Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/455578
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2015 8 News TIM DIACONO BEEKEEPERS are set to protest over a recent importation of bees to Gozo that they believe could lead to the destruction of apiculture here. Earlier this month, renowned Ital- ian apiculturist Ermanno De Chino imported 445 nucleus bee colonies to Gozo, for use by his new com- pany Melita Bees Limited to produce queen bees for export. "The interbreeding of Maltese bees with French and Italian ones could result in aggressive hybrids," Malta Beekeepers Association president Stephen Galea told MaltaToday. "Studies have proved that the Mal- tese honey bee has evolved over time into a completely endemic species, a very hard-working bee that can thrive in Malta's hot summers. "Italian and French bees, on the other hand, are used to kinder, sun- flower-filled environments." When contacted by MaltaToday, De Chino dismissed such inter- breeding fears. "Maltese apiculturists have already imported Italian bees so there are already hybrids in Malta," the Italian businessman said. However, Galea has argued that the sheer scale of De Chino's impor- tation could result in inter-breeding at a level that will change the local bees' DNA and therefore their suit- ability to Malta's conditions. The hives have reportedly been placed in two separate locations, in Xewkija and Marsalforn. Galea has claimed that there aren't enough flowers in those regions for both the local bees and De Chino's bees to ex- tract nectar from. "Since De Chino's bees are in- tended for breeding and exportation, this could threaten the local honey business," Galea said. "I'm a Maltese beekeeper so this isn't about compe- tition for me, as [Agriculture Parlia- mentary Secretary] Roderick Galdes has claimed. Maltese and Gozitan beekeepers are all in this together." Galea will fly to Brussels in two weeks' time to warn the EU Directo- rate for Agriculture of the impending threat to the Maltese bee's identity. "It can't be that nobody cares what we're facing," he said. 'High risk of hive's deadly infection' Beekeepers have also voiced con- cern that De Chino's hives could be infected with the deadly small hive beetle, a well-known beekeeping pest whose larvae feed on honey, pollen and bee broods. The beetle's rapid breeding rate means that it can quickly wipe out a colony and spread to other hives. Speaking in Parliament last week, Galdes insisted that the veterinary authorities had inspected de Chino's hives box by box and declared them free from pests. Although certificates show that De Chino's bees originated in the north of France, beekeepers have claimed that they actually origi- nated in Sicily, which has been rav- aged by the small hive beetle since spreading to the island from Reggio in November. The European Commis- sion has since ordered Italy to ban the exportation of bees and beekeeping equipment from the affected regions to other EU member states. They have argued that the trucks car- rying the bees boarded off a Pozzallo catamaran and that Ispica – where De Chino's Sicilian bee-breeding compa- ny is based – is only a 15-minute drive to Pozzallo. They have also claimed that the hives look identical to those used in similar operations in Ispica and that the trucks used to carry them looked far too old and run-down to be able to travel from the north to the south of France. Beekeepers to protest over bee colonies importation 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 3 rd February, 2015 3/14 – 10.30am EGL The tenement 'Jampson', number twenty two (22), in Triq Antonio Micallef, Zejtun valued at two hundred and twenty two thousand and hundred euro (!222,100). 12 th February, 2015 46/14 – 10.30am EM The garage, unnumbered and unnamed, unofficially marked number four (4), including and forming an integral part of the garage is part underlying the ramp that gives access to the complex of garages which forms part, including its sottosoul, but underlying third party property and the garage is part of a complex of garages in basement level, accessibly from a common entrance number twenty eight (28) and unnamed, in Triq San Pawl, in Gudja, subject to path pipe drains, drainage and rain water and electricity valued at thirty six thousand euro (!36,000). 12 th February, 2015 52/14 – 11.00am EGL Two Garages on street level, with measurements Two point One (2.1) metres by eleven point five (11.5) metres and three point eight (3.8) by eleven point five (11.5) metres respectively with a facade of six point fourteen (6.14) metres and a front garden of three (3) metres. On the back of the garages there is a yard of two (2) metres. The garages are valued at ninety three thousand and two hundred Euros ( !93,200). 12 th February, 2015 4/13 – 12.00pm EM The first floor Maisonette numbered nineteen letter B (19B) together with the apartment overlaying the maisonette and the development done on the roof including the airspace on the same roof and half undivided share of the common parts of the block in Swatar Street, Msida which maisonette is overlying on property of the Awtorita' tad-Djar or successors in title and bounded on the north east to the road and other winds bounded with property of the Awtorita' tad-Djar or successors in title valued at one hundred and two thousand euro (!102,000). Garage number nineteen letter B (19B) in Triq is-Swatar, Msida and is subject to servitudes of drains rainwater and sewage are installed therein and the purchaser is obligied to leave the owners of the underlying property to make the maintenance required, free and unencumbered with all its rights and appurtences valued at thirteen thousand Euro (!13,000). 17 th February, 2015 79/14 – 11.00am PP Rooms numbered two (2) three (3) and four (4) in a common and private yard with an entrance numbered nine (9),in Triq it- Tramuntana, Il- Birgu, free and unencumbered without airspace, in street level with all its rights and appurtences including an undivided and relative share of the common parts and services which are used by the owners of the other rooms in the mentioned yard subject to other servitudes which may arise due to its position valued at twelve thousand Euros (! 12,000). 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 Dressed to handle bees