Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/416739
LIVE STREAMING AND LIVE BLOG ON MALTATODAY.COM.MT & SPECIAL BUDGET EDITION TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER EDWARD SCICLUNA ON BUDGET 2015 PGS 12-13 INTERVIEW Sharp at cards? Alan Brincat survived the 'Battle of Malta' tournament to lay his hands on some serious pocket money • PG 14 'I WON €107,000 PLAYING POKER!' Newspaper post BUDGET 2015 YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT maltatoday SUNDAY • 16 NOVEMBER 2014 • ISSUE 784 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY A private-public initiative is expected to be launched in tomorrow's Budget to address hospital waiting lists, by entering in agreements with private medical professionals at Mater Dei Hospital. Sources have told MaltaToday that Medical Plus Malta, a company formed in late September under the auspices of the health and energy ministry, will also attract medical tourism to Mater Dei Hospi- tal. Tomorrow's Budget - in which finance minister Edward Scicluna could well report a deficit forecast of lower than 2% of GDP due to improved targets in 2014 - will also announce the removal of the much- maligned eco-contribution for electronic and white goods by September 2015. The measure was introduced in 2004 for busi- nesses to pay for packaging that ends up as waste. Businesses often complained that the costs of the packaging waste tax were passed on to the con- sumer. Finance Minister Edward Scicluna will argue to- morrow that savings on the eco-contribution, which will generate almost €8 million in government rev- enues in 2014 alone, will benefit consumers. The government will also announce a consulta- tion process for the transition period, arguing that some aspects of the eco-contribution were an ob- stacle to business. CONTINUES PAGE 5 Unverified Dalligate email revealed MATTHEW VELLA THE Maltese police are consid- ering whether to exhibit in court an email allegedly sent by lawyer Gayle Kimberley to Silvio Zam- mit – the man accused of solicit- ing a bribe in the Dalligate affair – which could implicate her in the €60 million bribe allegedly sought to influence European tobacco rules. The lawyer for Kimberley, Gian- nella de Marco, claims the email "has been shown to be false" but the document remains in the hands of police investigators and is not yet exhibited in court. The email, seen by MaltaToday, is dated 14 February at 7:31pm – the day after Silvio Zammit was accused of having asked Swedish Match official Johan Gabrielsson for €60 million to lift an EU retail ban on the smokeless tobacco snus which is legal only in Sweden. It read: "Good morning Silv, Hope you had a great evening at the Casino! Johan will get back to me soon and you really did a good job last evening. Better 60 then 50, ghax hekk it's more a round figure and Matt said we deserve it. Let's hope for a better future. Talk to you soon! Gayle". The person re- ferred to as Matt is Kimberley's husband Matthew. Police yet to present email in court • Lawyer for Gayle Kimberley claims it's false Eco tax out, financing company to cut hospital waiting lists, new tax rebates for employers CONTINUES PAGE 4 € € € € 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 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. 3 year: 3.00% 2 year: 2.85% 1 year: 2.50% Euro Fixed Term Deposit Minimum Deposit €1,000 Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Euro Savings Account Minimum Deposit €50 1.75 % €1.20 Finance minister Edward Scicluna tomorrow will announce new tax rebates for employers who take on disabled workers, the end of eco-contribution for businesses on electronic goods, and a new company that will fi nance a concerted reduction in Mater Dei Hospital waiting lists It's not just kids'play! kids'play! Fave Federica places 4th as Italy's Vincenzo Cantiello clinches Junior Eurovision trophy • PG 3 and more photos online