Eddie Fenech Adami News

Maltese Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami left last week for a two-day visit to Libya expected to focus on oil and shipping. Government sources said talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were expected to focus on trade and the renewal of a contract for Libya to sell oil to Malta at favorable rates. A large delegation of Maltese businessmen and industrialists headed by Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici will also be over in Libya. Bonnici said his visit marked the start of an active trade promotion program with Libya for the next two years. Malta's Export Trade Corporation also intends opening an office in Libya.

Thousands of striking workers demonstrated in Malta's capital on Friday, Reuters reported, against tax increases and major shipyards were hit by the industrial action. Malta Drydocks, Malta Shipbuilding and Malta Freeport were among companies hit by stoppages after the General Workers' Union called on all workers to go on strike. Union general secretary Tony Zarb told the opposition's Super One radio that the union was very satisfied with the turnout. During the demonstration, attended by thousands in Valletta's main street, Zarb presented a petition signed by 78,600 people to Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami calling on the government to ease financial burdens on workers.

Some Maltese dockworkers refuse to carry out a planned $8 million refit of the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship La Salle because this would violate Malta's neutrality. Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami went on television to warn that his government would stop all financial aid to loss-making Malta Drydocks if not enough workers were available to carry out the work. He denied that the contract would violate the island's neutrality. A section of the General Workers' Union which represents the bulk of workers at Malta Drydocks said its delegates had decided not to work on the ship. Fenech Adami said that as a result of that decision the management board of Malta Drydocks had submitted its resignation but the government had refused to accept this.

Malta's biggest trade union directed its members to carry out a refit of a U.S. warship, after some workers complained that the project compromised Malta's neutrality and refused to work on it. "Work on the USS La Salle may be carried out," General Workers' Union (GWU) general secretary Tony Zarb said. The $8 million refit of the U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship was thrown into doubt when the GWU's shipyards section, which represents the bulk of workers at Malta Drydocks, said its delegates had decided not to work on the ship. The dockyards' management submitted its resignation, but Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami refused to accept this and warned that his government would stop all financial aid to the loss-making drydocks if not enough workers were available to carry out the work.