Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1037786
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 OCTOBER 2018 7 supporters on the social media. It also shows that despite rid- ing high in opinion polls Muscat is concerned by signs of discon- tentment in his own party which are clearly visible on environ- mental issues like the approval of a 38-storey tower in Pembroke. Confrontation with teachers – a category which includes many who hail from a working-class background – risked further eroding his hold on voters. In his address Muscat called for more respect to educators while condemning those who had used social media to foment hate speech against teachers. His call was echoed by Educa- tion Minister Evarist Bartolo, who also addressed the activity. Muscat may well have realised that the anger in the teaching community goes beyond the issue of warrants and is rooted in the devaluation of the teach- ing profession and the loss of status in the community which was only amplified by the sug- gestion that warrants should be conditional on further training. He also described the with- drawal of the controversial education bill as a sign of gov- ernment's "humility" and non- confrontational attitude." "We stand by what we said about the intentions and con- sultation of this bill, but we also believe that the Malta Union of Teachers was genu- ine in its concerns," Joseph Muscat said when addressing a political activity in Zejtun. This suggests that despite his popularity, Muscat is wary of alienating strategic categories of voters through confronta- tion reminiscent of old Labour times when teachers were of- ten branded as enemies of the working class. In this case this raises the question on whether this episode could have been avoided through more mean- ingful consultation. But once again Muscat has made a virtue of de-escalating tensions even if this strategy comes at a risk – that it may raise expectations of those ex- pecting government to back down from proposed laws or projects. MEWS ANALYSIS particularly within the Accounts and Payments Units of the Agency, besides other areas within Paying Agency's organisational structure. This position oers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities entailed. If this sounds the right opportunity for your career, we invite you to submit an application to the attention of the Director-General (Operations), Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change by the closing time and date of this call for applications, noon (Central European Time) of Friday 12 th October 2018 through the Online Government Recruitment Portal at https://recruitment.gov.mt. Further details may be obtained from the Government Gazette no. 20,062 of the 28 th September, 2018 or by emailing arpa.mesdc@gov.mt or calling on 2292 4309. The Agriculture and Rural Paying Agency within the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change (MESDC) is seeking to recruit a number of Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Position may be co-funded by the European Union Technical Assistance The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Co-financing rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta Europe Investing in Rural Areas PROJECT OFFICERS (PAYING AGENCY) SITUATIONS VACANT Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency Luqa Road, Qormi QRM 9075, Malta Pakistani bogeymen was only amplified by the sug- gestion that warrants should be conditional on further training. He also described the with- raise expectations of those ex- pecting government to back down from proposed laws or projects. JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Re- sources Authority has de- scribed the development of a supermarket on undeveloped ODZ land in Burmarrad as "unacceptable from an en- vironmental point of view" which would lead to the loss of the area's "rural character". The supermarket is being proposed at the edge of the lo- cality, along the road leading to the Burmarrad church, sprawl- ing into the rural environment characterising the road leading from San Pawl tat-Targa to Burmarrad. The site where the build- ing and parking facilities are being proposed consists of a 6,870sq.m plot of agricultural land along Burmarrad Road in the intersection with Triq is- Sardin, which already hosts a repair yard and offices owned by Bonnici Brothers, dating back to the 1990s. ERA also noted that soil has already been removed on part of the site earmarked for the supermarket and the area is be- ing used for the parking of ve- hicles and for storage purposes even though no permits can be traced to authorise this change of use. ERA has warned that the presence of the "illegal park- ing and storage area should not be used as a pretext for further intensification and commit- ments on site". Additionally ERA has also noted that another two super- markets are already present in the vicinity of the site in ques- tion, adding that the Scotts Supermarket is located only a 2-minutes' drive away while the Piscopo Cash and Carry su- permarket is located a 5-min- utes' drive away. The PA had refused to regu- larise an illegally developed car park on the site earmarked for the supermarket in 2000. An enforcement order dating back to 2007 against the erection of a franka wall is still pending. Burmarrad, once considered a rural hamlet, has seen an in- tensification of development, with the PA approving an ODZ petrol station opposite the Kia- bi retail store, which was itself approved on a site previously occupied by a winery. ERA says 'no' to ODZ supermarket in Burmarrad