Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/337883
Watch on MaltaToday.com.mt The Rebel President • Alex Vella is banned from re- entering Australia as police get tough on 'bikie' gangs BRAZIL 2014 WORLD CUP TONIGHT'S MATCHES Government 'unhappy' with police chief's style COMMISSIONER of Police Peter Paul Zammit is being earmarked for a new posting to make way for a new police com- missioner, reliable government sources have told MaltaToday. Rumours of an impending resignation had already been denied by Zammit, 52, appointed to replace John Rizzo after La- bour's election in 2013. But well-placed sources have told Malta- Today that Zammit "disappoints govern- ment by dragging his feet on a number of issues" – amongst them with open cases that require investigation and closure. More recently, a decision not to press charges against a Zejtun man who as- saulted police officers in a police station, saw the home affairs launch an 'inter- ministerial' inquiry into the matter. Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said he was taking the matter "very seri- ously", in a statement. Even Opposition MPs know that Zam- mit is not enjoying the necessary confi- dence his role requires from the Labour administration. In 2013, his predecessor John Rizzo was moved out and appointed head of the Civ- il Protection Department. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was said to have wanted new blood and a new face to manage the police force, but the level of mistrust be- tween the new administration and Rizzo was an open se- cret. xxxxx Newspaper post maltatoday WORLD CUP FEVER IS ONLINE AT MALTATODAY.COM.MT/SPORTS/WORLDCUP2014 MIRIAM DALLI UTILITY billing company ARMS Ltd is negotiating payment plans with both the Nationalist and La- bour parties, which have amassed a staggering total of unpaid bills to the value of €2.5 million. Last Sunday, MaltaToday re- vealed that the Nationalist Party has energy and water bills running up to €1.9 million, while Labour owes €600,000. "ARMS Ltd is treating political parties in the same way as other clients and negotiating payment plans for the parties to pay their dues," a spokesperson for the Min- istry of Energy claimed with Mal- taToday. Alternattiva Demokratika has since accused ARMS Ltd, a state company, of giving preferential treatment to the parties. "While the public is expected to pay its water and electricity bills in time or incur penalties or even dis- connection, both leading political parties seem to have enjoyed par- ticular privileges," AD's spokesper- son for energy Ralph Cassar, said. Both Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil insist that the parties are not being treated any differently from regular consumers. "Political parties must pay their water and electricity bills just like everyone else," Muscat said earlier this week. "Steps had already been taken during the past legislature and ARMS Ltd is proceeding on those steps." Busuttil refused to confirm his party has up to €1.9 million in un- paid bills, due to "commercial and financial information". Both MaltaToday and the Times of Malta have filed freedom of in- formation requests on the subjects. MaltaToday's request is currently at the appeals stage after ARMS refused to disclose information on the monies owed by the political parties to Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation. The request was originally turned down by the Information and Data Protection Commissioner. ARMS negotiating €2.5 million payment terms CONTINUES PAGE 4 PAGES 14-15 €1.20 SECOND ROUND MATCHES NETHERLANDS v MEXICO 18:00 COSTA RICA v GREECE 22:00 SUNDAY • 29 JUNE 2014 • ISSUE 764 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY Fewer Labour voters support spring hunting ban get tough on 'bikie' gangs Marvin Formosa 'Every two seconds, someone is turning 60' - How we are dealing with age INTERVIEW • PG 10-11 MaltaToday Survey finds 18% drop in Labour referendum support