Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/668635
3 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2016 News Ian Borg tables copies of home works invoices in parliament MIRIAM DALLI THE parliamentary secretary for EU funds, Ian Borg, has tabled in parliament a copy of the contract of works together with the bills of quantities and invoices related to the construction of his Dingli residence. Borg's residence had been in the spotlight over corruption allega- tions, which were later found to be unfounded. This time round, Borg faced questions by a newspa- per over the contractors working on the development of his prop- erty, mainly Redmap Construc- tion Ltd. Redmap was thrust into the news after its owner, Pierre Slad- den, was revealed to have used offshore firms in the British Virgin Islands for a €900,000 transaction. Questions to Borg allegedly follow a news report by MaltaToday revealing how the same company carried out works on properties owned by PN dep- uty leader Mario de Marco back in 2011 and an invoice was issued only last month. "The works started late last year after works on the property were halted due to an investigation. The contract signed with Red- map is a regular contract regu- lating the relationship between a contractor and the client. I will be getting married next year and this will ensure that works won't take seven years to be completed," Borg told parliament, in a dig at the PN deputy leader's works. The contract also stipulates a daily fine of €50 if the contractor misses the one-year deadline. "I will not ask whether others drafted a similar contract and I won't be asking for invoices," he added. "My family and my fiancée have asked why I was publish- ing the documents. But I believe that this is how things should be done." Borg also said that he was paying the contractors through two bank loans of €200,000 and €130,000 he took out. An Ombudsman's report said that Borg used a "devious" meth- od to obtain the MEPA permit for the property by list- ing his father and a project manager as owners of the property. However, Borg claimed that this was an entirely normal process and criticised Plan- ning Ombudsman David Pace for describing it as devious without even investigating him. The Per- manent Commission Against Corruption has cleared Ian Borg of corruption. Whilst reiterating that there was no other relationship be- tween Redmap and himself, Borg told MaltaToday that he had cho- sen the turnkey contractor based on the feedback he had heard about them. Following Borg's declaration, Nationalist MP George Pullicino said he was informed that tarmac had been laid. "Who paid for it?" the MP asked. Borg explained that the road was a public one and therefore it is not the private citizens who pay for it. He went on to add that works were being carried out by the Water Services Corporation for the installation of a sewage system. The authority had ap- plied for a permit in November 2010 and a permit was issued in August 2011. "Some 300 families will be ben- efitting from these works," he added. Pullicino however said that he was also informed that works stopped right up to Borg's resi- dence. Borg replied that two con- tractors had been employed by the WSC and that not everyone works with the same speed. "Rest assured that I'd be the last person the families in this area would vote for," the parliamentary secretary added, in an attempt to quell suspicions of favouritism. "I think I have a right like all other residents to have access to a work sewage system." Other works were carried out by Central Asphalt Ltd, Ballut Block and Terracore. Labour challenges PN deputy leaders to publish contracts, invoices The Labour Party has chal- lenged the deputy leaders of the Nationalist Party to publish in- voices and contracts of work re- lating to their private properties. "It is now Mario de Marco's turn to publish the contract of works along with all invoices issued by other contractors who worked on his property," the PL said. The Labour party went on to add that the same request had been made to deputy leader for party affairs, Beppe Fenech Adami. "Four weeks have passed and nothing has been pub- lished. This is the transpar- ency that Simon Busuttil and his deputy leaders be- lieve in," it added. Faced by questions on the construction of his private residence, parliamentary secretary Ian Borg published contracts of works and invoices Playmobil announces €30 million project extension MIRIAM DALLI PLAYMOBIL will be expanding its Hal Far premises by a further 16,000 square metres, creating 200 new job places in an invest- ment of €30 million. Playmobil CEO Mathias Fauser told Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat that the Malta facility was the sole producer of the body, which is the core of the production. 110 million figures were produced last year. Playmobil opened shop in Mal- ta over 44 years ago and currently employs just over 1,000 employ- ees and around 500 subcontrac- tors, and it has recently received approval for its extension. "This will increase our capac- ity by 20 to 30 percent," Hauser said, expressing his gratitude to the Maltese government for helping with the extension plans. "Thank you for the brilliant and non-bureaucratic support," he said, thanking Malta Enterprise, the Malta Industrial Parks and Economy Minister Chris Car- dona. The 200 employees are expect- ed to be employed over three to four years. Playmobil CEO Mathias Fauser (left) with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and economy minister Chris Cardona Muscat reticent on anticipated decision on Mizzi and Schembri MIRIAM DALLI PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat refused to declare whether a de- cision to be taken over the Pan- ama Papers situation in Malta would include the resignation of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi. "A decision will be taken. That decision will translate into a decision which I will communi- cate," Muscat told MaltaToday, when asked whether the action would result in the removal of the minister. On Monday, the government won a confidence vote, giving the Prime Minister the parlia- mentary support required to continue governing. The opposi- tion's motion called for Labour MPs to remove their own prime minister over his inaction fol- lowing the Panama Papers rev- elations. Taking questions from the press following a visit at Play- mobil, Muscat said there was now the certainty that the gov- ernment had two more years. "Yesterday we won a confidence vote and today we announced a €30 million investment which will create 200 new jobs. We will continue announcing new initia- tives that will send a clear mes- sage to businesses and enterpris- es to continue moving forward." Muscat would not reveal the name of the audit firm probing the minister's financial affairs, arguing that it would be com- municated once the audit has been finalized and published. "The firm should be allowed to work serenely without any pressures," he said, adding that he had no indication as to when the audit would be finalised. "I am interested in a full and clear audit." During Monday's parliamenta- ry debate, opposition leader Si- mon Busuttil also revealed that the PN – then in government – had received a similar proposal to that of Labour's energy plan. Busuttil would not say who the businessmen making it were and said it was senior PN officials who met them. Muscat however argued that the PN should now explain why it had not reduced energy prices and why it had dubbed Labour's energy plan "Alice in Wonder- land ", if it knew the tariffs cut was doable. "Instead it chose to continue buying heav y fuel oil (for the power station) and we all know about the commissions that were paid," the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat refused to declare whether decision over Panama Papers will include the removal of energy minister Konrad Mizzi