Author: SME Chamber

Il-Ministru responsabbli
għall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli, l-Ambjent u t-tibdil fil-Klima, Leo Brincat ħareġ
espressjoni ta' interess għall-iżvilupp tal-potenzjal tal-Park tal-Familja. Din
l-espressjoni ta' interess saret bl-iskop ewlieni li jinħolqu opportunitajiet
akbar ta' divertiment u sfog għall-familji Maltin li jżuruh, kif wkoll sabiex
jingħata spazju u nifs akbar għal inizjattivi ġodda fil-qasam tal-kummerċ
f'pajjiżna. 

L-ghan hu li din l-espressjoni
ta' interess tinkoragixxi intraprendituri u nies fin-negozju b'ideat friski,
ġodda u innovattivi biex jersqu 'l quddiem sabiex permezz ta' process
trasparenti jkunu jistgħu saħansitra jipproponu ideat ġodda u innovattivi,
b'żieda ma' dawk l-attivitajiet eżistenti li sejrin jiġu identifikati
fl-espressjoni ta' interess stess. Jekk dawn l-ideat ġodda jkunu milqugħa minn
tim ta' aġġudikazzjoni fil-Ministeru, dawn jkunu inklużi wkoll fil-proċess
tas-sejħa tal-offerti li tinħareġ aktar tard din is-sena. Il-flus iġġenerati
sejrin imorru għall-iżvilupp tal-park innifsu. Sadanittant l-aċċess għall-park
sejjer jibqa' wieħed bla ħlas. Inklużi dawk iż-żoni li sejrin jiġu
kkummerċjalizzati. Ovvjament ħlief għall-aċċess għas-servizzi ġodda li sejrin
jiġu introdotti u pprovduti mis-sieħba l-ġodda kummerċjali. Wieħed anke
jikkonsidra faċilitajiet sportivi. Tabilħaqq jidher li fil-madwar jeħtieġu
faċilitajiet sportivi akbar. Fost iż-żoni li ser jiġu proposti
għall-kummerċjalizazzjoni tal-park hemm:

L-Istallel

Ir-Rock Climbing AreaIr-

Restaurant Area u Tea Rooms

Iż-żona madwar il-Kappella

il-Farm Area magħrufa bħala l-Animal Area

l-Amfiteatru u l-Pillbox

Iż-żona miftuħa għall-attivitajiet fil-beraħ u
l-Agricentre.

L-espressjoni ta' interess se
toħroġ nhar it-30 ta' Marzu u t-tagħrif u l-formoli meħtieġa jistgħu jinkisbu
mill-Uffiċċju tas-Segretarju Permanenti tal-Ministeru, fi Triq Ħal-Qormi, Santa
Venera.

Green MT, the National  Authorised Packaging Waste Compliance Scheme
in collaboration with the St Paul s Bay Local Council last Saturday organized a
four hour event during which residents and all those with recycling at heart
were asked to bring two empty clean glass bottles/jars to Bugibba Square and in
return be able to win a number of fantastic prizes, including dinners and
lunches and also weekend breaks at leading hotels.

Although the weather was
not on our side, the event brought along a good number of residents who turned
up with bottles and jars and took part accordingly. The event was presented by
DJ Pierre Cordina and a number of other entertainers, including Glen Vella ,
Kristina Casolani and a number of very promising young singers. Animators face
painted kids and over a thousand green balloons coloured the square.

The aim of the event was
to create more public awareness towards more collections of glass from the
residents and commercial establishments. It is a known fact that many still
place glass in their black bags and do not use recycling glass banks in their
respective localities.

The event was attended by
all Green MT Staff and Eco Councillors who participated and worked hard to make
sure the event was a successful one. GRTU Vice President Philip Fenech was also
present for the event.  Those present
were addressed by Mr Mario Salerno, the local Mayor who outlined the importance
of more and more education but also more participation from residents. The
collection finally amounted to just over two tons of glass from this event.
Green MT thanks one and all but primarily the residents and commercial
establishments in St Paul s Bay for their participation.

