Seven boatmen have filed a judicial protest against Transport Malta and the Ministry for Transport, alleging an unregistered group claiming to represent the sector is acting as an illegal “regulator” with the authorities’ blessing. The protest, filed on Thursday, claims the traditional barklori sector is being “hijacked” by an entity known as “Għaqda Barklori,” which the operators insist is not even registered as a voluntary organisation. The plaintiffs – Jason Sevasta, Kenneth Psaila, Keith Attard, Luke Ciantar, Daren Agius, Ivan Agius and Clifton Demanuele – say they are long-established operators who have invested heavily in their boats and equipment in order to operate within the traditional harbour transport sector. However, they claim they are now being sidelined by individuals allegedly using the so-called Għaqda Barklori to advance private commercial interests while presenting themselves as the sector’s official representative body. According to the protest, the group has been...

The Nationalist Party accused the Labour Party of running a “campaign of darkness” and resorting to negativity after the PN announced new measures for first-time buyers and separated persons, with the PN saying Labour had “run out of ideas”, a party statement said. The party was reacting after it announced proposals aimed at giving “A Fresh Start” to first-time buyers and separated persons, with the PN accusing Labour of responding by sending Finance Minister Clyde Caruana to continue what it described as a “campaign of darkness.” “If there was ever any doubt, it is now crystal clear that Robert Abela’s Labour has completely run out of ideas and, in panic, has ended up running a campaign of negativity instead of presenting serious proposals for the next five years,” the PN statement said. The party said Labour had expected to face an “unprepared” Nationalist Party but argued that...