Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1470876
4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 JUNE 2022 4 NEWS KURT SANSONE THE Malta Developers Associa- tion has joined the growing chorus of disapproval over new rules that allow bars in Valletta to play music outdoors until 1am. "The MDA does not agree with the manner in which decisions were taken and is concerned over the new rules that allow outdoor music to be played until 1am," the association said. It said that a decision like this, taken without consultation, under- mines the interests of residents and property investors. "Those advertised property in Valletta in a certain way, suddenly find that the product has changed radically overnight," the association said, calling on the authorities to re- verse the new rules. At the beginning of June, govern- ment published a legal notice al- lowing bars, restaurants and enter- tainment establishments in seven streets of Valletta to remain open until 2am and play music outdoors until 1am. Another two streets were added to the list yesterday. Residents have protested the new rules, which they say go against their wellbeing. The Valletta council has said it will be seeking clarifications on the rules. A group of residents has even asked district MPs from both sides of the House to challenge the legal notice in parliament. Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said the time extension for outdoors music was a response to demands by tourists who wanted to stay in Val- letta and have a drink after dinner. He insisted that Valletta will not become another Paceville. Developers want Valletta outdoor music rules reversed, lament lack of consultation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A social worker testified that the investigation began after the Child Protection Directorate re- ceived an anonymous phone call from a female caller, stating that her friend's daughter had confid- ed in her own daughter of having been sexually abused by her step- father ever since she was 10. Social workers then visited the girl's school, and sent for the 15-year-old. Although initially reluctant to speak to them, after being asked a couple of questions, the girl said her stepfather was sexually abusing her by touching her private parts. The social worker then con- tacted the police, who called in the mother for questioning. The children's mother repeatedly told the police that her husband was "not that sort of person" and that the children were lying, the court was told. Two days after the man's ar- raignment, the social worker received a phone call from the 15-year-old girl, who said she wanted to speak to her urgently as everything she had told them were lies. Testifying via videoconferenc- ing today, the girls told the court they had had made up the abuse allegations because they didn't like their strict stepfather. The eldest daughter said that they had made the false report because that their mother was devoted to the accused, who was a disciplinarian and would turn off their home WiFi to restrict the girl's internet access as a pun- ishment. She said that she had come up with the plan together with her younger sister during a free les- son. Her younger sister was ini- tially reluctant but agreed to the plan after her sibling told her that lying about the accused could be their only way to get rid of the man, as their mother would never leave him. She decided to tell some of her friends that she was being sexually abused as she knew that at least one of them would tell an adult. The girl reiterated to the court that she had lied to the social worker and to the police, admit- ting that she had never actual- ly been sexually abused by her mother's husband. She explained that she had decided to speak up at this point because "things had gotten out of hand now," adding that she had never thought that actions would cause such serious consequences. Neither was she aware of any sexual abuse carried out by the accused on her younger sister, who is 13, she said. The younger child also testified via videoconferencing, telling the court that she had been a reluc- tant participant in her sister's plan from the very beginning, adding that she had asked two of her friends for their opinions about the idea. The 13-year-old had subsequently decided to fol- low her sister's plan and tell the social worker and the police that she had been sexually abused by her mum's husband on one iso- lated occasion. The teenager insisted with the court that she had lied about her stepfather because they were al- ways arguing about insignificant things, but that now she was tell- ing the truth. In the light of the strange turn the case had taken, presiding magistrate Claire Stafrace Zam- mit appointed two experts, a psy- chologist and a psychiatrist, to examine the two children, before taking any further steps. Law- yers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are defence counsel. Teens confess in court that they made up sex abuse allegations to get rid of strict stepfather THE Malta Development Bank (MDB) has launched the Liquidity Support Guarantee Scheme (LSGS) which is the second emergency liquidity support measure as part of an aid pack- age in response to the Ukraine crisis. The first measure was in support of grain imports. The LSGS consists of two measures; one open to all undertakings affected by the crisis (LSGS-A) and the other specific to the fuel and oil import- ers (LSGS-B). LSGS-A is aimed at all sectors of the economy and all types of businesses irrespective of size. It will enhance access to bank financing to support undertakings whose cashflow was adversely im- pacted by the disruptions in supply chains and other pressures brought about by the Ukraine crisis. LSGS-B is directed towards fuel and oil import- ers. The objective is that of supporting firms op- erating in this sector to ensure security of strate- gic supply in view of developments related to war in Ukraine which have had a significant impact on the energy industry. Both measures are guaranteed by the MDB and backed by a Government Guarantee covering 90% of each working capital loan under LSGS-A and 80% under LSGS-B. Facilities under both measures benefit from an interest rate subsidy of up to 2.5 percentage points on the outstanding amount of the working capital loan, subject to a minimum interest payment by the borrower of 0.1%. The interest rate subsidy is applicable dur- ing the first two years of the loan starting from the date of first disbursement of the loan. The MDB is making available a total portfolio of €100 million in working capital loans under LSGS-A and a portfolio of €50 million under LSGS-B. The maximum term of loans is up to 6 years and the maximum loan amount is deter- mined on a case-by-case basis based on turnover, energy costs and liquidity needs. Both measures are available until the end of the year. With the combination of the guarantee and the interest rate subsidy, these measures will be facili- tating the availability, accessibility and affordabil- ity of cashflow into the real economy during such challenging times. In order to qualify for these subsidized loans firms are required to demonstrate in a clear manner that their cash flow has been adversely and directly affected by the aggression against Ukraine. Businesses will be able to apply for the loans with the credit institutions that will soon be ac- credited by the MDB. The list of credit institu- tions will soon be made available on the MDB website, along with more details on both meas- ures. MDB launches €150 million emergency liquidity support TWO police officers are to face criminal charges, two years af- ter the death of a detainee at the Floriana depot. No details of the two officers were given in an official state- ment by the police. The victim had died in the early hours of 24 June, 2020 in the police lock-up in Floriana's GHQ. According to the police state- ment at the time, the 35-year- old Mtarfa man suffered a 'fit' at 3:40am. The subject had been locked up after RIU units found narcotics on the man during a search at 12:30am. Two police officers to face charges for Floriana lock-up death