Green MT is a National
Authorised Packaging Waste Compliance Scheme and operates on behalf of 1300
producer members. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Scheme
during office hours on 21496965/6.

Despite the continued
efforts of Green MT and St Pauls Bay Local Council vandals continue to burn
containers for recyclables which are only there to serve the public at large.
Last Wednesday, a public holiday, someone decided to burn two sites minutes from
each other at St Pauls Bay, one near Fra Ben and another site next to the
Primary School.

In both instances the black metal bin was not burnt indicating
the person who carried out this act knew that metal material does not burn as
fast as paper, plastic or glass. We say someone because the burning of two
separate sites in the same locality cannot be seen as a coincidence.

These containers are
bought from public funds as they are owned by Wasteserv Malta Limited and
devolved to the Local Council. In turn the Local Council contracts an
authorised Packaging Waste Compliance Scheme to empty and maintain these
containers.

Reports have been placed
by the St Pauls Bay Local Council to the Police, which we are eager to see
thoroughly investigated. We hope investigations yield results.

Data:            It-Hamis,
27 ta' Marzu 2014

Hin:              18.00hrs

Post:             L-ufficju
tal-GRTU,

                    Triq
ir-Republika,

                    Valletta

Suggett :      Diskussjoni
fuq Waste Management Plan  2014-2020

In February, the annual rate
stood at 1.08 per cent. A year earlier the annual rate was 1.84 per cent. The
largest upward impacts on annual inflation were recorded in the Beverages and
Tobacco Index (0.41 percentage points),

A downward impact was
recorded in the Other Goods and Services Index (-0.04 percentage points),
mainly due to jewellery items.  The
twelve-month moving average rate was 1.17 per cent

Triq Borg Olivier in Mellieha will
be closed on Monday and Tuesday between 8.30am and 7 pm because of works by the
local council.

All traffic other than that by
residents and those rendering a service, will be diverted to the Mellieha
by-pass, which will be closed from Manikata Junction to Anchors Bay Junction on
Sunday between 7.30 and 10.30am due to a cycling activity.

Mdina Road direction towards Valletta will be closed for vehicle traffic and vehicles will be diverted
towards Mdina Road Zebbug. The road giving access to Ta Qali will be closed for
vehicle traffic and traffic will be diverted through Mosta.

Wednesday 26th March 2014: Areas
will be  open to traffic.

Thursday 27th March 2014: Mdina
Road direction towards Valletta will be closed to traffic and vehicles will be
diverted through Mdina Rd Zebbug.  The
road giving access to Ta Qali will be closed for vehicle traffic and traffic
will be diverted through Mosta.

Friday 28th March 2014: Road
works will be carried out after 6:00pm and overnight.  Mdina Road direction towards Valletta will be
closed to traffic and vehicles will be diverted through Mdina Rd Zebbug.  The road giving access to Ta Qali will be
closed for vehicle traffic and traffic will be diverted through Mosta

GRTU
has been informed that by virtue of Regulation 36 of  Subsidiary
Legislation 441.07, the Minister  for the Economy, Investment
and Small Business has approved that commercial premises may open 
for business from 4.00a.m. to 7.00p.m on Sunday 30^th and on
Monday 31^st March as
well as on Sunday 20^th April 2014 (Easter Sunday). 

Last week during a cordial meeting requested by GRTU with the Hon Dr Ian Borg,
Parliamentary Secretary for the EU presidency 2017 and EU funds, GRTU President
Paul Abela, called for the early involvement of enterprise representatives as
what we have learnt from past experience is that once decisions are taken it is
very difficult to make changes.

