Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544021
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MARCH 2026 NEWS Borg defends 7% VAT for restaurants, accuses Caruana of calling restaurateurs thieves OPPOSITION Leader Alex Borg has defended his proposal to reduce VAT for restaurants and kiosks, and accused the fi- nance minister of branding res- taurateurs as thieves. Borg was speaking on Andrew Azzopardi's Campus 103.7 on Saturday when he was asked about his proposal to reduce VAT for restaurants and kiosks from 18% to 7%. On Friday, Finance Minis- ter Clyde Caruana poured cold water on the proposal. He said that the cost of such a measure would run up to €140 million, noting that this was exactly the same price of government's tax cut in the 2024 budget and just €10 million short of Malta's cur- rent expenditure on energy sub- sidies. Caruana took issue with the fact that such an expense would only benefit around 3,000 cater- ing establishments, whereas the 2024 tax cut and energy subsi- dies benefitted large swathes of the population. Borg accused Caruana of dis- regarding the catering establish- ments and the families that run them. On Saturday's programme, Borg was quizzed on a large variety of topics, including on whether the PN was open to former MPs Edwin Vassallo and Franco Debono. The PN leader said that having the pair as candidates has not yet been discussed, but insisted that the "party is open for every- one." Borg was also quizzed on Mal- taToday's latest surveys, includ- ing one which showed that only 8% of respondents believe the PN will win the next general election. He responded that voting in- tention surveys place the gap between the parties within the margin of error, and assured the host that the PN is working non-stop to ensure it is ready for the next election. Azzopardi asked Borg about the PN's proposed economic niches, to which he responded that the party would look at en- suring that tomorrow's employ- ees have the necessary educa- tion and skills to work in Malta's future economy. Among the niches he men- tioned were STEM fields, AI, automation, manufacturing, the maritime sector, and the incen- tivisation of digital nomads. Once again, Borg was asked about abortion and wheth- er he agrees with women who have abortions being convict- ed. Dodging the question about convictions, Borg reiterated that he does not want to see such women face prison sentences, and that the PN must defend life from conception to death. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana poured cold water on Alex Borg's VAT proposal Contractor fined after restricting pedestrian access at Msida Creek INFRASTRUCTURE Malta (IM) said it has fined the con- tractor in charge of the Msida Creek project for restricting ac- cess for pedestrians. In a short statement on Sat- urday, IM stated its health and safety officer confirmed that pedestrian access in the area "was not up to the required standard." The works are being carried out by EPE JV, which includes Polidano Group, Electrofix and E&L Enterprises. Under the terms of the contract, the con- tractor may be fined up to €500 per day for any breaches. "Action was immediately tak- en and the issue has been re- solved. Action was also taken with regard to the contractor through fines." IM promised to complete the Msida Creek project while re- flecting "the highest standards that were held since the begin- ning of the works." IM thanked Msida residents and assured them that it will keep taking action whenever necessary. The Msida Creek project is expected to be finished next year. It involves a redesign of the Msida junction, where a flyover has replaced the pre- vious layout. The project al- so includes the development of a pedestrian-friendly open space, featuring a 300-metre water canal. The works are being under- taken by a consortium headed by Polidano Group, which se- cured the contract through a €35 million bid. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt The works are being carried out by EPE JV, which includes Polidano Group, Electrofix and E&L Enterprises Stone barriers were set up along the Msida marina (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)