Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/373141
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 31 AUGUST 2014 10 News Thinking out COURT NOTICE The Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals notifies that the First Hall of the Civil Court ordered the sale by Judicial Auction of the following property to be held in the corridors of the Courts of Justice, Republic Street, Valletta. Date, Judicial Sale No. and Time Property 4 th September,2014 97/12 – 10.30am EGL Flat 4, Arizona Court, Triq Santa Aristarkus, St. Paul's Bay, offers should begin from one hundred and forty nine thousand four hundred and eighty euro (!149,480) together with the movables. 4 th September,2014 92/13 – 11.00am EM Portion of divided land in Wardija limits of St. Pauls Bay, forming part from a land known as tal- "arruba sive tas- Sellum of a superficial length of one thousand five hundred and seventy four metres squared (1574m 2 ) The property has an annual ground rent of one hundred and eighty six euros and thirty five cents (!186.35) valued at four hundred and ten thousand euros ( ! 410,000) 4 th September,2014 89/10 – 11.30am EGL The tenement numbered 21, 'Charmaine', St. Anthony Street, Fgura, including its airspace, with the drains and drainage system in common with the underlying tenement, subject to the active and passive servitudes resulting from its relative position, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at one hundred and forty-two thousand euro (!142,000). 9 th September,2014 111/12 – 10.30am EM One sixth (1/6) of undivided share of the tenement numbered thirty two in Triq il-Gardiel, Marsascala, free and unencumbered valued at twenty six thousand euro (!26,000). 9 th September,2014 34/10 – 11.00am JGL The apartment internally numbered seventeen (17) on the sixth (6) floor of a block of apartments named 'La Vallette Court', in Qawra Point, St. Paul's Bay, including a share of the common parts of the apartments that consist of the land on which the entrance is built, the groundfloor entrance itself, the lift, the stairway and its landings, the porter's room and the watermeters' room, as well as the use of the roof, the apartment subject to the annual and perpetual ground rent of one hundred and four euro, and eighty two cents (!104.82), reviewable every fifty years from 17 th May 1961, with all its right and enjoyments, valued at four hundred and thirty thousand, nine hundred and thirty four Euros and eight cents (!430,934.08) 9 th September,2014 10/14 – 11.30am PP Garage without airspace, numbered seventy-six (76) , known with the name of 'Falcon', today named "Life in Heaven" in Triq Kappadocia, Qormi. The property is free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and ten thousand Euros. ( ! 110,000) 9 th September,2014 83/13 – 12.00pm JGL (i) One Car Garage at Basement Level internally marked number eight (8) with access from a ramp from Triq A.M. Valperga, Fgura, including an undivided share of the common parts of the same garages complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at Twenty Eight Thousand Euros (! 28,000). (ii) One Car Garage at Basement Level internally marked number twelve (12) with access from a ramp from Triq A.M. Valperga, Fgura, including an undivided share of the common parts of the same garages complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at Twenty Eight Thousand Euros (! 28,000). (iii) One Car Garage at Basement Level internally marked number fifteen (15) with access from a ramp from Triq A.M. Valperga, Fgura, including an undivided share of the common parts of the same garages complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at Twenty Eight Thousand Euros(! 28,000). (iv) Apartment ground floor level internally marked number two (2) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). (v) Apartment ground floor level internally marked number three (3) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). (vi) Apartment ground floor level internally marked number four (4) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). (ix) Apartment second floor level internally marked number eleven (11) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred and twenty Thousand Euros (! 120,000). (x) Apartment second floor level internally marked number twelve (12) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). (xi) Penthouse internally marked number fourteen (14), with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex; The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred and twenty Thousand Euros (! 120,000). (xii) The airspace on the Block named "Ta Marie Court" including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The airspace has an annual ground rent of twenty Euros (!20) valued at one hundred thousand Euros (! 100,000) 11 th September,2014 54/13 – 10.30am EGL (i) Elevated Ground floor numbered one hundred and three(103), named 'Raymohan Nivas' in Triq il- G$ajn, Swieqi limits of St. Julians, which property overlays two garages and underlying a maisonette property of a third party. This property is free and unencumbered. The value of this property is of one hundred and ninety thousand Euros (! 190,000) (ii) Maisonette, semi detached, named 'Shivam', in Triq ir- Russett, Kappara, limits of San Gwann. The property is overlaying two garages at street level and a maisonette property of third party. One of the garages underlaying is included with the property. This property has an annual and perpetual ground rent of twenty five Maltese liri (Lm 25) equivalent to fifty eight Euros and twenty five Euro cents (!58.25) The value of this property is of three hundred and seventy five thousand Euros (! 375,000) (iii) Apartment numbered one (1), cornered, forming part of the block, named Graceland Court, in Locker Street, corner with Thornton Street, Qui-si-sana, Sliema. The tenement forms part of the mentioned block which consists of six apartments, penthouse, office and two garages. This property is subject to an annual and temporary ground rent of fifty Maltese liri (Lm 50) equivalent to one hundred and sixteen Euros and fifty Euro cents(!116.50). This temporary ground rent expires in the year 2085. The value of this property is of two hundred thousand Euros (! 200,000) 11 th September,2014 60/13 – 11.00am EM (i) Apartment number six (6) named 'Lowndes Park B', in Triq Alfred Gauci before known as Triq An%lu Pullicino, Bay Street) San &iljan, subject to perpetual ground rent of one hundred and forty Ewro (!140) yearly and valued at one hundred and sixty five thousand Euro (!165,000). (ii) Garage Upper Basement internally level marked numbered sixteen (16), named 'Lowndes Park B', in Triq Alfred Gauci before known as Triq An%lu Pullicino, Bay Street) San &iljan, valued at twenty two thousand Euro (!22,000). 11 th September,2014 113/12 – 11.30am EGL (i) Maisonette with no official number named 'Dar il-Palma' situated at elevated ground floor in Triq Vin'enzo Ciappara, Mellie$a corner with Triq il-Lu$, Mellie$a, free and unencumbered, with all its rights and appurtenances valued at one hundred and five thousand Euro (!105,000). (ii) Garage with no number and name, accessible from Triq Triq Vin'enzo Ciappara, Mellie$a, underlying the maisonette with no official number named 'Dar il-Palma'subject to annual and perpetual ground rent of six Euro and ninety nine cents (!6.99) subject to the active and passive servitues resulting from its position valued at fifty eight Euro (!58,000). 11 th September,2014 65/12 – 12.00pm JGL A villa, unnumbered, with the name "Viscan" in Triq Annibale Preca, "al-Lija subject to an annual and perpetual ground rent of two hundred Euros and thirty-three cents (!200.33), free and unencumbered, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at four hundred and fifty thousand Euros (!450,000) 16 th September,2014 90/12 – 11.00am JGL Apartment on the fifth floor, overlying four floors of third parties (excluding the basement) and underlying a floor property of third party, internally numbered nineteen (19), forming part of a block of twenty-six (26) apartments known as 'Block B' and forming part of a larger complex known as 'GT Court' in Resort Street, Saint Paul's Bay, free and un encumbered, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at one hundred and five thousand Euros (!105,000). 16 th September,2014 18/14 – 12.00pm EM Villa Semi Detached named 'Harmony', and garage basement level in Triq il-Belt Valletta, Attard, free and unencumbered valued in three hundred and fifty thousand euro (!350,000). 23 rd September,2014 102/13 – 10.30am EGL (i) Tenement numbered sixteen (16),in Triq il- Karmnu, St. Julian, including the garden and the overlaying space, which tenement overlays part of property numbered fifteen (15) free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments. (ii) Tenement numbered sixteen (15),in Triq il- Karmnu, St. Julian, underlying tenement numbered sixteen (16), free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments. (iii) Two Garages (2) unofficially numbered seven (7) and eight (8), without airspace, forming part of a block of apartments and garages underlying , which garages are accessible from a common entrance numbered twenty (20) named ' Navillus ' in Triq Lapsi, St. Julian , free and unencumbered with all their rights and enjoyments. The said tenements are free and unencumbered, valued at Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand (!650,000.) 23 rd September,2014 73/10 – 11.00am EM Apartment number four (4) named 'Movouveen' in Triq Sebastiano Saliba, Luqa, on the second floor, free and unencumbered with its airspace rights to build another floor and penthouse under current policies of MEPA valued at one hundred and thirty thousand Euro (! 