Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/773562
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2017 6 MATTHEW AGIUS A court has imposed a nominal fine on a Sliema pensioner ac- cused of threatening a notary, after telling the court that notary Mariella Mizzi had allegedly sold his property behind his back. 82-year-old Emilio Agius ap- peared before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, charged with insulting and threatening Mizzi and refus- ing to cooperate with the police. Mizzi testified that Agius had on several occasions, burst into her office, after skipping the queue, to loudly accuse her of be- ing a thief and a fraud, even as her colleagues and dumbfounded cli- ents looked on. She said that Agius had told her "she would pay for what she had done." She reported the man at the Haz-Zebbug police station after threatening her on his last visit to her offices. The court was told that as Agius caught a glimpse of a photograph of Mizzi's daughter on her desk, his parting shot had been that she "would have to sell her". The notary said that all she had done was draft a promise of sale agreement for a property Agius had been selling. A fellow notary, who works in the same office as Mizzi, corroborated her version of events. Agius's unhinged behaviour was placed in context when the notary was cross-examined by defence lawyer Stefano Filletti, who took her to task over what possibly had caused the pensioner to become so irate. Filletti said that several insults alleged in court had not been mentioned to the police, and sug- gested the notary had abused of her power of attorney to enter into an agreement for the sale of Agius's property, in his absence and without his knowledge. Mizzi confirmed that the sale had taken place, but insisted that Agius had "legally been present by virtue of the power of attor- ney". Agius denied insulting the no- tary, alleging that Mizzi sold his property in his absence and had falsely declared that he had been paid on the deed. He had not been paid to date, he said. Agius has filed a civil case and said he is contemplating further legal action. He was found guilty of threatening the notary, Magis- trate Bugeja fined the pensioner €50. News Fined €50 for threatening notary Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Part financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas Notification of Applications for Measure 4.1: Support for investments in agricultural holdings The Director General Funds and Programmes Division, within the Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, notifies that applications for Measure 4.1: Support for investments in agricultural holdings of the Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 are being recieved as of Wednesday 11 th January 2017. M4.1 supports on-farm investments in more efficient farm equipment, improvements aimed at both reducing energy consumption as well as capturing and storage of energy, and investments in agricultural waste management. Investments in water harvesting such as new water cisterns (ġiebja), irrigation systems as well as investments in improved crop storage or other activity to improve the quality of the product are also eligible. Support for the construction and improvements to immovable agricultural property include buildings for specialised handling, storage, provision of ventilation, insulation and refrigeration. The Application Form and relevant documentation (including the list of eligible actions) are available on the Managing Authority webpage: www.eufunds.gov.mt Applications may be submitted at the Front Office within the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change (MSDEC) at Pitkali Markets, Ta' Qali (l/o Attard) every Monday and Thursday between 07:30 and 15:00 or at the Front Office, Governmental Experimental Farm, Xewkija, Gozo every Tuesday between 07:30 and 13:00. Farmers are reminded to bring an offical identification document when applying at the Front Office. Further information may be obtained from: www.eufunds.gov.mt or by email: rdd.meaim@gov.mt or by calling 22001108. JAMES DEBONO 22,000 photovoltaic panels installed on the former Maghtab landfill – over an area larger than five football grounds – will be producing enough energy to cater for the needs of 850 households. Plans for Enemalta's 5 MegaWatt solar farm are to develop the instal- lation over 36,000 square metres, to become Malta's largest installation, occupying 14% of the Maghtab sur- face area. Originally the plan was for a larger site area of 84,300 square metres. The solar farm will be located on land previously earmarked for land- scaping with indigenous shrubs, and trees following the completion of capping work to limit the pro- duction of leachate (chemicals un- leashed by the former dump). The permit for the rehabilitation of the Maghtab landfill was issued in 2009. The Enemalta spokesperson con- firmed that the area earmarked for this project has already been closed and capped in works carried out during the last decade. Despite the massive land take-up, the solar farm will contribute only a fraction of the energy, which would have been produced by the aborted wind farm once proposed at the Sikka l-Bajda area, which was esti- mated at between 72 MW and 95 MW. The PA rejected the wind farm in 2015 because of its visual impact and its impact on bird colonies. Since the change in government, Malta has shifted its energy policy from wind to solar power in its bid to reach a renewable energy target of 10% by 2020. Costs for solar energy dropped considerably over the past years, becoming more competitive when compared to both fossil fuels and other renewable sources such as wind. But solar farms require a massive land take-up, which may exacerbate Malta's land scarcity problem. The PA is also considering a pol- icy regulating solar farms, with a draft policy emphasising the poten- tial of already developed areas such as quarries, roof space, open car parks, greenhouses and industrial land – as well as outside develop- ment zones. It is estimated that Malta needs 2.7 square kilometres of solar farms Maghtab 22,000 solar