Bonġu News on Tuesday 26 September 2023

Police Commissioner ‘biggest obstruction for justice’

Police Commissioner Angelo Gafà has become the biggest obstruction for justice in Malta, rule-of-law NGO Repubblika said.

Repubblika president Robert Aquilina hit out against Gafà for failing to charge the masterminds of the disability benefits racket.

The scheme was allegedly operated by former Labour MP Silvio Grixti and several government customer care officers. Aquilina pointed out that the police commissioner had known about it for 20 months.

Although action was taken against the beneficiaries of the fraud, nothing was being done against those behind the scheme.

Aquilina said that if Gafà is not ready to change this behaviour, he should resign as commissioner.

Food and housing again main inflation drivers

Food and housing were again the key drivers of the annual inflation in August. The annual inflation rate as measured by the Retail Price Index stood at 4%, down from 4.7% in July 2023.

In August, food registered the highest annual inflation rate at 9.3%, or even 10.3% when excluding food from restaurants and takeaways.

Survey: Restaurants are barely making a profit

Restaurants are barely making a profit, a survey commissioned by the Association of Catering Establishments (ACE) shows.

Owners took home an average of 6.1% in profit, according to the results of 400 telephone interviews.

ACE president Michelle Muscat said it would be more sustainable if Malta’s high 18% VAT rate was lowered.

Austrian recycling scheme will put consumers first

Austria will introduce a beverage container recycling system in 2025. Unlike in Malta, the retailers will have to shoulder the main burden – nottheconsumers.

All outlets selling beverages in plastic bottles will be legally required to participate in the system. Small shops and snack bars will only have to take back the quantities they actually sold.