Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1205928
30.01.2020 4 NEWS BETSSON Group has signed a col- laboration agreement with the QLZH Foundation to become a 'Tree Partner' in the foundation's quest to transform the Maltese environment in a sustain- able manner by planting one million trees. Betsson Group is the first iGa- ming company to become part of this initiative. Jesper Svensson, CEO for Betsson Group said, "Our operational head- quarters is in Malta, and has so been for over 15 years, and we care a great deal about the island. By supporting the planting of trees, we help improve the environment and climate for all who lives here, with fresher air, lower temperatures and pleasant greenery. "Saġġar has created a lot of aware- ness on the well-being of the environ- ment that surround us, and this reso- nates very well with our Betssonites. So, whereas we usually give a small gift to each employee during Christ- mas time, we decided to instead do- nate one tree on behalf of each and every of our 1,650 Betssonites across the globe. "On a larger scale, we are committed to running a sustainable business and have introduced a new Local Commu- nity Engagement strategy and several energy and water conservation as well as waste management measures." Steve Mercieca, co-Founder of the QLZH Foundation, said "we were re- ally happy to get the support of the largest gaming company on the island. Through this partnership, Betsson Group is leading the way in the pro- tection of Malta's environment. "When we started this journey with our partners Act Environment, we knew that we had to rely on the sup- port and investment of organisations from the public and corporate world. Winning the trust of a multinational company such as BetssonGroup truly means the world to us and we hope that it will inspire other companies to become partners of Saġġar." Betsson Group partners with Saggar in its mission to plant one million trees JULIA Farrugia Portelli has re- quested a review of all contracts awarded by the Malta Tourism Au- thority in the past months. e Tourism Minster said all such contracts would be vetted "to check their validity". e move comes in light of the controversy surrounding the €80,000 a year consultancy contract to former minister Konrad Mizzi, which has now been terminated. Farrugia Portelli, who was speak- ing after a press conference on the terminal expansion at Malta Inter- national Airport, said that, follow- ing the vetting exercise, any action which was needed would be taken. e minister declined to explain on what grounds Mizzi's contract was terminated, saying that she was "restricted" in any comments she gave since she did not want to prej- udice any party if the annulment of the consultancy was legally chal- lenged. "I don't want to give an advantage to one party or another because of any comments I might make," Far- rugia Portelli said. Asked if she expected that Mizzi would contest the termination, Far- rugia Portelli said she didn't mean to imply this, but that everyone was free to take the legal steps they felt necessary. e minister added that there were "legal and ethical reasons" why Mizzi's contract was terminat- ed, without giving further details. Julia Farrugia Portelli orders review of all recent Malta Tourism Authority contracts Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli asks for all MTA contracts awarded in past months to be reviewed in light of the controversy surrounding Konrad Mizzi's consultancy Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli