GRTU successfully holds AGM and election

GRTU has on Sunday 12^th January 2014 held its Sixty Fifth Annual General
Meeting. During the AGM the minutes of last year's meeting were read and
approved, GRTU's President Paul Abela gave a speech, a detailed presentation
was given of the annual report, members put forward their views, the annual
accounts were approved and the auditor was confirmed.

In his address President Abela said that like all other years
2013 was a very busy year for GRTU. GRTU was kept busy with the usual affairs
of representing our members as well as other challenges which at the same time
GRTU sees as an opportunity, including the change in Government, the first year
of implementation of the EU funded project of Europe Direct and the retirement
of Vincent Farrugia as GRTU Director General.

Mr Abela continued by saying that we already see a number of
issues that will be keeping GRTU busy during 2014 which included:

The issue of
Opening Hours

Employment
Schemes for Enterprise

Helping members
restructure to become more competitive in the scenario of increased competition
from Malta and abroad and also online shopping

Make increased
use of EU funds for GRTU and its members

Working and
insisting with Government to tackle issues related to traffic and parking

Working and
insisting with Government to take concrete action on unfair competition

Working and
insisting with Government to introduce an increased number of GRTU's proposals
for Budget 2014

Working and
insisting with Government to implement the Small Business Act in its entirety

The President also appealed to all GRTU members to take more
interest in the work of GRTU and to involve themselves in GRTU.

During the AGM the members of the GRTU Council thanked Mr
Paul Abela for ably continuing to manage the office, following the retirement
of the Director General, which has involved a large time commitment from his
side. They thanked the staff for continuing to give their best, through their
professionalism and ability, and making sure to tackle the issues faced by GRTU
and its member. The Council also thanked Vincent Farrugia for the work he has
done in favour of enterprise during the 20 years he was Director General at
GRTU.

Following interventions made by individual members present,
Mr Paul Abela invited the candidates to each briefly address the floor
and
following this he opened the possibility of voting. There were 5
individuals
from last year's Executive Council that are due for election and 4 new
candidates. From a total of 9 candidates 6 have been elected by GRTU
members.
The 18 members of the GRTU Executive Council for 2014 are the following:
Abela Paul, Azzopardi Emanuel, Borg Maurice, Camilleri Sergio, Cutajar
Patrick, Debono Mario, Desira Emanuel, Fenech Azzopardi Therese, Fenech
Philip, Galea Michael, Galea Stephen, Gauci Noel, Haber Joan,
Mizzi Marcel, Vella Josette, Vella Salvu, Zammit Karmenu u Zerafa
Joseph.

Furthermore yesterday Paul Abela was reappointed as president
of the GRTU's executive national council for 2014. The rest of the council was
also announced, and the executive roles are: Philip Fenech as deputy president;
Marcel Mizzi as vice president for finance and administration; Joan Haber as
vice president for sections; Sergio Camilleri as vice president for localities;
Michael Grech as vice president for international relations and Mario Debono as
vice president for development.