Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1185664
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 NOVEMBER 2019 NEWS Constitutional reform submissions being analysed - President MASSIMO COSTA THE constitutional reform pro- cess has progressed to the stage where the many proposals sub- mitted by NGOs and individu- als will be analysed, President George Vella said. In its entirety, Vella is expect- ing the reform process to last between two and three years. Vella has made it one of his goals as president to pilot the process for reform but speak- ing to MaltaToday he cautioned against haste. The various proposals re- ceived so far will be analysed and presented in a report. This, Vella added, would be followed by the drawing up of plans for a constitutional con- vention, which would consider the issues raised in the report and would ensure that the peo- ple have the ultimate say. "There were a large number of individuals and NGOs that submitted proposals during the three-month period dedicated for submissions. These will now be analysed objectively, leading to the drawing up of a report on the opinions submitted," Vella said. He did not exclude discussions on the report that will take place across different venues in Malta and Gozo, offering people the chance to react. While it was still early days in terms of determining how the constitutional convention will be formed, Vella said that the public and NGOs will be pri- mary participants in the discus- sions. "Those who think [the con- vention] will be dominated by political parties are wrong. The Constitution is the people's, and I believe the people need to have the ultimate say. But this is still considerably in the future," he said. Vella said that any opinions and recommendations made by the convention will then be passed on to Parliament. The circumstances might also give rise to the need for a ref- erendum on a particular issue, as was the case for all constitu- tional amendments in Ireland, he added. "We are still far away from this stage… My interest is that any change is a change which the people want and that it is done in the interest of the people," he said, as he cautioned against "change for change's sake." Vella said that the reform should go forward intelligently with a view towards adapting the Constitution to the needs of today. 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/02/2019 TENDER TITLE: Service Tender for the Provision of a Research Study and Content Development for a Training Session and Info Booklet on Equal Pay for Trade Unions Any queries should be sent through e-PPS by not later than, Tuesday 26 th November, 2019 at 4.00p.m. CET specifying the publication reference and the tender title. A clarification meeting will be held on Tuesday, 19 th November, 2019 at 10.00a.m. CET at NCPE premises. Closing date for submission of tenders is Friday, 6 th December, 2019 at 11.00a.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 ĦMR 9010 Tel: 2295 7850 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 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Serbian bouncer was charged in court with grievously injuring and endangering the life of the Polish victim, working as a security guard without a licence, threatening the man, exceed- ing the limits of provocation and breaching the peace. The savage attack caused outrage and rekin- dled memories of the PlusOne incident four years ago when 74 youths were hospitalised af- ter a stampede caused by pepper spray sprayed inside the club. A magisterial inquiry into the shocking inci- dent found that among other shortcomings, the club owner had employed unlicensed security guards, some of whom were listed as customer care officials. In the aftermath of the PlusOne incident the home affairs ministry at the time had tasked experts to draw up new legislation regulating bouncers and security personnel. The Bill proposed the setting up of a regulatory authority that would not only issue licences but also monitor the activities of people involved in the security industry. Four different types of licences were suggested: private guard, a driving specialised guard, a non- driving specialised guard and a private guard at a place of entertainment. Anyone issued with a licence would have to be covered by an indemnity insurance, which would cover any damage, injury or death caused by the negligence of the individual. The proposal listed different penalties, includ- ing those for the use of excessive force. It also outlined the training courses the indi- vidual had to take before being issued with a li- cence. The draft presented to the ministry included a detailed breakdown of course material to be covered. This included training on how secu- rity personnel should address difficult situations without the use of excessive use and how and when minimum force should be used. The Bill also established penalties for those working in the sector, including a €25,000 fine and prison term not exceeding one year for those caught working as security guards without the relevant licence. Excessive force will be penalised under the draft law, with a fine not exceeding €2,000 and a prison term not exceeding 12 months. It remains unclear whether these proposals have been kept in the latest 'redrafting' exercise. Figures for 2019 show that five bouncers were caught working without a licence. This con- trasts with statistics for 2016, the first year after the PlusOne incident, when 20 bouncers were caught working without a licence. Figures by the police licensing unit show that there are 105 licensed bouncers working in Malta, a figure that was deemed "too low" by the president of the Chamber of SMEs' tourism and hospitality section, Philip Fenech. In an interview with sister publication Busi- nessToday, Fenech reiterated the need for prop- er regulation of the security sector and better enforcement of the rules. Shelved Bill recommended all bouncers be insured