Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/855205
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 JULY 2017 6 News JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority has re- fused MaltaToday's Freedom of In- formation request on the executive chairman's new salary, after hav- ing first directed the newspaper to make the request in the first place. In a move that reflects a worsen- ing climate of transparency, the PA denied the FOI request to publish the salaries of Johann Buttgieg and the members of the Planning Com- mission, since the request does not concern a document as defined by the Freedom of Information law. Back in May, the PA had directed MaltaToday to file the FOI request in the first place when it refused to publish the salaries of Butti- gieg and the planning commission members. "May you kindly make a request for this information un- der and through the pro- cedures established by the Freedom of Information Act," the PRO told Mal- taToday. More than two months later, the newspaper has been informed by the same Planning Authority that its re- quest has been refused. The reason given for turning it down is that "this is not a request for a docu- ment as defined by the Freedom of Information Act but generic in- formation which needs to be com- piled". MaltaToday had immediately presented the request through the Freedom of Information Act after being asked to do so by the PA. A decision on such requests has to be provided within 20 working days from submission of the request, but the answer could not be given during the general election cam- paign. A refusal can be contested through a complaint, and a sec- ond refusal then forwarded to the Information and Data Protection Commissioner to review. In the past, the PA has had no trouble answering similar requests on the salaries paid to former CEO Ian Stafrace and Buttigieg him- self. Buttigieg's new salary and al- lowances were under discus- sion back in January, when the former CEO was appoint- ed executive chairman with added responsibilities, which include chairing the PA's ex- ecutive council under the new planning law. As CEO, Johann Buttigieg was receiving an an- nual salary of €60,000, €10,000 less than his predecessor Ian Sta- frace. When he was appointed in 2011, Stafrace received a basic salary of €65,000 – which was set to increase to €70,000 in the second and third years of his ap- pointment. While Buttigieg is in charge of the day-to-day running of the PA, the PA chairman Vince Cassar is ap- pointed on a part-time basis with a salary of €18,000. In 2013, his predecessor, Austin Walker, who was initially appointed as executive chairman in 2008, received an an- nual salary of €93,000. The executive chairperson may only be dismissed by a resolution of the House of Representatives at any time "for a just cause". The law also specifies that failure to achieve "the targets and objectives set for him by the Minister", amount to a just cause for dismissal. PA's hide-and-seek on chairman's salary STOCK TAL-GVERN MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS (By Auction) Secure Investment Issue of €40,000,000 in Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks (subject to the over-allotment option up to a maximum of €35,000,000) Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks The Treasury will be issuing €40,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option up to a maximum of €35,000,000 as follows: (i) 1.4% Malta Government Stock (Third Issue) – Fungibility Issue Maturing in 2023, and (ii) 1.5% Malta Government Stock (First Issue) – Fungibility Issue Maturing in 2027, or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be €40,000,000 Applications in the form of sealed bids (auction) for a minimum of €500,000 and multiples of €100,000 each open on Wednesday 2nd August, 2017 at 8.30a.m. and close at noon of the same day or earlier at the discretion of the Accountant General. Bids on the prescribed forms are to be transmitted by fax on 2596 7210 or by e-mail at the e-mail addresses indicated on the application form or deposited in the Treasury Tender Box in Floriana. Application forms may be obtained from all Members of the Malta Stock Exchange and other authorized Investment Service Providers or downloaded from the Treasury's website at www.treasury.gov.mt. MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF STOCK SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock) Treasury Department, Development House, Level 2-3, St. Anne Street, Floriana, Malta. CALL FOR FULL-TIME LITERACY RESOURCE LEADERS WITHIN THE NATIONAL LITERACY AGENCY Jobsplus: 242/2017 The National Literacy Agency, within the Ministry for Education and Employment, is seeking to recruit Literacy Resource Leaders to work within state schools. The eligibility criteria for this post a The eligibility criteria for this post are: • Applicants must, at the closing date of receipt of applications, have: a qualification in Maltese and/or English MQF level 6, or a recognised degree in Education (Early Years or Primary) at MQF Level 6 or equivalent. • At least 3 years proven relevant work experience in education, preferably as a teacher. Applicants must show that they have knowledge and experience in the area of literacy. • • The Nwar Training Programme Certificate or any other Continuous Professional Development equivalent certificate relavant to literacy education shall be given clear preference. • An ECDL certificate in Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database and presentation or a recognised appropriate comparable qualification. • A good command of the English and Maltese languages. Candidates Candidates should submit their letter of application, together with a summary of qualifications and experience in a European Curriculum Vitae Format, a copy of their relevant scanned certificates and a recent Police certificate of conduct, by email to john.b.farrugia@gov.mt or by post to Mr John Farrugia, Executive Secretary, National Curriculum Centre, Joseph Abela Scolaro Street, Hamrun, HMR 1304, by not later than 11th August 2017. Applications Applications by post should be sent by registered mail, allowing for sufficient time to ensure delivery by the above deadline. Applications will be acknowledged in writing within seven days. Late applications will not be considered. Further information may be obtained from Mr John Farrugia on 2598 2997 or via email at john.b.farrugia@gov.mt MATTHEW VELLA THE trade of counterfeit ciga- rettes passing through Malta is an area of concern, a KPMG study into the contraband trade has found: latest estimates for 2016 suggest that 17.2% of the total consumption of tobacco here was counterfeit, making it one of the highest in the EU. According to KPMG's annual study into the scale and development of the illicit cigarette market in the EU, Malta has experi- enced a dras- tic increase in c o n t r a b a n d and counter- feit (C&C) cigarette con- sumption. C o n t r a b a n d cigarettes are genuine tobac- co products that get ille- gally diverted into a different market, while c o u n t e r f e i t cigarettes are tobacco prod- ucts manufac- tured without the permission of the trademark rights holder. KPMG tags the cost of lost taxation that could have been paid on such cigarettes, had they been legal, at €19 million. 'Illicit Whites' – cigarettes manufactured for the sole pur- pose of being smuggled and sold illegally elsewhere – were the main source of C&C volumes, representing 22% of these ciga- rettes in 2014 but then increas- ing to 69% in 2016. The report suggests this re- flects an increase in cigarette consumption on the Maltese is- lands in 2016, as well as reflect- ing its role as a transit country. The KPMG report also sur- mises that as a main point of entry used by smugglers to- wards the EU, this may explain the increase in illicit whites brands flows to Malta. Specifically, it points out that Illicit Whites brands like 'Business Royal' and 'American Legend', which have no country- specific labelling, passed through Malta before being exported to other countries. These outflows were mainly to the more expensive Western European markets of UK and France, whose aver- age prices for a packet of 20 cigarettes were €8.86 and €6.76 respectively. Malta's average price for a packet of cigarettes is €5.25. "If the contraband and coun- terfeit cigarettes had been con- sumed legally, an additional tax revenue of approximately €19 million would have been raised in Malta," KPMG said. Counterfeit smokes cost Malta €19m in tax Johann Buttigieg: salary still undisclosed In May, the PA had directed MaltaToday to file the FOI request in the first place. Two months later, the PA refused the request American Legend, smokey bandit