as 29,425 vouch- ers that have yet to be collected. The vouchers were mostly used in July, with €774,000 used on 10 July. During the week- ends, the average use of vouch- ers amounts to €1.37 million per week, while during Mon- day-to-Thursday, the average use of vouchers is €1.22 million. This meant a direct econom- ic injection of €2.6 million per week. "The voucher scheme is gener- ating strong economic activity which is serving as an impor- tant cornerstone for economic regeneration, particularly on the domestic front," Schembri said. "The vouchers themselves are an important tool for the di- rect participation of the public to regenerate the economy and continue with our plan to pro- tect businesses and safeguard jobs. Therefore, to ensure con- sumption and continue to ful- fil the purpose of the scheme, we will be extending the use of vouchers until the end of Octo- ber. Our goal continues to be achieved and the results of the tough decisions we had to make at the most challenging mo- ments are happening." 34 new coronavirus cases were registered on Saturday. A new coronavirus related death was registered on Saturday, as a 96-year-old man lost his life. Active cases stand at 723, after 50 recoveries were recorded and the total deaths stand at 447. There are 31 patients current- ly being treated at Mater Dei Hospital, three of whom are in ITU. Until Friday, 804,841 dos- es were administered of which 1,938 are booster doses. COVID vouchers extended with €12 million to be spent LUKE VELLA A third event was organised yesterday by Moviment Graf- fitti in protest of the marina which is being proposed in Marsaskala by Transport Mal- ta. This time a symbolic swim was organised by the NGO. Graffitti spokesperon Andre Callus said that no form of public consultation was car- ried out by TM on this "ob- scene" project and called for an immediate and non-ambig- uous declaration that the pro- ject will not be carried out. Jacqueline Rotin, a lecturer and Marsaskala resident, quot- ed the Prime Minister, who said that the Marasakala bay area was in need of an embel- lishment project. She said she agreed that in- vestment was required for the regeneration of the prome- nade, the rebuilding of the Jer- ma hotel and regularisation of the fish farms, amongst others. Rotin however argued that a parking spot and a latrine for the yachts is no upgrade. She called the project an "in- sult" and said that the bay and the coast are of the public and should not be for sale. Lecturer Theresa Hoban said that the only motive of the res- idents was to protect the bay. She accused the authorities of treating the residents as stu- pid and ignoring their protests against the project. Hoban rubbished claims that businesses would benefit from the marina, as according to her, businesses survived during the pandemic through the help of the residents. "Should the ma- rina be built, most businesses would have to close and pave way for luxurious properties and establishments." Activist and ecologist Dr Marie Claire Gatt said that al- though she was not a Marsas- kala resident, she felt an ob- ligation to speak out against environmental degradation. "The marina would be taking away so much from the com- munity, for the benefit of those that already have too much," said Gatt. She added that the marina would be destroying not just the bay, but a whole ecosystem. Environmental health special- ist Dr John Paul Cachia, warned the authorities that they were right in fearing the residents, as they would not stay silent. "The arrogance expressed so far by Transport Malta has been shocking." Skalin, activists take a dive in defiance of the marina Economy minister Silvio Schembri (right) yesterday announced that the COVID spending vouchers scheme will be extended till the end of October, as €12 million worth of vouchers are still to be redeemed