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9 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2013 Stakeholders are confident to achieve positive results JEROME CARUANA CILIA THE Christmas and New Year festive season is approaching and youths, parents and grandparents will inevitably be on the prowl for particular presents. As a result, MaltaToday asked various stakeholders about their expectations regarding sales this festive season. The Chamber of SMEs' (GRTU) president Paul Abela said that the GRTU has this week spoken to various businesses that usually have their sale affected by purchases made during the festive season. The businesses selected came from various sectors – namely beverage distributors, household goods, confectionaries, footwear and clothing, hair and beauty salons, restaurants and jewellers, as well as supermarkets. "GRTU is informed that at present, business is still very slow, and it is expected to improve after the 13 December feast. However, businesses are confident that they will see a boost in Christmas shopping in the coming days," Abela said. As the president of the Republic Street Business Community and an active member of the Valletta Business Community Committee, Paul Fenech said that the general feeling is not negative, when compared to previous years. Considering that the vast majority of the infrastructural works in the capital city are concluding, this will be more encouraging for our sales forecast. "The budget measure that was announced by the government regarding the reform of the CVA system as from this December in time to shore up business during the Christmas festivities, by making parking free after 2:00 pm and all day on Saturdays, is very encouraging," Fenech said. He asserted that the Valletta Busi- Animal rights secretariat welcomes anti-smuggling court decision THE Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Roderick Galdes has welcomed a court judgement against the smuggling of a large consignment of live protected birds from Sicily. The consignment, which was hidden in a refrigerator van, consisted of 551 specimens of several species of finches, which are protected under national and EU legislation. The case was disclosed and prosecuted as a result of joint operation by Customs, the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit of the Malta Police Force and the Specialist Enforcement Branch of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit. Magistrate Anthony Vella ordered a fine of €4,600 and confiscation Roderick Galdes of the van. "In line with the government's zero-tolerance policy for infringe- ments, illegalities of this nature shall not be tolerated. The fight against illegal killing, trapping and trade in wild birds is being stepped up, and the recent increase in enforcement presence in the field, the doubling of penalties for birdrelated crime, and the number of significant cases disclosed over the past weeks are a testimony to government's seriousness and resolve to combat such crime," the secretariat said. A working group consisting of the representatives of key stakeholders including Birdlife Malta, the FKNK, the Police, MEPA and the Wild Birds Regulation Unit will be developing a national strategy for the eradication of illegal killing, trapping and trade in wild birds. Survivors of left-to-die migrant tragedy file complaint against Belgian army THREE survivors of a tragedy that caused the deaths of 63 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea in April 2011, have filed a complaint at the Brussels Tribunal of First Instance against the Belgian army for failing to provide assistance to persons in distress. The complaint, lodged with the support of a coalition of NGOs, alleges that in April 2011, as the conflict in Libya was at its height, Belgian's military forces present in the area received distress signals from the migrants' boat and failed to respond, violating the obligation to assist persons in danger. As a result, 72 people were left to drift at sea for 15 days, despite their calls for help being registered and direct contact with an airplane, helicopters and military vessels. "A helicopter flew over our boat four or five times. It came really close to us. We could see the pilots. We thought it was going to come back to save us. But nobody came," said one of the survivors of the tragedy. The case also calls into question the responsibility of Italian, French, Spanish, British, Canadian and US military forces present in the area. The survivors have already lodged complaints in Italy, France and Spain. Following unsatisfactory responses from the UK, the US and Canada, where victims are unable to launch proceedings themselves, requests for information have been submitted under freedom of information laws, in order to obtain details on the precise positions and actions of their armed forces at the time of these events. "The indifference shown by military forces present in the area led to the deaths of 63 people. This is unacceptable. The victims and the survivors deserve justice," declared the lawyers of the coalition. An investigation by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, published in April 2012, concluded that numerous opportunities to rescue those on board were lost and that the flag States of vessels close to the boat violated their obligation to rescue people in distress. In a recent judgement concerning Italy's treatment of migrants trying to reach Europe by sea, the European Court for Human Rights qualified the indifference shown towards such people as intolerable and affirmed that the Mediterranean Sea is not a legal vacuum. ness Community Committee is working hard to bring Valletta back on the right track. "We are determined that we will achieve positive results this year." Paul Fenech said that last year it was almost impossible to enter Valletta due to the ongoing infrastructural projects. This year these projects are being concluded and the result seems to be striking. "In this manner, Valletta will be a welcoming locality for locals and foreigners visit, that will in turn encourage more sales." A spokesperson for the Embassy Group said that they are not involved directly in operations of sales as that is handled directly by each individual store. "Nonetheless, we measure footfall [customer counting] at both Embassy Shopping Complex in Valletta and Main Street Shopping Complex in Paola." "With regards to Main Street, we saw a substantial increase in footfall during 2013 and this trend should continue during December. This is partly thanks to the investment the group did at Main Street during 2013, the opening of new stores at this complex and also the various activities that the group will be organising during the Christmas period. We are launching the Christmas shopping campaign for Main Street on 29 November by organising an evening event." The Embassy Groups said that at Embassy Shopping Complex footfall during 2013 has been similar to the previous year. "However, we are hoping that in December we see an increase in footfall when compared to last year due to the many activities we'll be organising, such as a crib and chocolate modelling exhibition in aid of L-Istrina, and also an initiative where a number of stores will be giving away free MCP car park tickets to customers who spend €50 or more." The spokesperson argued that the aim is to encourage shoppers to visit Valletta during December, while easing the parking problem which persists during peak times. VACANCIES WITH MEDIATODAY Full-time and part-time sales executives MediaToday is an independent publishing house. MT is seeking the services of experienced sales executives on a full time and part time basis who have more than 3 years experiences in sales with a local media house or marketing agency. The job offer comes together with a salary and an attractive commission structure. Candidates must have a car. Send your application with your CV to: info@mediatoday.com.mt Apply before : 20 December, 2013 MediaToday is an independently owned media house. It publishes three newspapers and a number of magazines and runs www.maltatoday.com.mt

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