Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1429136
NEWS 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 NOVEMBER 2021 Operational Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Advert part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund Co-financing rate: Public Eligible (80% European Union; 20% Natio nal Funds) ANNOUNCEMENT – 17th November 2021 Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Last cut-off date for Call 1 SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Announcement of Call 2 SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014–2020, would like to announce the following: • Call 1 SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Last cut-off date – noon of 31 December 2021 • Launch of Call 2 SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Priority Axis 3 – 'Enhancing Malta's competitiveness through investment in SMEs' This scheme shall be administered through an open rolling call system and shall accept applications for Small Operations and Large Operations. This Call shall also introduce a Simplified Cost Option for Small Operations. Next cut-off dates: Monday, 31 January 2022 at noon; Monday, 28 February 2022 at noon; Wednesday, 30 March 2022 at noon. The cut-off dates are also published on the Business Enhance website https://businessenhance.gov.mt and may be accessed from https://businessenhance.gov.mt/ContentPage.aspx?tE0CdQZCR0IVU2+UdJooPWlzUtrTxHHq Information Sessions on Call 2 SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme will be held online on 25, 26 and 30 November 2021. On each of the identified days there will be two sessions, one at 10.00 hours and another at 14.30 hours. Interested participants are requested to register online from https://businessenhance.gov.mt/InformationSession.aspx?tE0CdQZCR0Li0GkE2DsSBHECcQCAFUuL Further information on these calls including the Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt or by contacting the Measures and Support Division on msd.eufunds@gov.mt or 2295 7110. Job Opportunity SPM International is seeking the service of Cutting Machine Operators Blanket fabric roller blinds cutting Machine Operator Requirements: Industrial sewing machine operations' qualifications and experience Salary: €9,600 - €12,000 p.a To apply: Send a CV on spminternationalltd@gmail.com Job Opportunity SPM International is seeking the service of Mechanical Worker Specialised in Sewing Machines Mechanical worker specialised to repair all kinds of sewing machines Requirements: Industrial sewing machine operations' experience Salary: €9,600 - €12,000 p.a To apply: Send a CV on spminternationalltd@gmail.com Job Opportunity SPM International is seeking the service of Sewing Machine Operators Operation of Flatlock, Overlock, Single and Double Needle sewing machines Requirements: Industrial sewing machine operations' qualifications and experience Salary ranges: €9,600 - €12,000 p.a To apply: Send a CV on spminternationalltd@gmail.com A bird trapper has been handed a suspended sentence and was placed under a supervision order after being found guilty of setting fire to a property in a field on the limits of Attard in 2017. 38 year-old Darren Galea, had been charged with arson and criminal damage exceeding €2,500 in value. On 3 September 2017 at around 11pm, the police had been informed that a structure built in a field near Mount Car- mel Hospital had been set alight. The small room was extensively damaged by the fire and had to be rebuilt. Experts appointed as part of a magisterial inquiry had con- cluded that a large amount of accelerant had been poured into the structure, which when ignit- ed had lifted the roof off it. The charred remains of a T-shirt and lighter were recovered from the scene. Police had investigated the case and arrived at the accused as a suspect after confirming with Mater Dei hospital's Burns Unit that a man had been admitted with matching injuries. Although he later pleaded not guilty in court, when spo- ken to by the police in hospital, Galea had admitted that he and the owner of an adjacent field to his had been involved in a long-standing feud over some trapping equipment. He said that after an argument with the owner, Galea, in a blind rage had filled a jerrycan with paraffin from a nearby fuel station and gone to set the structure on fire. Galea himself suffered burns during the commission of the offence. The Court of Magistrates, pre- sided by Magistrate Nadine Lia, was also shown CCTV footage of the accused filling up a jerry can, which had been taken into evidence from the petrol station. The victim had told the court that the cost of repairing the structural damage caused was €5,627 and that the items in- side it were worth some €6,700 – a total of €12,389. A court-ap- pointed expert however estab- lished the total damages caused to be around €6,550. The court, in a judgment hand- ed down yesterday, found Galea guilty. The court noted that Galea had refused to speak to a lawyer before and during his interrogation and had signed his statement on every page. In his statement, Galea explained in detail how he had purchased €5 worth of petrol, drove to the field and emptied it in the structure, throwing the emp- ty fuel can into a tree. He then set a piece of cloth on fire and threw it into the property. His shirt had also caught fire and he had immediately taken it off and thrown it to the ground. Magistrate Lia observed that the accused had shown remorse for his actions and had explained that they were something he had done in the heat of the moment because of feud between the men had become unbearable. She also noted that the accused had paid the victim €3,750 to settle the damages. In establishing the punishment to be handed to the guilty party, the court noted that the accused had no related previous con- victions, had demonstrated re- morse and had paid for the dam- age he caused. The magistrate also took into consideration a Social Inquiry Report which rec- ommended an alternative pun- ishment to imprisonment. Galea was sentenced to 2 years in prison, suspended for 4. He was also placed under a 2-year supervision order and imposed a €1000 personal guarantee, valid for a year. A 3-year restraining order was issued in favour of the victim. He was also ordered to pay €2,371 in costs. Inspector Rodrick Spiteri pros- ecuted. Bird trapper convicted of setting neighbour's hut on fire