DIARY OF EVENTS 2004 JANUARY - doi photography competition

Customer and Fair Competition Division last year. Another 95 cases were still pending at the end of the
year. The greatest number of complaints was related to household goods.
• 17 March 2004 The Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Tony
Abela, said that Bibbly Line Group, a US company that owns a floating hotel, had decided to donate used
furniture, linen and blankets to the Maltese Government. "The items will be used at detention centres,"
Notary Abela said.
• 17 March 2004 A film co-produced by Canada's Kiss Me Productions, Ashdale Films Malta Ltd, and the
UK Film Services Ltd, entitled ‘Clarion's Call’, started shooting in Malta, with filming expected to go on
for five weeks.
• 18 March 2004 President Guido de Marco bestowed Malta's highest honour, Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika, on
EU Enlargement Commissioner, Günter Verheugen. Prof. de Marco said: "Our intentions to bestow this
honour on you stem from the gratitude we would like to express for the great effort you put into the
painstaking enlargement process. Your work is very much appreciated by the people of Malta.” Mr
Verheugen said that he was sincerely moved by the award of such an honour.
• 18 March 2004 Mr Verheugen said that the European Commission will fully exploit the expertise of
Foreign Minister Joe Borg to establish relations with the countries of the southern Mediterranean. "For the
EU to prosper, its neighbours should prosper, and Malta has an important role to play in establishing a
political bridge between Europe and the southern Mediterranean countries," he said. An audio recording of
the comments made by President Guido de Marco and Mr Günter Verheugen to the press can be accessed
at
http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/archive/PMaudio/audiorecording%20-%2017.03.04%20verheugen.asp
• 18 March 2004 Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the Government's plans for the
rehabilitation of Cottonera were aimed at boosting the area's social and economic potential as a tourist
attraction. "The idea is to generate business and to pave the way for more job opportunities by attracting
tourists to this gem that is Cottonera," Dr Gonzi said. The Minister was visiting the Vittoriosa Armoury
where the Government's master plan for Vittoriosa is displayed for public viewing.
• 18 March 2004 IT and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said that Enemalta agreed in principle on the
setting up of facilities for alternative sources of energy but experts had expressed doubts on the viability of
wind farms in Malta. He said that the experts were of the opinion that, contrary to popular perception,
there was not enough wind in Malta. Dr Gatt was replying to a parliamentary question.
• 19 March 2004 President Guido de Marco was conferred with the Membership of Honour and Insignia of
the Valencian Association of Graduates and Doctors in Journalism. In an address, Prof. de Marco
expressed deepest condolences and solidarity with the Spanish people and the families of the victims of
the terrorist attacks in Madrid.
• 19 March 2004 Prime Minister Edward Fenech-Adami was presented with a copy of the Union Haddiema
Maghqudin’s proposal for a social pact.
• 19 March 2004 According to a study by the National Office of Statistics entitled ‘Social Protection in
Malta’, spending on social protection in 2002 amounted to Lm312 million, approximately 18 per cent of
the Gross Domestic Product. The report, which has taken 18 months to prepare, says that the Maltese
social system is cost-effective and able to provide a reasonable level of social welfare and health services
together with income security.
• 19 March 2004 Finance and Economic Affairs Minister John Dalli attended an international conference in
Bratislava, Slovakia, discussing economic reforms in transition economies and in countries joining the
European Union. Taxation and the reform of social systems were among the issues on the agenda. In
Bratislavia, Mr Dalli delivered a speech on the global economic competitiveness of an enlarged EU.
• 19 March 2004 Education Minister Louis Galea launched a debate on the strategic master plan for state
schools drawn up by the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools. According to the plan, the Government will,
over the next six years, invest more than Lm60 million for building, refurbishing, and maintaining primary
and secondary schools, special schools, and other educational institutions.
• 19 March 2004 Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett called for a proper foreign marketing
strategy linked to Maltese culture. He said that the Ministry and Heritage Malta have plans to expand the