130,000). 23 rd September,2014 22/14 – 11.30am PP (i) Maisonette named 'Lord Reigns' without airspace in Triq San &u(epp, Mosta annual and perpetual ground rent of Seventy Euros valued at one hundred and three thusand and five hundred Euros (!103,500) (ii) Garage internally marked with number three (3) forming part and underlying the same block in Triq San Guzepp, Mosta, free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments valued at thirteen thousand Euro ( !13,000) 25 th September,2014 73/13 – 10.30am PP Store numbered ninety- five (95) build on a plot numbered eighteen (18) in Triq #ensu Busuttil, Iklin which property gives access to another plot numbered thirteen (13) in Triq &uze' Muscat Azzopardi, Iklin, with two accesses from the same road, one of them numbered four (4), which properties are used as one store, free and unencumbered valued at five hundred and twenty thousand Euros (! 520,000) 25 th September,2014 100/13 – 11.00am EM Apartment internally marked number four (4), on the second floor, forming part of a block of appartments consisting of basement and semi-basement garages underlaying six floors. The appartment is overlaid and underlaid by property of third parties forming part of a block of apartments named 'Antonin', in Triq Sant' Agatha, Sliema. The property is free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and sixty seven thousand Euros (! 167,000). 30 th September,2014 88/13 – 10.30am EM Maisonette on the first floor, with its own airspace, without number and name 'Golden Sun', Triq il-Pitkali, Attard, subject to annual and perpetual ground rent of thirty four euro and ninety four cents (!34.94), otherwise free and unencumbered with all its right and appurtances. The said maisonette has the drains and drainage system common with underlying property, right access to the underlying property for maintance and repair, valued at two hunderd and ten thousand euro (!210,000). Further details can be obtained from the website: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/JudicialSales/search.aspx The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card. Rudolph Marmara For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals COURT NOTICE Registrar, Civil Courts and Tribunals notifies that the First Hall of the Civil Court ordered the sale by Judicial of the following property to be held in the corridors of the Courts of Justice, Republic Street, Valletta. Date, Sale No. and Time Property September,2014 10.30am Flat 4, Arizona Court, Triq Santa Aristarkus, St. Paul's Bay, offers should begin from one hundred and forty nine thousand four hundred and eighty euro (!149,480) together with the movables. September,2014 11.00am Portion of divided land in Wardija limits of St. Pauls Bay, forming part from a land known as tal- "arruba sive tas- Sellum of a superficial length of one thousand five hundred and seventy four metres squared (1574m 2 ) The property has an annual ground rent of one hundred and eighty six euros and thirty five cents (!186.35) valued at four hundred and ten thousand euros ( ! 410,000) September,2014 11.30am The tenement numbered 21, 'Charmaine', St. Anthony Street, Fgura, including its airspace, with the drains and drainage system in common with the underlying tenement, subject to the active and passive servitudes resulting from its relative position, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at one hundred and forty-two thousand euro (!142,000). September,2014 10.30am One sixth (1/6) of undivided share of the tenement numbered thirty two in Triq il-Gardiel, Marsascala, free and unencumbered valued at twenty six thousand euro (!26,000). September,2014 11.00am The apartment internally numbered seventeen (17) on the sixth (6) floor of a block of apartments named 'La Vallette Court', in Qawra Point, St. Paul's Bay, including a share of the common parts of the apartments that consist of the land on which the entrance is built, the groundfloor entrance itself, the lift, the stairway and its landings, the porter's room and the watermeters' room, as well as the use of the roof, the apartment subject to the annual and perpetual ground rent of one hundred and four euro, and eighty two cents (!104.82), reviewable every fifty years from 17 th May 1961, with all its right and enjoyments, valued at four hundred and thirty thousand, nine hundred and thirty four Euros and eight cents (!430,934.08) September,2014 11.30am Garage without airspace, numbered seventy-six (76) , known with the name of 'Falcon', today named "Life in Heaven" in Triq Kappadocia, Qormi. The property is free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and ten thousand Euros. ( ! 110,000) September,2014 12.00pm (i) One Car Garage at Basement Level internally marked number eight (8) with access from a ramp from Triq A.M. Valperga, Fgura, including an undivided share of the common parts of the same garages complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at Twenty Eight Thousand Euros (! 