MaltaToday previous editions

maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2014 3 News Hunters' boss Lino Farrugia sues for libel over newspaper cartoon Gas prices up by 90c from today Andrew Mizzi appointed head of industrial relations at Air Malta THE chief executive of the hunting lobby FKNK, Lino Farrugia, has filed for libel against MaltaToday journalist Matthew Vella over the publication of a newspaper cartoon appearing on MaltaToday, and re- published on MaltaToday.com.mt on 24 April, 2014. The cartoon features Farrugia relieving himself against a rub- ble wall, while being watched by a drone flying overhead: the humor- ous send-up was a reaction to news that the government would be us- ing drones to monitor the hunting season. Farrugia has asked the courts to demand that MaltaToday pays €11,646 in damages, as well as le- gal expenses, for having offended his honour and reputation, and to declare the cartoon defamatory in his regard. His libel suit was signed by Kath- leen Grima, a lawyer from the le- gal firm of Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia. The libel action would be un- precedented had it not been for the 1959 imprisonment of Joe Micallef Stafrace on charges of vilification of the British colonial governor Sir Robert Laycock. Stafrace, who later became a La- bour MP and minister, was then editor of Is-Sebh when he spent four days in prison for the vilifica- tion of the governor, portrayed in a satirical cartoon being carried shoulder high at a village feast with a bottle of gin in his hand – the in- ference being to Sir Robert's predi- lection for gin. "Like Sir Robert, Lino Farrugia is under the influence of some – metaphorical – substance: an over-inflated sense of himself. As a public figure and one of the main protagonists in the controversial debate on hunting, he gets no spe- cial treatment in the satire depart- ment," Matthew Vella said. "This libel suit is a direct attack on MaltaToday's editorial stand in favour of a referendum on spring hunting and for the abolition of spring hunting, which is banned under the EU's Birds Directive. The FKNK is employing an ex- pensive legal action designed at threatening newspapers into sub- mission: this is why Malta's press laws are being abused by people in the public arena who want to threaten journalists by placing em- ployers under financial pressure," Vella said. THE price of a 12kg LPG cylinder has gone up by 90c to €18 as from today. Prices will remain at that level until the end of December. A government statement ignored the price rise entirely, choosing instead to focus on the fact that gas prices in October will be 30c cheaper than they were in October last year and €1.60 cheaper than in October 2012, the final year under the previous Nationalist administration. "The government's policies of stabilising gas prices is another example of how the government is using the energy sector to help families and business, such as when we reduced wa- ter and electricity bills for families and how we are going to reduce them for business in March," the statement said. "The government will con- tinue working so that gas prices stabilise in the coming months." MIRIAM DALLI TRADE unionist Andrew Mizzi has been em- ployed as Head of Industrial Relations by na- tional airline Air Malta. Mizzi replaces former head of human re- sources Josephine Abdilla, who left the com- pany on 25 June. Mizzi, who in the past served as secretary of the General Workers Union's technology, elec- tronics and communications section, previ- ously held the post of head of human resources at the Lotteries and Gaming Authority. "Mizzi has been employed as Head of Indus- trial Relations and will report to the Chief Of- ficer Corporate Services," a spokesperson for Air Malta confirmed with MaltaToday. According to the spokesperson, Mizzi was chosen following a selection process. "A number of persons were interviewed by a selection board, made up of company manage- ment and board directors," the spokesperson added. Air Malta was however not in a position to reveal how much Mizzi was being paid. In reply to questions sent by MaltaToday, the spokesperson said that it was not in Air Mal- ta's practice to publicise the remuneration of management. Sources said that Mizzi's first official day at work was on Monday. Only last week, Air Malta confirmed Philip Micallef as its new chief executive officer. The continuous structural changes at Air Malta come amid rumours that the airline is set for a €30 million in losses, forecasted for March 2015, the year in which the airline should be gearing up for breakeven. Both Air Malta and the Minister for Tour- ism have refused to confirm or deny the re- ports, with Edward Zammit Lewis dubbing the forecast as "a mere projection". Reports of the substantial losses however succeed the resignation of Air Malta's CEO, Louis Giordi- maina, just eight months after taking the post at the helm of the national airline and the earlier resignation of Chief Financial Officer Clare Brown. On his part, Finance Minister Edward Sci- cluna steered clear of discussing Air Malta's financial situation but warned that Air Malta "must get it right". The European Commission has allowed na- tional airline Air Malta to receive a €52 mil- lion cash injection in state aid. Calling Air Malta's restructuring process "an experiment", the finance minister said Air Malta was allowed a one-time injection that will not happen again. "It is very crucial that we get it right now because it [Air Malta] will not be allowed an- other chance [for state aid]." FIMBank p.l.c. is a licensed credit institution regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Bank is a participant in the Depositor Compensation Scheme in Malta. Terms and conditions apply. 2132 2102 helpdesk@easisave.com www.easisave.com 2132 2102 2132 2102 No Hidden Fees or Bank Charges Individual or Joint Account Option Easy, Flexible and Secure Visit our website, open your online bank account and start beneting from superior interest rates on your savings and xed term deposit accounts. US Dollar Fixed Term Deposit 3 month: 0.90% 6 month: 1.50% 9 month: 1.75% 1 year: 2.25% 2 year: 2.65% 3 year: 2.85% 3 month: 2.20% 6 month: 2.30% 9 month: 2.40% 1 year: 2.50% 2 year: 2.85% 3 year: 3.00% Euro Fixed Term Deposit Minimum Deposit €1,000 Minimum Deposit $1,000 Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Euro Savings Account Minimum Deposit €50 US Dollar Savings Account Minimum Deposit $50 1.75 % 0.50 % "This libel suit is a direct attack on MaltaToday's editorial stand in favour of a referendum on spring hunting and for the abolition of spring hunting, which is banned under the EU's Birds Directive. The FKNK is employing an ex- pensive legal action designed at threatening newspapers into sub- Farrugia is suing for libel over the cartoon, left, which was a reaction to the news that government would be using drones to monitor the hunting season. Below: 1959 cartoon satirising British colonial governor Sir Robert Laycock, which led to the imprisonment of Joe Micallef Stafrace

• Cover