Government Notices published in Government Gazette No. 21,277 of 28th June 2024

IT is notified for general information that acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, the President of Malta has directed that Hon. Owen Bonnici, BA, LLD, MP, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, assumes the additional duties of Prime Minister on Thursday, 27th June, 2024, during the absence from Malta of the Hon. Robert Abela, KUOM, BA, LLD, Adv. Trib. Melit, MP.

IT is hereby notified for general information that, in terms of the powers conferred upon him by article 5 of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority Act (Cap. 591), the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects has appointed the Board of Governors of the Malta Digital Innovation Authority as follows:

Chairperson

Mr Wayne Grixti

Deputy Chairperson

Mr Sandro Micallef

Members

Mr Daniel Ablett

Ms Patrizia Busuttil

Ms Nicole Falzon

Mr Omar Vella

Mr Nigel Vella

Mr Mark Camilleri

Mr Anthony Galea

Secretary

Dr Ramona Attard

These appointments expire on the 31st October, 2026.

IT is hereby notified for general information that the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects has appointed the Malta Government Venture Capital Ltd Board as follows:

Chairperson

Mr Jesmond Gatt

Directors

Mr Brian Camilleri

Mr Paul Azzopardi

Mr Ivan Filletti

Mr Henry Mifsud

Mr Kenneth Brincat

Secretary

Ms Rosette Cassar

These appointments remain valid up to 30th January, 2026.

In order to further encourage efficient resource management, the following initiative is being launched to enable Voluntary Organisations (VO) to install and run an 'early water leakage detection installation' to be used in their premises.

This initiative is open only to VOs duly enrolled with the Office of the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations for use on the premises used for their voluntary activities and where they are the ARMS account holder with respect to the water service. The applicable rules may be found on the Energy and Water Agency's website. Applications under this initiative are to submitted by filling in the application form and sending a complete application form to (scheme.vo@gov.mt) between the following dates: 15th July, 2024 to 13th September, 2024.

Lower Barrakka Gardens

It is notified for general information that as enabled by Section 2 of the Public Gardens (Closing) Ordinance (Cap. 34) the Director of Agriculture has approved that Lower Barrakka Gardens will be closed to the public on Friday, 5th July, 2024, all day, and will be under the control of Desiree Spiteri.

ORDINANCE (CAP. 34)

Lower Barrakka Gardens

It is notified for general information that as enabled by Section 2 of the Public Gardens (Closing) Ordinance (Cap. 34) the Director of Agriculture has approved that Lower Barrakka Gardens will be closed to the public on Friday 12th July, 2024, all day, and will be under the control of Dillan Patel.

Lower Barrakka Gardens

It is notified for general information that as enabled by Section 2 of the Public Gardens (Closing) Ordinance (Cap, 34) the Director of Agriculture has approved that Lower Barrakka Gardens will be closed to the public on Wednesday 3rd July, 2024. from 6.00 p.m. onwards, and will be under the control of Elton Micallef.

Lower Barrakka Gardens

It is notified for general information that as enabled by Section 2 of the Public Gardens (Closing) Ordinance (Cap. 34) the Director of Agriculture has approved that Lower Barrakka Gardens will be closed to the public on Monday, 8th July, 2024, all day, and will be under the control of Steven Cachia.

Notice in terms of Article 29

In terms of the proviso to article 29(1) of the Income Tax Management Act, the Commissioner for Tax and Customs hereby notifies the persons listed hereunder by a notice that has been issued by the Malta Tax and Customs Administration. Thus it is in their own interest to call at the Collection Section at Block 5, Office of the Commissioner for Tax and Customs, Floriana, within five days of this notice to collect the mentioned notices.

Notice in terms of Article 29

In terms of the proviso to article 29(1) of the Income Tax Management Act, the Commissioner for Tax and Customs hereby notifies the companies listed hereunder by a notice that has been issued by the Malta Tax and Customs Administration. Thus it is in their own interest to call at the Collection Section at Block 5, Office of the Commissioner for Tax and Customs, Floriana, within five days of this notice to collect the mentioned notices.

Regulation 17 of the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations (S.L. 549.44)

Conservation Order

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is of the opinion that the following site, meaning:

Iċ-Ċittadella

(as indicated in Figure 1 on page 21,858) is of ecological and scientific importance, so much so, that the site has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (“SAC") of International Importance (MT0000013) in 2003 (Government Notice No. 877/03) and was included in the Natura 2000 “Network" of the European Union.

The Authority is of the opinion that this site will benefit from more conservation measures and, by virtue of its powers under Regulation 17 of the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations, 2006 (S.L. 549.44), through which it may make, in respect of any site within a protected site, a Conservation Order to contribute towards safeguarding the protection of biodiversity through the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora or fauna and to maintain or restore natural environments and species of wild flora and fauna or geological, geomorphological or physiographic features, the Authority is hereby issuing a Conservation Order in relation to the site mentioned above.

