Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1181922
10 MATTHEW VELLA AS Malta positions itself as a hub for medical cannabis, two venture capitalists are heading to the island on a mission to transform the industry. Richard Skaife and Henri Sant-Cassia – scion of the no- ble Sant Cassia family – have created a new fund concept for cannabis and hemp innovators in Europe and Asia. Sant-Cassia (full name and title, Count Henri Gerald Gio- vanni Pio Xmun Sant Cassia) will be opening his family's Cas- tello Zammittello at Mgarr to a networking event for investors, fund partners, and venture cap- italists seeking to use Malta as a base for cannabis projects. With expectations that both the EU and the big Asian econ- omies could outperform the US and Canadian markets, the two, Sant-Cassia and Skaife, are looking at the companies already headquartered in Malta under the new medical canna- bis licensing programme. Their aim is to get companies to collaborate on a fund that will invest in cutting-edge so- lutions for environmental pro- jects, such as building materials replacements that use hemp. "We are in discussions with several local partners and are already exploring future pro- jects in countries from China to Germany," Sant-Cassia said. "Malta has already proved to be a very pro-active jurisdic- tion for both funds and our sec- tor, and we are already team- ing up with a leading player in the industry on the asset management and structuring side. We have been surprised how fast things have moved. Europe and Asia are the next frontiers in cannabinoids, particularly in science, tech- nology and innovation, and we can see that Malta is likely to be a global hub." From the very earliest days of CBD (cannabidiol) in Eu- rope through his work with companies like Cannapower, and growing medical marijua- na in California on a boutique organic farm, Sant-Cassia has been at the forefront of the cannabinoid world. Today he is CEO of CBD Virtue, a man- ufacturer of premium CBD products. Sant-Cassia also works in non-profit research for The Cannabinoid Trust. "This business is built on connec- tions, and Malta is built on connections so we are reach- ing out to people in the fi- nance community both here and abroad to bring them together with some of the key players in cannabis and hemp," he said. The tower-like Zammitello Palace is a 19th-century Vic- torian countryside villa, built by the Sant Cassia family in the early 19th century as a honeymoon retreat. Resem- bling a fortification with four small towers at the corners, it was built in the likeness of the Tower of London. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 NOVEMBER 2019 NEWS OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION The Planning Authority has been guided by Government to carry out a review of the 2014 Rural Policy Design Guidance. The Authority is issuing for public consultation a set of proposed objectives which will guide the revisions to this policy. The proposed objectives are: 1. To establish whether the scope of the current policy has had the intended effect; 2. To identify those provisions which might be outdated, confusing or require clarification; 3. To ensure that the amended policy has clear goals and objectives which meet the aspirations of the Strategic P l a n f o r t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a n d Development as well as the National Rural Development Programme; 4. To ensure that the end product is consistent, effective and in line with the spirit of the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development as well as the National Rural Development Programme rural objectives; 5. To ensure a smooth transition into compliance when the new policy takes effect. The 2014 Rural Policy Design Guidance maybe viewed on the Authorit y' s website www.pa.org.mt/consultation Stakeholders and the public are being invited to submit their comments on the draft objectives by sending an email to rural.policy@pa.org.mt. The closing date for submission is the 15th November 2019. Review of the Rural Policy Design Guidance (2014) HAVE YOUR SAY (Phase 1) www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY www.pa.org.mt Zammitello Palace hosts venture capitalist's big meet for cannabis investors Meet the Cannabis Count! Henri Sant-Cassia – scion of the noble Sant Cassia family – will host a networking event for investors, fund partners, and venture capitalists seeking to use Malta as a base for cannabis projects at his family's erstwhile residence at Mgarr, Castello Zammitello LAR A BEZZINA I'M married to a black man. When he first came to Malta a few years ago, walking down the street together used to be simply a frustrating experi- ence. Passers-by looked at us as if we were two aliens from outer space. Their disapprov- ing prying eyes followed us wherever we went. It angered me. Depending on the day, I ei- ther stared back until the by- stander looked away, or else muttered a passive-aggressive 'good morning', seemingly friendly but implying what- t h e - h e c k - a r e - y o u - l o o k i n g - at?' On one occasion, I am ashamed to say, I told that to an old woman who could not stop staring at us. I now re- alise that being so unnerved by this attention is pathetic. With time it got better, par- After Lassane Souleymane's murder, Lara Bezzina feared for her husband's life: what if he's murdered in cold blood while waiting for the bus?