28,000). (ii) One Car Garage at Basement Level internally marked number twelve (12) with access from a ramp from Triq A.M. Valperga, Fgura, including an undivided share of the common parts of the same garages complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at Twenty Eight Thousand Euros (! 28,000). (iii) One Car Garage at Basement Level internally marked number fifteen (15) with access from a ramp from Triq A.M. Valperga, Fgura, including an undivided share of the common parts of the same garages complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at Twenty Eight Thousand Euros(! 28,000). (iv) Apartment ground floor level internally marked number two (2) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). (v) Apartment ground floor level internally marked number three (3) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). (vi) Apartment ground floor level internally marked number four (4) with access from Triq #ensu Busuttil, including an undivided share out of ten of the common parts of the same appartments complex. The property is subject to an annual ground rent of Ten Euros (!10) valued at One Hundred Thousand Euros (! 100,000). 16 th September,2014 90/12 – 11.00am JGL Apartment on the fifth floor, overlying four floors of third parties (excluding the basement) and underlying a floor property of third party, internally numbered nineteen (19), forming part of a block of twenty-six (26) apartments known as 'Block B' and forming part of a larger complex known as 'GT Court' in Resort Street, Saint Paul's Bay, free and un encumbered, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at one hundred and five thousand Euros (!105,000). 16 th September,2014 18/14 – 12.00pm EM Villa Semi Detached named 'Harmony', and garage basement level in Triq il-Belt Valletta, Attard, free and unencumbered valued in three hundred and fifty thousand euro (!350,000). 23 rd September,2014 102/13 – 10.30am EGL (i) Tenement numbered sixteen (16),in Triq il- Karmnu, St. Julian, including the garden and the overlaying space, which tenement overlays part of property numbered fifteen (15) free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments. (ii) Tenement numbered sixteen (15),in Triq il- Karmnu, St. Julian, underlying tenement numbered sixteen (16), free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments. (iii) Two Garages (2) unofficially numbered seven (7) and eight (8), without airspace, forming part of a block of apartments and garages underlying , which garages are accessible from a common entrance numbered twenty (20) named ' Navillus ' in Triq Lapsi, St. Julian , free and unencumbered with all their rights and enjoyments. The said tenements are free and unencumbered, valued at Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand (!650,000.) 23 rd September,2014 73/10 – 11.00am EM Apartment number four (4) named 'Movouveen' in Triq Sebastiano Saliba, Luqa, on the second floor, free and unencumbered with its airspace rights to build another floor and penthouse under current policies of MEPA valued at one hundred and thirty thousand Euro (! 130,000). 23 rd September,2014 22/14 – 11.30am PP (i) Maisonette named 'Lord Reigns' without airspace in Triq San &u(epp, Mosta annual and perpetual ground rent of Seventy Euros valued at one hundred and three thusand and five hundred Euros (!103,500) (ii) Garage internally marked with number three (3) forming part and underlying the same block in Triq San Guzepp, Mosta, free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments valued at thirteen thousand Euro ( !13,000) 25 th September,2014 73/13 – 10.30am PP Store numbered ninety- five (95) build on a plot numbered eighteen (18) in Triq #ensu Busuttil, Iklin which property gives access to another plot numbered thirteen (13) in Triq &uze' Muscat Azzopardi, Iklin, with two accesses from the same road, one of them numbered four (4), which properties are used as one store, free and unencumbered valued at five hundred and twenty thousand Euros (! 520,000) 25 th September,2014 100/13 – 11.00am EM Apartment internally marked number four (4), on the second floor, forming part of a block of appartments consisting of basement and semi-basement garages underlaying six floors. The appartment is overlaid and underlaid by property of third parties forming part of a block of apartments named 'Antonin', in Triq Sant' Agatha, Sliema. The property is free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and sixty seven thousand Euros (! 167,000). 