Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1041944
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 OCTOBER 2018 NEWS INCREASE LIFE! LIFE is the EU's financial instrument suppor�ng environmental, nature conserva�on and climate ac�on projects throughout the EU. LIFE has two sub-programmes: Environment and Climate Ac�on. Project proposals are welcome from public bodies, private commercial organisa�ons and private non-commercial organisa�ons (NGOs). To receive updates on the LIFE Programme email us at life.mesdc@gov.mt or find us on Facebook, Twi er and LinkedIn. Interested applicants are encouraged to check our LIFE website at h ps://msdec.gov.mt/en/life/Pages/home.aspx KAI Marine Services, LIFE+ MIGRATE Project. Photo Credits: OCEANA / Carlos Minguell ©LIFE BaĦAR for N2K OCEANA © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K CALL FOR TENDERS As part of the project 820451 – Prepare the Ground for Economic Independence –the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality is requesting submissions for the provision of: REFERENCE: DT-NCPE/02/2018 TENDER TITLE: Service Tender for the Provision of Venues and Refreshments coming at least partially from organic sources for the project 'Prepare the Ground for Economic Independence' Any queries should be sent through e-PPS by not later than Thursday, 1 st November, 2018 at 4.00p.m. CET specifying the publication reference and the tender title. A clarification meeting will be held on Friday, 26 th October, 2018 at 10.00a.m. CET at NCPE premises. Closing date for submission of tenders is Friday, 9 th November, 2018 at 9.30a.m. CET. All submissions should be carried out on the e-PPS https://www.etenders.gov.mt/epps/home.do NCPE, Gattard House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda, HMR 9010 Tel: 2295 7850 Fax: 2295 7851 E-mail: equality@gov.mt Web: www.equality.gov.mt Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020 Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 80% EU funds; 20% National Funds PAUL COCKS LESS than a year after paying €2.7 million for a Tarxien hos- tel to use as dormitories for its foreign students, the American University of Malta (AUM) is seeking to rescind a 2017 agreement for Bowyer House in Tarxien after it uncovered a number of illegalities on the property. Sadeen Education Investment Limited paid €2.5 million to HF Investments Limited in an agreement on 30 August 2017 for the sale of Bowyer House, in Main Street, Tarxien, and an additional €200,000 for the furnishings on the property. But on 23 July this year, the company – whose university in Bormla has had trouble re- cruiting international students to its courses – filed a legal claim to the sale declared null and void. Sadeen claims that as part of the purchase agreement, HF Investments had provided a number of certified guaran- tees, among others warranting that the property was "built in accordance with all permits required by the competent authorities and in compliance with all plans approved by the competent authorities" and that it had "all the permits, li- cences, authorisation and ap- provals necessary to operate as a hostel and as a dormitory". Sadeen said that HF Invest- ments had also guaranteed that "all services and utilities provided to the property, in- cluding phone bills, water and electricity services, have been paid in full by the vendor". And it was these services and utilities that initially led Sad- een to uncover a number of il- legalities in the property. Soon after the purchase agreement was signed, Sadeen discovered that Bowyer House did not have electricity and water meters on site and that it was getting its water and elec- tricity from an adjacent prop- erty, which also belonged to HF Investments. Sadeen claims that it had been assured by HF Investments that they had already applied for a transfer of services and for the installation of meters. But after weeks elapsed, Sad- een appointed an architect to investigate why the applica- tions were taking so long to be approved. It was then that Sadeen dis- covered that the property was not built according to issued permits and that therefore a compliance certificate – which would green-light the installa- tion of services meters – could not be granted. Sadeen also discovered that sections of the property, which were listed as compulsory when the original licences and certificates for the hostel and dormitory had been issued, had not been included in the purchase agreement and had not been transferred to them. In its application, Sadeen claims that these shortcomings were in clear violation of the guarantees and declarations HF Investments provided with the purchase agreement and that they should be consid- ered "untrue and fraudulent", thereby nullifying the purchase agreement. On 7 February 2018, officers of the Malta Tourism Author- ity's enforcement directorate carried out an inspection at Bowyer House and confirmed that certain areas of the es- tablishment did not form part of the property purchased by Sadeen and that those changes did not have the necessary pri- or approvals of MEPA or the MTA. In a letter dated 10 May 2018, the inspectors said that a num- ber of changes had been not- ed: the reception area, which should be situated at Level 0 as originally approved by ME- PA and the MTA, was instead found to be on a different level and accessible from a different street; a common area facility no longer existed for guests, which area was originally served by Kastell Restaurant, which was in turn segregated and longer formed part of the hostel. Sadeen asked the Court to void the purchase agreement, to order HF Investments to repay the €2.7 million, and to hold HF Investments responsi- ble for any financial loss Sad- een may have suffered in reno- vations and the appointment of architects, because of the in- ability to operate the property as a dormitory and for loss of income incurred due to a drop in student numbers and other lost opportunities. pcocks@mediatoday.com.mt American University of Malta tries to nullify €2.7 million purchase of Tarxien hostel Bowyer House in Tarxien