Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/987872
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 30 MAY 2018 4 ONLY 30.7% of residents in the three localities of Pem- broke, Swieqi and St Julian's agree with the high-rise de- velopment proposed on the ITS site which is set to include a 38-storey tower, a 17-sto- rey hotel, a casino and a giant shopping mall. The survey, which is includ- ed in the Social Impact Assess- ment commissioned by the de- velopers, shows that 59.9% do not agree with the proposed project while 9.4% were un- sure. This emerges from a survey of 400 residents in the locali- ties of Pembroke, Swieqi and St Julian's, which was carried out by statistician Vincent Marmara, anthropologist John Micallef and social welfare ex- pert Joe Gerada. The survey was held in August 2017. Pembroke residents are the most opposed to the project. In this locality more than three in four oppose this project (77%). On the other hand op- position in Swieqi falls to 53%. The majority of residents in the neighbouring locali- ties (71%) were aware of the project, while 24.2% were not and 4.8% were unsure. Aware- ness of the project was highest amongst Pembroke residents (91.3%), followed by Swieqi residents (70.2%) and St Ju- lian's residents (61.1%). Respondents gave a plural- ity of reasons for opposing the project. 20% of the partici- pants consider the project to be an eyesore for the environ- ment, 19% of residents claim that the project will include "too many buildings" and 11% claim that the project would result in "too many buildings, foreigners and shops." Pembroke residents (32%) were the most likely to con- sider the project as an eyesore. Pros and Cons The residents were also asked to list the disadvantages and advantages of the project. Traffic congestion was men- tioned by 67% of residents ei- ther alone (23%) or together with other problems like park- ing, noise pollution and in- creased rubbish (44%). The major benefits men- tioned by residents included job opportunities (34%) and business benefits (28%). 16% believe that there would be no advantages at all. 38% of those living in Pem- broke, 42% of those living in St Julian's and 25% of residents in Swieqi believe that this project would increase job opportuni- ties. Residents were questioned about the value of their prop- erty or rental housing if this project would proceed. The majority of the residents (66.2%) do not think that the value of their property or rental housing would increase due to this project, 22.1% were unsure and 11.8% of residents believed that the value of their property or rental house will increase. But the majority of the resi- dents (53.5%) believe that the project will create more em- ployment opportunities for the locals. 28.4% disagreed while 18.2% were unsure. When asked what they would expect from the Government or local council to do to pro- tect the collective interests of residents, 26% expected the Government "to discard the project" completely while 17% insist on a greater provision of "car parks, cleanliness and bet- ter security." During the interview, peo- ple were informed that this project would be built on the current site of ITS and that it would include hotels, confer- ence facilities, a large complex with shops, a large tower of superior quality, including real estate, a business centre and leisure facilities. The survey was carried out through telephone interviews. A sample size of 400 individ- uals was collected amongst Pembroke, St Julian's and Swieqi residents. VACANCIES TEC LTD - A well-established company made up of a strong team of professionals. Our company offers provision of event services and project management. We are looking for: steel fixers, upholsterers cleaners, riggers, truck drivers, welders, carpenters and office clerks. Those interested to apply for this opportunity are to contact or send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, two references and a police conduct to: TEC Ltd either on info@tecmalta.comor at MRA 28A, Industrial Estate, Marsa, MRS 3000, Malta by not later than Wednesday, 12 June 2018 MATTHEW VELLA OPPOSITION leader Adrian Delia has said he has settled an outstanding tax bill of over €81,000, paid with cash from his liquidated company shares. Delia told The Malta Inde- pendent on Sunday he had used funds derived from the disposal of shares in the le- gal firms he was involved in prior to becoming PN leader in 2017, as well as the sale of a Siggiewi property. The Inland Revenue Depart- ment formally concluded its assessment of the PN leader, declaring in a letter on 14 May to Delia that he had "no pend- ing tax, FSS and SSC balances". The Labour Party had in- sinuated that Delia was using money raised through party fundraisers to settle his tax bill, which became one of the more inauspicious aspects of the neophyte politician. Delia said that he had taken the accusations personally: "My money for the tax pay- ments did not come from any- where that was illicit and it did not come from the Nationalist Party. It came solely from the sale of a property and from the disposal of shares in compa- nies that I owned." Delia had reported a due tax balance of €51,924 while in- terest and charges on that tax balance amounted to €34,859, in an audit report published before his election to the party helm by auditors Mazars. He contested the Inland Rev- enue's assessment on some €5,000 in interest and charges, and agreed to a total payment of €81,000. Delia showed the Independ- ent a bank draft for €55,042, dated 23 March, to settle the interest charges, and another bank draft dated 20 April for the amount of €64,000 for the amounts still owed, payments which covered the tax dispute and outstanding arrears from recent years. The source of the funds was the disposal of his shares in three companies Aequitas Le- gal, Aequitas Trust and Fiduci- ary and Evolve Consultancy. The Independent said it had verified the value of the shares and they exceed Delia's tax bill but stopped short of publish- ing them "for the sake of com- mercial confidentiality". Delia, however, said that he had not received all those funds as they are being paid out proportionately. Delia also rescinded a prom- ise-of-sale agreement on a Sig- giewi property after pulling the plug on the purchase in April 2018 when his application for a bank loan for the property "became more complicated" once he became a politically exposed person. The Independent reported it had seen that the contract was passed on to a third party, and that Delia made no profit on the rescission of the promise- of-sale, taking back the €73,000 payment and €15,000 on mov- able property inside the house which had also been duly reg- istered – a total of €88,000. Delia settles €81,000 tax bill with sale of shares and Siggiewi property 60% of Pembroke, Swieqi and St Julian's residents against DB project