Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1208901
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 FEBRUARY 2020 KURT SANSONE MARBLE tiles procured before 2008 when the Nationalist Party was building its new headquar- ters were only paid for in the past two years. The revelation was made by outgoing PN deputy leader Robert Arrigo last week in a parting message to members of the parliamentary group. But Arrigo did not stop at that. Listing the financial problems, the PN has had to deal with, he said bills pertaining to the 2008 general election were ignored for 10 years, the broadcasting li- cences were left unpaid for five years and no payments were ever made to the performing rights society. "This is the tip of huge uncar- ed of problems," Arrigo wrote in his sardonic message in which he invited rebel MPs to take over. The resignation came in the wake of open rebellion by 17 MPs, who asked party leader Adrian Delia to step down. Arrigo's message did not re- veal anything new about the extent of the PN's financial troubles but it did lift the lid on the details: ignored bills and a new headquarters still mired in debt. He also laid part of the blame on former secretary-general Joe Saliba, who was responsible for the construction of the new PN HQ. Past reports by MaltaToday indicated the PN had debts that amounted to around €25 mil- lion, a situation that forced the Simon Busuttil administration to start selling party clubs and place others in a trust to help cover the rising costs. A secretive loan scheme, known as ċedoli, had also been introduced to pay off some loans and restructure the debt. The measures do not appear to have solved the financial cri- sis and although the party has never confirmed the size of its debt, a glimpse was given by former secretary-general Clyde Puli. Puli resigned his post last Fri- day and in his letter to Delia, described the financial situation he inherited as "precarious". Puli said the Delia administra- tion he worked for had to con- tend with "millions" in debt and "hundreds of thousands" in an- nual interest payments. Puli said the debt, which ac- cumulated over the years that preceded the Delia administra- tion, was "a millstone hanging around the party's neck". And the financial problems are having an impact on the party's political work. "Everyday, as secretary-gen- eral you have to think of how you are going to pay for what was done yesterday, instead of improving today's situation and that of the future," Puli wrote in his resignation letter. Whatever intention Puli and Arrigo had in mentioning the party's financial problems, it was another stark reminder that the PN has a veritable existen- tial crisis that goes beyond indi- viduals and policy. Yesteryear's marble has come back to haunt the party and is now a financial millstone that does not bode well. NEWS Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs Parliamentary Secretariat for European Funds ANNOUNCEMENT Call for aquaculture (innovation) project proposals co-financed through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020 The European Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme for Malta in respect of the current programming period provides funding opportunities to the fishing and aquaculture industries and related coastal communities to help them adapt to ever-changing sectoral conditions whilst fostering their economical resilience and ecological sustainability. The Fund will be of assistance in reaching the objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and support the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy, as delineated in pertinent Regulation (EU) No. 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Funds and Programmes Division is hereby informing potential beneficiaries that a call for aquaculture (innovation) project proposals has been launched on 03 February 2020 for the measure below: Article 47 Measure II.1 Innovation Deadline for submission of Application Forms: 30 March 2020 (noon) This call has a total allocation of circa €800,000.00 in public eligible funding (European Union and Malta shares). The Managing Authority reserves the right to increase or decrease the said allocation. An information session will be held on 13 February 2020 10.00am at the Division's premises in Triq il-Kukkanja, Sta. Venera. The Application Form and annexes can be downloaded from the following web link: http://eufunds.gov.mt/en/EU%20Funds%20Programmes/Agricultural%20Fisheries%20Fund/Pages/ News-and-Events.aspx More information and/or registration for the said information session (until 12 February) can be requested on 22001108 or via e-mail to fpd.meae@gov.mt or on www.eufundsmalta.gov.mt. Maritime and Fisheries Operational Programme 2014-2020 Project part-financed by the European Union European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Co-financing rate: 75% European Union funds; 25% national funds Investing in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture We're Recruiting Join Our Team SENIOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICER (LEGAL) Permit no. 217/2019 Qualifications & Experience • MQF level 6 in Law; • A minimum of two years work experience in a Legal Office (will be considered an asset) Main Duties & Responsibilities • Provide advice and support to the Chief Officer Legal and the Chief Executive Officer on all matters related to the different units; • Assist various units on legal issues and assess legal documents to ensure the Agency's legal protection; • Be fully conversant with Acts pertaining to the assigned unit and oversee implementation; • Ensure that all legal formalities and other obligations related to the Unit are fulfilled in time; • Ensure that high level secrecy and privacy for all legal data is maintained within the Agency; • Translate policies into strategic plans; • Update leaflets and website information to reflect legislation changes; • Any other duties as directed by the Chief Officer Legal or the Chief Executive Officer. Interested persons are kindly requested to submit a letter of application and a detailed CV to recruitment@identitymalta.com by 23rd February 2020 PN mired in debt How yesteryear's marble became today's millstone