Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/612918
6 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2015 News 6 49% of Maltese expect increase in their income JAMES DEBONO WHILE only 9% of Maltese ex- pect their income to fall next year, 18% have actually seen their income decline this year when compared to the previous year. Malta stands out as being the only country in the euro zone where a larger proportion of respondents think that their household income will increase during the next year, a survey conducted in the euro zone by Eurobarometer shows. While 49% say their income will rise, 34% say it will stay the same and only 9% expect their income to decrease. But when asked to compare their present income with last year's, 25% replied it has gone up, 18% that it has decreased and 52% that it stayed the same. Malta registers the fourth highest percentage of respond- ents who reported an increase in their income in Europe. In all other countries except Greece, respondents are most likely to expect their income to remain the same. In Greece 55% of respondents think their in- come will decrease, compared with 30% who think it will stay the same. A relatively high proportion of respondents (29%) also ex- pect their income to decrease in France. Alongside Malta, the most positive expectations can be seen in Ireland (39% expect their household income to rise) and Estonia (34%). But when asked whether their income has improved over the last year, it was the Germans and Estonians (31%) who were the most likely to report an in- crease in income followed by the Austrians (28%) and the Maltese (25%). Majority against 1 and 2 cent coins A majority of Maltese want the 1 cent and 2 cents coins demon- etised. Around six in 10 (59%,) of re- spondents say that they are in favour of abolishing the 1- and 2-cent coins and applying manda- tory rounding of the final sum of purchases in shops. Just fewer than four in 10 are against the idea while 3% are unable to give an opinion. Overall, a majority of respondents in 14 of the 19-euro area Member States are in favour of abolishing the 1 and 2 cent coins and applying mandatory rounding on the final sum of purchase. At least seven in 10 respondents in Ireland (74%), Finland, the Neth- erlands (both 73%), Slovakia, Italy (both 72%) and Belgium (71%) are in favour of this initiative while less than half of respondents share this view in Lithuania (43%), Slovenia (44%), Portugal (45%), and Latvia (47%). Euro makes Maltese European Respondents in Malta (45%) are by far the most likely to hold the view that the euro has made them feel more European than before, followed by at least a third of re- spondents in Ireland (39%), Fin- land and Italy (33%). Conversely, a fifth or fewer of respondents in the Netherlands (16%), Greece (17%) and Slovakia (20%) have the same opinion. 45% of the Maltese say it made them more European, 54% still feel the same as before. Tourism boost can aid struggling traditional fishermen – study MATTHEW VELLA TOURISTS to Malta show poten- tial interest in experiencing Malta's traditional fishing culture accord- ing to a new study by the Universi- ty of Kent, but some obstacles will have to be overcome if this poten- tial is to be realised. The research was carried out in March 2015, by a team of postgrad- uate students from the University's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), who distrib- uted questionnaires across Malta and Gozo to visiting tourists and met with local fishers, fishing co- operatives, tourism operators, and conservation groups . The study found that a large number of tourists would be in- terested in experiencing the island through trips with working fisher- men on traditional boats and learn more about Malta's artisanal fish- ing culture. Alicia Said, a PhD student with the University of Kent, who along with Prof. Douglas MacMillan assisted the research team, said: "Malta's traditional fishing indus- try has been in decline due to a wide range of factors, but provid- ing these fishers with access to the tourism market could offer a much needed source of additional in- come, especially during periods of low fishing activity." In addition to tours with local fishers, many tourists stated a pref- erence for fresh, local fish, suggest- ing that with improved marketing, local fishers and restaurants could both benefit from higher sales of many species caught in Maltese waters that are from sustainable stocks but currently underutilised. The report marks the second year of a long term research programme by DICE students, and in the future the students hope to partner with other interested groups such as local NGOs, fishing cooperatives, and tourism companies to support the development of an artisanal tourism to benefit local fishermen. The importance of protecting the traditional fishing sector was high- lighted by Sam Leslie, a member of the research team who has worked on fisheries issues in Southeast Asia. "For tourists nothing cap- tures Malta more than the sight of brightly painted Luzzos. These boats and their crews are a living tradition going back thousands of years. If the artisanal fisheries sec- tor collapses it will be a huge loss not just to fishers and their fami- lies, but also to Malta's national identity," he has said. Investigations based on fuel consumed over two years MATTHEW VELLA CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 "I learnt from the police inspector, upon checking, that he had referred the matter to a duty magistrate, in a bid to appoint court experts who could verify for themselves the issue of the car mileage," Farrugia told this newspaper. The Speaker added that if experts find a problem in the car – some sources suggested that an engine fault or a recalibration issue could be the problem – he would take the matter back to his accounts office. Police commissioner Michael Cas- sar refrained to provide answers on when and who filed the report and when was the inquiry ordered. "As you well know, an investigation is underway and no information can be given," Cassar said. MaltaToday understands that the issue of Busuttil's chauffeur-driven car is based on two years of fuel con- sumption figures. Under government rules, Busut- til's office has to procure its fuel from a designated petrol pump sta- tion, which on its part records each single transaction of fuel. Busuttil's office must also sub- mit mileage readings. On the part of parliament's accounts office, the discrepancy is based on the fact that the Opposition leader's mileage may fall well below the maximum amount of fuel being claimed. At worst, the matter would be a case of fuel being dispensed for more than one car using the same budget. But that would require the coopera- tion of the fuel pumping station in question, which so far has not been identified by either the Opposition or the Speaker's office. At best, the mileage not tallying with the fuel dispensed could be a case of engine over-consumption. What is known so far is that Bu- suttil says it was previously aware, in the days before the PN launched its good governance pledge on Sunday, that the parliamentary accounts of- fice was inquiring about his official car's fuel consumption. Busuttil says he was not told offi- cially of a police report or magiste- rial inquiry. On Monday, Busuttil announced that a magisterial inquiry had been launched, something the PN learnt through unofficial sources; and added that he had suspended his driver, who denied any irregulari- ties, and that he had filed a judicial writ pledging full cooperation with Magistrate Claire Zammit Stafrace. Yesterday morning, Anglu Farru- gia issued a statement rubbishing suggestions made by Busuttil that the investigation by the parliamen- tary accounts office was an act of 'political vindictiveness' emanat- ing from his ruling on the Opposi- tion's complaint about a threat made against independent MP Marlene Farrugia. Busuttil claimed that the fuel in- vestigation came hot on the heels of a motion presented by the Opposi- tion in protest at the Speaker's rul- ing, which failed to censure Labour MP Joe Debono Grech, who was ac- cused of making the verbal threat. The Speaker however said that he gave the instructions "well before the Opposition presented its mo- tion" and "well before the publica- tion of the good governance report". In response, the Nationalist Party accused Farrugia of "sensational- ism" and reiterated that the timing was "too much of a coincidence". mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Speaker Anglu Farrugia (front, left) and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil (front, right)