Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/592425
4 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2015 News WIN a copy of the newly launched book To win a copy of this unique book tick the right answers: Tick all the Maltese products: ❒ Lacto ❒ Ilma żahar ❒ Red Leaf ❒ Għażżiel ❒ Hopleaf Send your answers by 10 November to: MediaToday, WIN A BOOK FROM BDL, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann The winners of the last competition, and who won the book, 'Wild flowers of the Maltese Islands' are Ms R Brincat from Rabat and Mr Emanuel Muscat from Mosta. The correct answers were: Maltese Fleabane, Sulla and the Giant Fennel By Charles B. Spiteri, published by BDL Drawwiet u Tifkiriet Minister says PN leader answerable over millions given to TRC MARTINA BORG ECONOMY minister Chris Cardona said that Opposition leader Simon Busuttil should say who will be shouldering responsibility for some $10 million given by the previous administration to TRC Enter- tainment, a company which he claimed had criminal links. Speaking during a debate in Parliament, Cardona reiterated Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's claims that Malta Enterprise had given the company the said amount of money despite due diligence exercises uncovering the company's "links to crimi- nal activity". "These are the real shady peo- ple, not the ones you and your friend Daphne Caruana Galizia keep attacking," Cardona told PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami. He further questioned what former finance minister an- swered to the fact that although the company hadn't generated any money, the directors had given themselves $1.7 million in directors' fees. Cardona said the coun- try's economy was going from strength to strength, with ini- tiatives like lower energy tariffs for businesses having had a very positive effect on the competi- tivity of local companies. He added that the growth of the manufacturing industry had already left tangible effects on the economy, with the sector creating some 500 new jobs up to April this year, and the gov- ernment would continue to en- sure a favourable environment for investors and in so doing, create more job opportunities. Cardona stressed that data and studies had shown that the country's economic growth was sustainable and that on average some 10 jobs were being created everyday. He added that Malta Enter- prise had continued to grow in various sectors, and that it had secured the expansion of vari- ous foreign companies already in Malta, besides bolstering Maltese companies. He also said that Malta Enter- prises had even invested in the health sector, with its creation of a digital hub to secure better communication between life sciences and technology, as well as investments like the Bart's medical school in Gozo. Cardona also explained that the government was looking for- ward to introducing new hawk- ers management systems that would encourage more cleanli- ness and order on the stalls and streets they operate in. Government planning to invest in registration of satellite industries Parliamentary Secretary for economic growth Jose Herrera said that the government would be looking at new economic niches to invest in next year, including local registration of satellites among others. "The government will look into accommodating foreign companies interested in regis- tering satellites in Malta," he said in Parliament today. Herrera said that the govern- ment would continue to sup- port the development of sectors like financial services and gam- ing, and that it would also be looking into the establishment of Property Malta to strengthen the local real estate sector, as well and other ideas like Finan- cial technology among others. Herrera said that the govern- ment would soon be launching Maritime Malta with an invest- ment of some €350,000, to col- lect the maritime industry un- der one entity. "The entity would also be re- sponsible for building a number of clusters of private compa- nies," he said adding that the entity was one of the initiatives under the integrated maritime policy, launched earlier this year, and containing around 50 initiatives including ones about financial services and fuel stor- age among others. He further added that the gov- ernment would be publishing data about the performance of technological heav y weights like Huawei in Malta so far. Herrera also made reference to the Malta Gaming Authority and said that the restructuring of the sector had been part of the efforts made to establish the country as a centre for excel- lence in the gaming industry. He further explained that the new regulations that allowed cruise liners to open their ca- sinos when they are berthed in Maltese ports between 6pm and 6am had already made a differ- ence and resulted in more over- night stays. Economy minister Chris Cardona questioned how TRC's directors had given themselves $1.7 million in directors' fees despite the the company's failure to generate money Gozo Ministry 'rendered a glorified local council' – PN MIRIAM DALLI THE Ministry for Gozo has been rendered "a glorified local council", doing patching works and other works usually tackled by local coun- cils, according to shadow Gozo min- ister Chris Said and MP Frederick Azzopardi. The MPs were addressing a press conference following the budgetary vote on the Ministry for Gozo. "It is a miserly budget for Gozo and Gozitans," the shadow Gozo minis- ter said, adding that the Gozo Min- ister had "no plans for EU funds in Gozo". Said said only two pages in the budget speech were dedicated to Gozo, referring to "recycled meas- ures" with the exception of one measure to carry works on the side- walk in San Frangisk Square. He said that while government had cut the ministry's capital vote by €10.2 million, it had still found the money to dish out to consultants and advisors. "The ministry has between three to four external consultants on Gozo Channel alone," Said said, adding that other consultants were on the ministry's payroll and yet never set foot on the sister island. The Gozitan MP also said that the government "could not be taken se- riously" on promise to improve con- nectivity and accessibility between the two islands. "The fast ferry service and the air link have disappeared from the budget speeches and looks like the government has scrapped the idea. Budget 2015 gave the impression that an air link would take place, 'connecting Gozo to other coun- tries'. This year it however said that it would need to take up virgin land. Wasn't that obvious from the begin- ning?" Said added he hoped that talks of a tunnel "weren't just gimmick or buying time because the govern- ment has not other projects on im- proving accessibility". He insisted that the feasibil- ity study carried out by economist Gordon Cordina had been commis- sioned by the Gozo Business Cham- ber and Transport Malta "had abso- lutely nothing to do with it".