The
meeting was called because Government is currently in the process of making
important decisions and committing with the European Commission on how the one billion
euros will be spent. GRTU stated that we do not want to learn about schemes
that target our members after these are published and no changes would be
possible. The Authorities and business representatives have to work closely and
together come up with schemes that target the needs of enterprise. GRTU
mentioned that such an operation model has already proved successful through a
number of schemes GRTU has been involved in and this was acknowledged by the
Parliamentary Secretary who said that he appreciates our involvement in the PV
scheme and the Employment Aid Programme in Gozo, which also led to the
successful uptake of such schemes.

GRTU
gave an overview of our experience and that of our members with regards to the
administration of the last funding period, with the aim of learning from past
experience. GRTU called for less bureaucratic processes and more simplification.
It also called for more transparency and accountability when applications are
refused, based on clear criteria and not on the whims of individuals. We also
emphasized that the applicants should not be the only ones made to adhere to
strict deadlines, the authorities entrusted with issuing payments and
reimbursements should also be bound by strict deadlines.

GRTU
suggested increasing the use of pre-financing so that funds are really made
accessible to those that need them most and they are not made to wait months or
years to get the reimbursement. GRTU also requested immediate assistance when
it comes to e-commerce, aid to export and to upgrade to the required standards.
Certain incentives should be made available on a more frequent of even
permanent basis and be demand driven as enterprises cannot time their
investment needs with the availability of schemes. This should be the case for
investments in employment, machinery and renewable energy products.

A
problem which is affecting all enterprises and which is heavily impinging on
the country's productivity is traffic. GRTU called for funds to address this
situation and to also encourage the private sector to invest in alternative
means of transport. GRTU also called for funds to better utilize resources in
the locality, help start-ups materialise their ideas and increase production of
high quality local produce, especially for the agri-tourism and crafts sector.

Hon
Borg on his part welcomed GRTU's proposals and confirmed to GRTU that there
will be incentives available for enterprises immediately in 2014. He also
assured GRTU will be involved in the consultation the Government will be
carrying out to plan a more detailed way in which Malta will be spending the
funds.

On the
announcement by the MRA that the PV scheme for domestic beneficiaries has been
fully subscribed we would like to recognize the improved administration in
handling such schemes on the side of the MRA and its increased willingness to
cooperate with stakeholders such as the GRTU. These are main elements that
ensure that schemes are successful. The fact that schemes targeting domestic
beneficiaries are no longer being stopped due to problems encountered is also
evidence of this fact. 

The GRTU
PV Purchase Facilitation Scheme (PVPFS) played an essential role in the full
uptake of the scheme. With over a thousand systems installed for domestic
houses, many of these new PV owners say that had it not been for the GRTU
scheme they would have been unable to purchase the systems. This means that
thanks to this we have managed to reach those that are most in need which is
very satisfying to GRTU.

Another
initiative which encouraged the uptake of the scheme was the GRTU Approved
which monitored and worked closely with suppliers who chose to subscribe to it
and elevated the level of service and quality, increasing consumer confidence.

We are
very pleased with the outcome which shows that the private sector is worthy to
be involved in the use of EU funds. EU funds are very important not only for
the households that are to benefit from the systems installed in the long term,
but were also a €20M direct injection in the economy. This helps the renewable
energy sector generate and sustain a significant number of green jobs and
therefore should be well taken care of.

We have
good reason to believe that a number of applications submitted will not be able
to be catered for due to the full uptake of funds and we hope more funds can be
found by government to satisfy the demand. Now that this scheme has come to an
end, GRTU urges the Authorities to treat with urgency ongoing discussions on
new schemes as well as the announcements of the new commercial feed in tariffs.
This delay is holding back investment and will result in losses.

The
working model of this scheme should be replicated to target other sectors of
the economy such as the commercial and touristic sectors, hospitals, parkings
and many other open spaces, and thus the relative responsible entities are
encouraged to collaborate with GRTU so that their calls will be successful. All
stakeholders should work together to device ways of reaching the 2020 targets
and in the most beneficial manner to owners, retailers and the country.