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MW 25 January 2017

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3 TIM DIACONO THE first batch of 16 con- struction workers were awarded their skill cards yes- terday afternoon. The scheme – which was launched last year for plas- terers, tile layers, assistant electricians and plumbers – intends to regulate the con- struction industry by giving workers colour coded cards, with different cards repre- senting different levels of skills. Addressing a press confer- ence outside the American University of Malta building site in Cospicua, civil liber- ties minister Helena Dalli said that the cards would boost professionalism in the construction industry and al- low consumers to ascertain the exact skills of the workers they hire. Before receiving the card, the workers must also complete a module in health and safety, which Dalli said would serve to reduce construction indus- try accidents. Skill cards are awarded at various levels – red cards for trainees, blue cards for operatives, black cards for operatives, silver cards for craftsmen and gold cards for technicians. Workers are awarded the cards after they are assessed on site, and com- plete a health and safety mod- ule. Applications for the card are free of charge, but subject to a €30 renewal fee every five years. Labour MP Charles Buha- giar, chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Coun- cil, said that the cards were also intended to clamp down on non-registered foreign construction workers offering their services illegally and on the cheap. "We have no problem with foreign workers coming to Malta, but it is only fair that they compete with Maltese workers on a level playing field," he said. He added that the skill card scheme would soon also be ex- tended to builders and workers involved in demolishing build- ings and site excavations. The 16 workers who were awarded the skills cards yes- terday are Josef Abela, Fran- cis Abela, David Borg, Patrick Attard, Mark Borg, Mario Camilleri, Carmel Callus, John Formosa, Marco Gauci, Edwin Micallef, Paul Mifsud, Jason Muscat, Paul Sant, Ivita Ozrevic, Mario Xuereb, and Dale Spiteri. PAUL COCKS A 150-year-old building in Slie- ma risks being demolished and replaced by an eight-f loor hotel, with the Planning Authority set to make a decision today, amidst opposition by the Superinten- dent of Cultural Heritage and more than 40 other objectors. Residents, the local council, NGOs and other organisations objected to the application filed in 2016 for the building of a 3-star hotel instead of a two- f loor house, built in 1861, in St Mary Street. Architect Tara Cassar, on be- half of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, called on the PA to heed the experts' advice and refuse the permit application. "In many cases, the advice of experts like the superintend- ence is sought but – very often – it is ignored when it comes to decision-making," she said. Cassar confirmed that the ap- plicant intended to demolish the house and build an eight-f loor hotel, two f loors higher than the buildings in the vicinity. Such development is possible in the area because the lower part of St Mary Street, where the house is situated, stands outside the Urban Conservation Areas. "It is true the PA could ap- prove the application if it sticks strictly to policies, but it should also listen to experts and resi- dents who are against the pro- posed the development," Cassar said. "The PA is not there only to serve the interests of devel- opers, but to guide sustainable development." Edward Said, representative of the Sliema Heritage Society, said 2016 had seen the demolition of many buildings in the town that were of national architectural and cultural heritage. "2017 promises to be equally bad, with this application only being the first of many more to come," he said. "We are noticing gross inconsistencies in the de- cision-making, and we urge the PA to adhere to the DC2015 and the SPED (Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development) policies." Said appealed directly to PA chairman Vince Cassar and his belief, as stated in a June 2016 interview, that the country was "losing architecture that makes us Maltese". It was unclear whether the two organisations would appeal the decision, if the PA votes in fa- vour of the development today. "We would need to consult all the other groups opposing this application," Said noted. "We would also need to consider the expenses involved in appealing and setting out priorities." maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 JANUARY 2017 News Planning Authority urged to refuse demolition of 1860s Sliema house An eight-floor, three-star hotel could replace a Sliema townhouse built in 1861 if the Planning Authority approves a 2016 application The house earmarked for demolition was one of the first dwellings built in Sliema 39% never discuss politics with friends JAMES DEBONO JUDGING by the result an EU- wide survey, despite the daily tit for tat political spectacle, the Maltese may not be as pas- sionate about politics as may be thought they are. In fact, according to this sur- vey conducted in November, the Maltese are the least to discuss national politics with friends in Europe. The survey shows that 39% of the Maltese "never" discuss local political matters with friends or relatives, up from 36% in spring and from 30% in spring 2012, when the PN was still in government. The percentage of Maltese who say that they never talk about politics is 16 points higher than the European average. After the Maltese the least likely to talk about local politics are the Por- tugese (36%). Only 9% of Swedes and 11% of Germans and Greeks never talk about their country's politics. Moreover 11% of Maltese say they "frequently" talk about politics to friends and relatives – down from 20% in 2012. 43% speak about Maltese politics oc- casionally –down from 50% in 2012. In contrast 30% of Germans talk about their country's poli- tics frequently while 58% do so occasionally. Compared to a survey held in spring, which coincided with the Panama papers revelations, the percentage of Maltese who talk about politics frequently to friends and relatives decreased by six points. The survey also shows the Maltese as the least likely in the European Union to talk about European political matters with friends and relatives. A major- ity of Maltese (51%) never do so, compared to 33% of respond- ents in all member states. The percentage of Maltese who nev- er talk about European politics has remained the same. Only 8% of the Maltese talk about European politics frequently. The Dutch (26%), Greeks (25%) and Swedes (25%) are the most likely to talk on European po- litical matters. The questions were part of the Standard Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Commission and was carried out by MISCO among 515 Mal- tese respondents. Regulating construction industry: skills card aimed at combating employment abuse Minister Helena Dalli handing a card to one of the recipients

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