30 th September,2014 88/13 – 10.30am EM Maisonette on the first floor, with its own airspace, without number and name 'Golden Sun', Triq il-Pitkali, Attard, subject to annual and perpetual ground rent of thirty four euro and ninety four cents (!34.94), otherwise free and unencumbered with all its right and appurtances. The said maisonette has the drains and drainage system common with underlying property, right access to the underlying property for maintance and repair, valued at two hunderd and ten thousand euro (!210,000). Further details can be obtained from the website: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/JudicialSales/search.aspx The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card. Rudolph Marmara For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals 16 th September,2014 90/12 – 11.00am JGL Apartment on the fifth floor, overlying four floors of third parties (excluding the basement) and underlying a floor property of third party, internally numbered nineteen (19), forming part of a block of twenty-six (26) apartments known as 'Block B' and forming part of a larger complex known as 'GT Court' in Resort Street, Saint Paul's Bay, free and un encumbered, with all its rights and appurtenances, valued at one hundred and five thousand Euros (!105,000). 16 th September,2014 18/14 – 12.00pm EM Villa Semi Detached named 'Harmony', and garage basement level in Triq il-Belt Valletta, Attard, free and unencumbered valued in three hundred and fifty thousand euro (!350,000). 23 rd September,2014 102/13 – 10.30am EGL (i) Tenement numbered sixteen (16),in Triq il- Karmnu, St. Julian, including the garden and the overlaying space, which tenement overlays part of property numbered fifteen (15) free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments. (ii) Tenement numbered sixteen (15),in Triq il- Karmnu, St. Julian, underlying tenement numbered sixteen (16), free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments. (iii) Two Garages (2) unofficially numbered seven (7) and eight (8), without airspace, forming part of a block of apartments and garages underlying , which garages are accessible from a common entrance numbered twenty (20) named ' Navillus ' in Triq Lapsi, St. Julian , free and unencumbered with all their rights and enjoyments. The said tenements are free and unencumbered, valued at Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand (!650,000.) 23 rd September,2014 73/10 – 11.00am EM Apartment number four (4) named 'Movouveen' in Triq Sebastiano Saliba, Luqa, on the second floor, free and unencumbered with its airspace rights to build another floor and penthouse under current policies of MEPA valued at one hundred and thirty thousand Euro (! 130,000). 23 rd September,2014 22/14 – 11.30am PP (i) Maisonette named 'Lord Reigns' without airspace in Triq San &u(epp, Mosta annual and perpetual ground rent of Seventy Euros valued at one hundred and three thusand and five hundred Euros (!103,500) (ii) Garage internally marked with number three (3) forming part and underlying the same block in Triq San Guzepp, Mosta, free and unencumbered with all its rights and enjoyments valued at thirteen thousand Euro ( !13,000) 25 th September,2014 73/13 – 10.30am PP Store numbered ninety- five (95) build on a plot numbered eighteen (18) in Triq #ensu Busuttil, Iklin which property gives access to another plot numbered thirteen (13) in Triq &uze' Muscat Azzopardi, Iklin, with two accesses from the same road, one of them numbered four (4), which properties are used as one store, free and unencumbered valued at five hundred and twenty thousand Euros (! 520,000) 25 th September,2014 100/13 – 11.00am EM Apartment internally marked number four (4), on the second floor, forming part of a block of appartments consisting of basement and semi-basement garages underlaying six floors. The appartment is overlaid and underlaid by property of third parties forming part of a block of apartments named 'Antonin', in Triq Sant' Agatha, Sliema. The property is free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and sixty seven thousand Euros (! 167,000). 30 th September,2014 88/13 – 10.30am EM Maisonette on the first floor, with its own airspace, without number and name 'Golden Sun', Triq il-Pitkali, Attard, subject to annual and perpetual ground rent of thirty four euro and ninety four cents (!34.94), otherwise free and unencumbered with all its right and appurtances. The said maisonette has the drains and drainage system common with underlying property, right access to the underlying property for maintance and repair, valued at two hunderd and ten thousand euro (!210,000). Further details can be obtained from the website: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/JudicialSales/search.aspx The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card. Rudolph Marmara For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals What lies behind the Muscat government decision to conduct a public consultation aimed at postponing next year's local elections to 2019? asks JAMES DEBONO FOR Muscat and his lieutenants doing away with mid-term elec- tions