Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/464575
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2015 4 TEODOR RELJIC PERHAPS taking the welcome lift- ing of the ban on satire from Mal- tese Carnival to its logical conclu- sion, f loat-maker Brian Bonnici 's contribution to this year's festivi- ties was a satirical smorgasbord. But apart from taking the mickey out of local politicians – a tradi- tion that is returning with gusto – Bonnici 's f loat, entitled 'Malta Taghna Lkoll ' also dedicated a section to the ever-sensitive real- ity of irregular migration. Depicting migrants in stereotyp- ically 'traditional ' African garb, the f loat also features a portrait of Norman Lowell – leader of the far- right party Imperium Europa, who was charged with inciting racial hatred in 2008. "I don't think there's anything racist or discriminatory about Bri- an's f loat," Carnival director Jason Busuttil said, when asked by Mal- taToday whether the f loat could be considered racially insensitive. "We take pride in the fact that car- nival is once again open to satire, and I think Brian's f loat is just tak- ing full advantage of this." Asked about whether the large portrait of Norman Lowell – at- tached to the open palms of the f loat – could be misinterpreted as glorif ying the controversial far- right leader, Busuttil pointed out how other political figures were also given the same treatment on the same f loat. "I don't think it makes a differ- ence whether the political fig- ures are depicted as f loats or in photos... you' ll find photos of the President and Bishop Charles Sci- cluna on the f loat too, in fact. It's all done in the spirit of satire," Bu- suttil said. Neither did Busuttil find any- thing wrong in the way the Afri- can figures were depicted on the f loat, insisting that it should all be taken in the spirit of carnival. "The way I took Brian's message is: these people are now among us, and we should be free to include them, even in carnival processions. Another side of the f loat shows an African woman being crowned as Miss Malta… I think it's just a bit of good-natured provocation – it's just trying to gauge how peo- ple would react to something like that," Busuttil said. He added that the Church was the only aspect of Maltese society that f loat makers are treating with "caution", but that he also expects this to give way soon enough. "I think that the country has matured as a whole, and will nowadays accept satire across the board," Busuttil said, adding that his standard for satirical carnival remains the carnival in Viareggio, where "you will see not just one, but several f loats depicting Af- rican migrants, and where f loat- makers won't shy away from de- picting either political or religious figures". Busuttil also contended that de- spite inclement weather, this year's edition was "one of the biggest carnivals ever organised in Mal- ta", saying that lifting the ban on political satire last year helped to "awaken people's curiosity" about carnival once again. News Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €120,000,000 120,000,000 in in Fixed Rate Malta Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option of allotment option of an additional sum of an additional sum of €60,000,000 60,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCKS _______ _______ (i) (i) 2% 2% Malta Government Stock Malta Government Stock (Fifth Issue) (Fifth Issue) Fungibility Fungibility Issue Issue maturing aturing in in 2020, 2020, and and _______ (ii) (ii) 3% % Malta Malta Government Stock Government Stock (First (First Issue) Issue) maturing in 2040 maturing in 2040, , or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be aggregate shall be €120,000,000 120,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 23 23 rd rd February, February, 2015 2015 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates The Treasury announces the issue of €120,000,000 Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option of an additional sum of €60,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF SALE OF STOCK STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana Floriana, , Malta Malta The The Price Price for for each each Stock Stock at at (i) and and (ii) (ii) above, above, offered offered for for subscription subscription by by members members of of the the public public shall shall be be established established on on Thursday Thursday 19 19 th th February February 2015 2015, based based indicatively indicatively on on the the prevailing prevailing secondary secondary market market prices, prices, and and shall shall be be announced announced through through a Press Press Release Release issued issued by by the the Department Department of of Information Information (DOI) (DOI). Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 23 23 rd rd February, February, 2015 2015 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as hereunder, hereunder, or or earlier earlier at at the the discretion discretion of of the the Accountant Accountant General General: •at at 5.00 00 p.m. on on Wednesday Wednesday 25 25 th th February, February, 2015 2015 for for applications applications by by any any single single and/or and/or joint joint applicants applicants which which in in the the aggregate aggregate do do not not exceed exceed €100 100,000 000 per per person, person, and and •at at 12 12.00 00 (noon) (noon) on on Monday Monday 2 nd nd March, March, 2015 2015 for for applications applications in in the the form form of of sealed sealed bids bids (auction) (auction). Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from, from, and and lodged lodged at, at, all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers on on the the indicated indicated dates dates. Application Application forms forms may may also also be be downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt with with effect effect from from Friday Friday 20 20 th th February, February, 2015 2015. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be deposited deposited in in the the Treasury Treasury Tender Tender Box Box or or transmitted transmitted by by fax fax on on 2596 2596 7210 7210 or or by by e-mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application forms forms. Carnival director finds 'nothing wrong' in Norman Lowell float Palumbo toxic waste investigation still ongoing JAMES DEBONO MEPA'S investigation to de- termine whether hazardous waste was covered by a layer of concrete in 2012 is still ongoing, five months after enforcement officers collect- ed samples from the site. In December 2014, a MEPA spokesperson told MaltaTo- day that the authorit y had re- ceived a laboratory report on the material collected from the site. Back than the MEPA spokesperson revealed that the report was being evalu- ated prior to taking a deci- sion on further enforcement action. But two months later MEPA is still not in a position to say what action it is going to take on this case, with the MEPA spokesperson saying that the "case is still under investiga- tion". In September the author- it y said in a statement it had started investigating the Pa- lumbo site after it received a tip off that quantities of grit blasting material were buried in the concrete foundations. From initial investigations it results that grit-blasting waste, which is generated by Palumbo's operations, had been used in the foundations of the yard and was buried under the concrete f looring. MaltaToday is informed that the major issue is to de- termine whether the waste was deposited in 2012, when the area from where the sam- ples were taken was cement- ed, or before Palumbo took over operations. Palumbo has denied dump- ing any grit from its opera- tions, adding that grit blast- ing has been used for the past 70 years. According to the company the area from where MEPA officers took their samples was previously used as a grit blasting and spraying sec- tion. The company claims that the area was covered in concrete to create more space for boat storage.