August: Monti moves to City Gate

1 August

The Valletta market finally moved to Ordnance Street, just across the road from Parliament. The Economy Ministry confirmed that the move from Merchants Street was permanent. The ministry also said that an agreement on the new design for the market stalls would be reached “shortly.”

2 August

Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit director Manfred Galdes resigned. The government said Mr Galdes had resigned to take up a post in the private sector. Earlier, journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia linked the resignation to the FIAU’s investigations into the offshore companies of Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi.

A sea turtle lay around 80 eggs beneath the sand at Għajn Tuffieħa, prompting a massive conservation effort. The extraordinary event was witnessed by several people.

3 August

John Bundy was officially appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Public Broadcasting Service. The Board said in its statement that they are looking forward to Mr Bundy bringing his years of broadcasting experience to the table. The popular TV presenter replaced Anton Attard, who had occupied the post since August 2010.

4 August

In a marathon sitting, lasting from morning till late afternoon, the Planning Authority board approved two controversial applications for high-rise towers – four in Mrieħel and one in the Qui-siSana part of Sliema. The projects had come under scrutiny from environmental groups, with a court injunction on the Planning Authority in which four eNGOs insisted that proper studies be made on the construction of highrise buildings before any decisions are taken.

7 August

The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed how overcrowding and overpricing are destroying the beauty of Comino’s Blue Lagoon. The popular tourist hotspot seemed to be losing its appeal as several complaints were being lodged on travel sites like TripAdvisor.

9 August

This newsroom also revealed that former General Workers’ Union Secretary General Tony Zarb would serve as a part-time consultant to Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister.

11 August

Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli stood by her chief of staff, Ronnie Pellegrini, over a comment which was interpreted as him saying that Labourites should get preferential treatment.

13 August

The prices for the renting of deckchairs and umbrellas at the Blue Lagoon area in Comino shot up as a response to an MTA warning on operators to keep the number of deckchairs within the limit stipulated in the tenders. An exercise undertaken by this paper found that a typical family of four people, two adults and two children can easily spend an average of €150 for a day trip to Comino.

17 August

Independent MP Marlene Farrugia called on the Nationalist Party, Alternattiva Demokratika,

the “true Labour Party”, the country’s environmental NGOs and civil society at large to form a coalition and take back the country from the “parasites” in control of the “Putinesque” government.

21 August

High-ranking Libyan sources told The Malta Independent that a Maltese government official was netting up to €150,000 a month in the racket involving medical visas for injured Libyans.

This newspaper was told that the official, Neville Gafà – who worked at the Office of the Prime Minister and later at the Health Ministry – personally made between €2 million and €3 million from the racket since it began operating in 2014.

22 August

Popular presenter Salvu Mallia’s announced that his television show Madwarna was axed by PBS. Writing on Facebook, an irritated Mallia said that the show has been killed off “along with freedom of expression.” He went on to say that he regrets the moment he voted for this “fascist government.” Mr Mallia was openly critical of the government and had also been linked to Marlene Farrugia’s new Democratic Party.

25 August

The Malta Independent revealed that four former prison warders who had been sentenced for five years for beating a Dutch inmate but who later had their sentences reduced on appeal have been reinstated in the prison service. The Home Affairs Ministry told this newspaper that the four officers had been given “other duties” at the Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) but did not reveal what the new roles were.

26 August

Maltese singer Ira Losco gave birth to a baby boy, Harry. The singer and her partner, chef Sean Gravina, made the announcement on Facebook. Ms Losco had first announced she was pregnant in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest – her second time representing Malta in the prestigious event.

A 66-year-old woman from Pietà died in hospital after falling ill on a boat in Comino.

27 August

Three children were injured when flames shot down from a balcony in Birżebbuġa. The chilÁdren were taking part in a dancing competition. An Italian man was using lighter fluid on a barbecue set in the property above when flames fell down onto the screaming crowd. The injured children were aged 12, 10 and five.

30 August

A report commissioned by the Environment Ministry found that the infamous sea sludge was, more often than not, coming from fish farms. It also found that four out of six fish farms in Malta, all of which operate tuna pens, have some form of infringement.