is all about saving the coun- try from another bout of electoral fatigue, an argument that in itself suggests that an excess of voting debilitates the proper manage- ment of the country. Surely this is a far more con- vincing excuse than Muscat's initial argument that postpon- ing elections will save the coun- try €2.5 million, the price of two and a half citizenships under the Individual Investor Programme and half the price of the Café Pre- miere 'bailout'. But there are two tangible politi- cal consequences emanating from postponing local elections to after the 2018 general election. Firstly the referendum on Spring hunt- ing will not be held in conjunc- tion with local elections. Such a stand-alone hunting referendum will probably have a lower turn- out than one coinciding with local elections. Secondly the postpone- ment ensures that Muscat won't suffer any electoral setbacks be- fore the 2018 elections. The aura of invincibility In this way Muscat will face the next general election with his aura of invincibility confirmed in last June's MEP elections fully intact. This means that Muscat will deny the opposition any opportunity of devaluing this perception by gain- ing ground at the local level. Moreover, Muscat, who takes elections very seriously, won't be distracted by having to go back to election mode next year at a time when he may well be facing the first bout of mid term blues. This suggests that Muscat is unwilling to take any risk which puts his su- per majority in question. For, armed with the perception of overwhelming support, Muscat can ride rough shod over both the opposition and civil society, while ensuring that nothing dispels the perception of Labour as the new natural party of government. For it is this perception which turns new Labour into a magnet for all those who want to have a stake in running the country. While in the past Nationalist strategists viewed local elections as an opportunity for Nationalist voters to let off steam in between elections only to re-assemble again in general elections, Muscat fears any signs of erosion in the support he has. One major risk for Muscat is that each election will provide voters the opportunity to renew their support by securing jobs or favours. Yet instead of taking a bold deci- sion to simply change the elector- al calendar and take the flak for it, Muscat has left his options open, by ushering a public consultation headed by Owen Bonnici, his af- fable, young and popular Justice Minister who has already proved his worth in selling the contro- versial citizenship scheme to the public. By conceding a consultation period, he will tap public opin- ion, assess any damage and avoid the perception of governing with stealth. In many ways an anti democratic measure will be shrouded in all the trappings of open government. This signifies another charac- teristic of Muscat's government – that of not hiding from public opinion as Gonzi did when he increased the salary of MPs and Ministers. Instead he faces public opinion head on using the trap- pings of consultation to manufac- ture consent while still calling the shots. Moreover Muscat, who is not averse to U turns whenever pub- lic opinion turns against him, has given himself an exit. For through his first year and a half in power Muscat has shown a remarkable ability to negotiate with public opinion. For example facing a backlash on the citizenship scheme, he first took away the secrecy clause and then gained the EU's green light by introducing a residence clause to what initially was conceived as a pure and shameless sale of citi- zenship. Still, on this occasion Muscat may well be banking on a com- placent public opinion on a topic which simply does not excite the public. Giving hunters their dues Both Bonnici and Muscat deny any link between postponing next year's election and the impending referendum on spring hunting. A time line of events suggests otherwise; that the postponement of local elections is a ruse meant to get a lower turn out at the ref- erendum. During the MEP elections Joseph Muscat himself raised doubts about whether the refer- endum would be held. On August 29, asked directly whether his government was ac- tually considering changing the law, as the hunters had demand- ed, Muscat said he would wait for the petition collected by hunters asking to parliament to change the referendum law to stop the referendum from taking place. "There is an ongoing petition by the hunters asking for a change in the law and we will see," he had said. He also turned the table on the opposition's ambiguity on this is- sue. "However, this is not a question of law. I think that the Leader of the Opposition is abstain- ing again on this is- sue. My position is clearly in fa- vour of spring hunting." Yet facing a backlash from envi- ronmental- ists and the media, who recoiled at the sugges- tion that the