Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/744537
MATTHEW VELLA MALTA'S gaming authority is taking ex- ception to suggestions in the Italian press that it was unable to prevent the establish- ment of an alleged mafia-related business concern, that moved its gaming franchise to Malta. According to the newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, members of the Martiradon- na family – who have been given residence permits in Malta – could have had their gaming franchise in the UK, relocated to Malta through their associates. Formerly investigated by Bari's anti-mafia police in 2009's Operation Domino, the family's patriarch – Vito Marti- radonna – was in 2007 sentenced to three years Newspaper post €1.40 SUNDAY • 30 OCTOBER 2016 • ISSUE 886 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY SUNDAY • SUNDAY • 30 OCTOBER 2016 • ISSUE 886 30 OCTOBER 2016 • ISSUE 886 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday 14 15 Budget 2017 'Turbo' Joe versus 'Doomsday' Simon maltatoday YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT GAMING BUSINESS patriarch – Vito Marti- PAGE 7 A consortium selected as the preferred bid- der to develop the land at the former White Rocks complex, is expected to be faced with a steep price on the value of the land at Pembroke, which is being estimated as anything between €60 to €80 million, Mal- taToday has learnt. The valuation, carried out by a major audit firm, is being based also on the as- sumption that the site will not be entirely developable, and that the developers would probably be paying their dues in annual, staggered fees. But sources close to the major deal, one of the Labour administration's attempts at securing a handsome price on the land once occupied by the defunct White Rocks holiday complex, say the consortium is not in agreement with the projected value of the land. The land in question provides a pristine and unique area that covers a total foot- print of 449,885 square metres. The consortium that has been selected is being invited to develop 38% of the area, or 135,600 square metres of the complex. Based on the assumption that the reviewed price of the ITS complex in St George's Bay, which covers an area of 25,000 square me- tres, may in fact hit the €40-€50 million mark, an independent audit and valuation of the land at White Rocks is expected to argue for a minimum €60 million price tag. Mafia allegations: Authority says its oversight is 'world-class' PAGE 4 INTERVIEW Is the spirit of revolution still alive? Is the spirit of revolution still alive? DON'T FORGET! Clocks go back one hour Novelist Basma Abdel Aziz, author of The Queue, speaks to Jurgen Balzan BOOKS JAMES DEBONO'S ANALYSIS 8 9 Edward Scicluna Developers balk at White Rocks €60m valuation THE POLITICIANS WHO SEND THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS 7 'Our private family decision' say MPs, ministers, and the Prime Minister, who don't use State education WEATHER ALERT Malta takes a battering as furious storm hits island 18 MaltaToday photographer Chris Mangion captured nature's fury as waves crashed onto the lighthouse by Fort Ricasoli, at the mouth of the Grand Harbour. But coastline villages suffered the brunt of the storm. SEE BACK PAGE