A. Importance of the Site

Iċ-Ċittadella is a national monument that dominates the Gozitan cultural landscape. It is a fortified city, located towards the center of Gozo on a promontory. The bastion walls are constructed from local limestone and have a maritime influence, providing a rupestral habitat. Iċ-Ċittadella embraces important natural habitats and protected species including:

1. Rayless Mayweed, Chamomilla aurea (= Matricaria aurea) (Maltese: Il-kamumilla n-nana)

2. Maltese Toadflax, Linaria pseudolaxiflora (Maltese: Il-papoċċi ta' Malta)

3. Maltese Wall Lizard, Podarcis filfolensis (Maltese: Il-gremxula ta' Malta)

4. Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros (Maltese: Il-farfett il-lejl tan-nagħla ż-żgħira)

5. Maghrebian Mouse-Eared Bat, Myotis punicus (Maltese: Il-farfett il-lejl widnet il-ġurdien)

6. Long-eared bat, Plecotus gaisleri (Maltese: Il-farfett il-lejl widnejh kbar)

7. European Free-Tailed Bat, Tadarida teniotis (Maltese: Il-farfett il-lejl tad-denb twil)

8. Kuhl's Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhli (Maltese: Il-pipistrell ta' Kuhl)

9. Soprano Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Maltese: Il-pipistrell)

B. Management Objectives

1. The management objectives for the site are the following:

a) To ensure that construction and maintenance work is carried out in harmony with the site's nature conservation needs;

b) To ensure that tourism and cultural events take place in harmony with the site's conservation needs;

c) To ensure that the structures and functions of the environments for Linaria pseudolaxiflora are maintained;

d) To increase the number of established roosting sites and to conserve the roosting habitat for Rhinolophus hipposideros;

e) To encourage the establishment of Myotis punicus roosts within the site and to conserve the potential for roosting habitat;

f) To ensure that foraging grounds for Rhinolophus hipposideros and Myotis punicus are maintained;

g) To maintain healthy populations of protected species of flora and fauna that are present in the site;

h) To ensure that the activities on site are regulated.

2. This site must continue to be managed, with the aim that iċ-Ċittadella is restored and maintained for the importance of its cultural heritage and landscape.

3. The maintenance and management of iċ-Ċittadella remain the responsibility of the Government, namely the Ministry for Gozo and Planning (hereinafter referred to as the “site manager").

4. The site manager shall consult ERA regarding any activity or intervention in parts of the fortifications that support populations of protected species by virtue of the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations (S.L. 549.44), including Linaria pseudolaxiflora, as well as on the bat roosting sites (existing and potential) and no work of any kind shall be undertaken on these parts of iċ-Ċitadella prior to the approval of ERA.

The following conditions and provisions linked to Management Objectives are to be applied in the management and conservation of the area:

C. Ecological considerations on maintenance and restoration of elements of cultural heritage

1. The site manager shall ensure that any maintenance, construction or restoration works of cultural heritage, that are carried out in the areas of iċ-Ċitadella supporting protected species, are followed and monitored by an ecologist.

2. The site manager shall ensure that no herbicides or other chemicals are used during the removal of weeds or restoration works within iċ-Ċitadella and in particular on the outer ramparts and in areas housing protected species.

3. The composition and structure of the pavement supporting Linaria pseudolaxiflora (see Figure 2 on page 21,859) shall be conserved for the long-term maintenance of the species.

4. The site manager shall ensure that a survey of the vegetation growing on the ramparts is carried out every two years. Any works aimed at the removal of such rupestral vegetation, which may be required in the interests of the conservation of the cultural heritage, shall only be carried out following permission from the ERA.

D. Regulation of activities

1. The site manager shall inspect the site on a regular basis.

2. In accordance with the above regulation C(2), no chemicals shall be used in the removal of weeds in the “SAC" of iċ-Ċittadella. Weeds in the area housing Linaria pseudolaxiflora (see Figure 2 on page 21,859) shall be cut down and removed manually on a regular basis ensuring that the population of Linaria pseudolaxiflora is sustained.

3. The site manager shall take all necessary steps for the protection of Linaria pseudolaxiflora in the area within iċ-Ċittadella where it is hosted (see Figure 2 on page 21,859). This includes the requirement that between the fifteenth of January and the fifteenth of May each year, the area is cordoned off, in part or in its entirety, and signage explaining the importance of the site is erected during national events or activities that attract a significant number of people to the site.

4. There shall be a presumption against works that may lead to significant vibrations within iċ-Ċitadella, and in particular, in areas used as bat roosting sites.

5. The use of bright lights shone directly on the entrances of tunnels/shelters and other underground passages known or that have the potential to be used by bats as roosting sites (as indicated in Figure 3 on page 21,860) shall be prohibited. The provision of permanent lighting in these areas shall be subject to approval by ERA. Light in these areas will only be allowed by ERA if it is not lit directly on the entrances of the bat roosting sites and with the presentation of clear evidence that any new light will not result in a power of light greater than 1 Lux up to 10m away from the entrance of the bat roosting sites.

6. Any activity which includes the use of devices or speakers for amplified music in the area indicated in Figure 4 shall be accompanied by noise and vibration monitoring.

7. The lighting of fires is strictly prohibited in the areas indicated in Figure 4 on page 21,861).

8. The site manager shall install signs and information/interpretation boards that promote iċ-Ċitadella as part of the Natura 2000 network of the Maltese Islands.

If the site subject to this Conservation Order is in any way damaged or altered in contravention of this Order or its status as a Special Area of Conservation/Natura 2000 site is in any way jeopardised, or if any person carries out activities or actions in breach of the provisions of this Conservation Order, the Authority shall exercise its enforcement powers as specified in the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549).

Government Notice No. 1376 of 2016 is being repealed by virtue of this Order.

THE Commissioner of Inland Revenue notifies that, on the date shown hereunder, the price of gold and silver on which valuations made by the Consul for Goldsmiths and Silversmiths are based has been fixed for the purposes of article 14 of the said Act as follows: