10 years ago - The Sunday Times

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Asbestos at Boffa Hospital

The service ducts below the main corridor and wards at Boffa Hospital, Floriana, are contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos, The Sunday Times has learnt. The hot water service pipes, which were insulated with material that contains amosite asbestos, are not only leaking but the insulation material is in such a poor state that fibres have actually fallen on to the ground.

Sources told The Sunday Times that experts commissioned by the hospital authorities to assess the ducts had warned that the building risked being closed down by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority unless urgent action was taken to address the problem. Ironically, Boffa Hospital is currently the only public facility providing cancer treatment. Amosite asbestos is considered to be one of the most dangerous types of asbestos materials and was widely used in the past for insulation purposes.

When contacted, the Health Secretariat confirmed the presence of asbestos at Boffa Hospital and said the situation was brought to its attention in January this year.

Energy bills to be slashed

The government will announce a reduction in water and electricity rate of at least 20 per cent in the coming days, The Sunday Times has learnt.

25 years ago - The Times

Tuesday, March 22, 1994

Lombard shares snapped up

More than half of Lombard Bank prospective shareholders who applied for shares issued by the government will be left empty-handed. The government’s offer of its shareholding of 1,641,720 shares of 50c each at Lm1.10 each was over-subscribed by nearly eight times in just one day of business, Economic Services Minister George Bonello du Puis said.

GWU to fight for wage rises

Talks between the government and the General Workers’ Union on wage increases for employees at the two shipyards have reached a deadlock. The president of the Shipyards (Metal) Workers Section, Joe Sapiano, told Drydocks employees the union would be issuing directives to all members, not just to ’yard workers. 

‘No politics at Drydocks’

During a television recording of a Pjazza 3 discussion programme at the ’yard’s plate shop Lou Bondi asked what it meant to be a PN supporter working at the ’yard. After a short uproar, Mr Alfred Aquilina, a shop steward and a ’yard employee for the last 40 years, gently explained that ’yard employees were united as brothers.

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Saturday, March 22, 1969

Ordination at St John’s

Twenty-four candidates to the priesthood will be ordained by the Archbishop at a ceremony at St John’s Co-cathedral this morning. The ordination will be in Maltese according to the new rite of the sacrament of ordination to be introduced for the first time in accordance with the directives of the Vatican Council.

The new priests are: the Rev. Paul Camilleri of Floriana, Lawrence Cilia of Fgura, Joseph M. Farrugia of Żabbar, Carmel Frendo of Qormi, Angelo Grech of Mosta, Joseph Mercieca of Żejtun, Michael Joseph Pace of Sliema, Victor Zammit McKeon of Floriana.

The Rev. Paul Cremona, OP, of Valletta, Victor Camilleri, OFM, of Ħamrun, Mark Enriquez, OFM, of Valletta, Eugene Fenech, OFM, of Sliema, Gabriel Micallef, OFM, of St Lawrence, Gozo, Mark Attard, O Carm, of Ħamrun, Alfred Borg, O Carm, of Balzan, Richard Falzon, O Carm, of Sliema, George Kean, O Carm, of St Venera, Lawrence Briffa, OFM Cap, of Żebbuġ, Paneratius Caruana, OFM Cap, of Marsa, Edward Cassar, OFM Cap, of Cospicua, Daniel Agius, SSP, of Birkirkara, Francis Darmanin, SSP, of Tarxien, Godwin Xerri, SSP, of Valletta, and Patrick Zammit, SSP, of Valletta.

John M. Micallef, O Carm, will be ordained deacon.

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