Government Notices published in Govt. Gazette No. 20,111 of 28th December 2018

IT is hereby notified that in accordance with Article 29 (1) of the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika Act, the President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, has approved the recognition of the conferment of the following honour by the British High Commission:

Honorary Knighthood as Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Dr George W. Vella

Planning Commission

In terms of Article 65 (2) of the Development Planning Act, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects has approved the appointment of the following persons to serve on the Planning Commission at the Planning Authority for a period of four years with effect from 2nd January, 2019, as per provisions of Article 65 (3) of the same Act:

Chairpersons

Ms Elizabeth Ellul

Mr Simon Saliba

Mr Martin Camilleri

Members

Mr Anthony Borg

Mr Claude Mallia

Mr Anthony Camilleri

Mr Mariello Spiteri

Mr Charles F. Grech

Ms Stephania Baldacchino

Supplementary Members

Mr Carmel Caruana

Ms Mireille Fsadni

Mr Frank Ivan Caruana Catania

IN terms of Article 65 (1), the Minister prescribes that the divisions within the Planning Commission should be as follows, with effect from the same date stated above:

I. Outside Development Zone and Urban Conservation Areas

II. Within Development Scheme

III. Regularisation Scheme

THE Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects has approved the following acting appointment:

In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 113 of the Civil Code (Cap. 16), the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government has made this Order whereby the Adoption Order dated 8th October, 2018, issued by the Honourable Judge P. Vasanth of the Family Court of Mahabubnagar, India, is being specified as an intercountry adoption of the person therein mentioned for the purposes of Articles 113, 130 and 130A of the Civil Code.

(Sgd) Owen Bonnici

Minister for Justice, Culture

and Local Governmen-t

In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 113 of the Civil Code (Cap. 16), the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government has made this Order whereby the Adoption Order dated 4th July, 2018, issued by the Honourable Judge T.G. Shivashankare Gowda of the District Court of Davanagere, India, is being specified as an intercountry adoption of the person therein mentioned for the purposes of Articles 113, 130 and 130A of the Civil Code.

(Sgd) Owen Bonnici

Minister for Justice, Culture

and Local Government

In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 113 of the Civil Code (Cap. 16), the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government has made this Order whereby the Adoption Order dated 10th September, 2018, issued by the Honourable Judge Mahendra K. Mahajan of the District Court of Buldana, India, is being specified as an intercountry adoption of the person therein mentioned for the purposes of Articles 113, 130 and 130A of the Civil Code.

(Sgd) Owen Bonnici

Minister for Justice, Culture

and Local Government

In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 113 of the Civil Code (Cap. 16), the Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government has made this Order whereby the Adoption Order dated 26th June, 2018, issued by the Honourable Judge Siya Raghunath Daan of the Family Court of Kota (Rajasthan), India, is being specified as an intercountry adoption of the person therein mentioned for the purposes of Articles 113, 130 and 130A of the Civil Code.

(Sgd) Owen Bonnici

Minister for Justice, Culture

and Local Government

Notification of Ground Water Sources ValidlyReceived by the Malta Resources Authority between 1st January, 2018, and 31st December, 2018

In accordance with Regulation 3A(2) of the Notification of Groundwater Sources Regulations, the Malta Resources Authority is publishing the following details of applications validly received in accordance with Regulation 3A(1) of said regulations:

Notification number MRA/BH/2751/08 – Source Għajn Tuffieħa Campsite, Għajn Tuffieħa.

This source qualified under Regulation 3A(1)(a) in that the borehole was dug prior to the year 1955 and this is so shown in the records held by the Authority.

THE Commissioner of Police, in terms of articles 7 and 8 of the Private Guards and Community Officers Act 1996, hereby notifies that the following applications as mentioned hereunder have been received:

Application for licence of a Community Officer

Name and SurnameIdentity Card No.Address

Application for licence of Private Guards

Name and SurnameIdentity Card No.Address

Any person may, within one month from the publication of this notice, object in writing to the Commissioner about the issue of the above licences on any of the grounds listed in section 10 of the Private Guards and Community Officers Act 1996, which are:

(a) where the applicant or any officer of the applicant or any person who has an effective control of the services to be provided by the applicant.

(i) has been convicted in Malta or elsewhere of any crime against the safety of the state, or of any crime of voluntary harm or injury to any person or any crime against property or public trust or any other serious crime; or

(ii) has been declared bankrupt or his financial position is precarious or otherwise renders the applicant unsuitable; or

(iii) has been discharged from the police or armed forces  or the prison services because of any offence or other misbehaviour; or

(iv) is a public officer or a member of the police or armed forces or the prison services; or

(b) when information is available which is in the public interest; or

(c) where the applicant does not possess the necessary qualifications as may be prescribed by or under the Act.

Extension of Scheme Established by Means of Government Notice No. 531 of 2016

IT is hereby notified that the  scheme funded by the ERDF: A grant on the purchase of Photovoltaic Systems in the domestic sector – Call 2016/PV, established by means of Government Notice No. 531 of 2016, is being extended till the end of June 2019.

Operational Programme I − European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020

Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges

Project part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Co-financing rate: 80% European Union; 20% National Funds

Boat Restoration Scheme

This scheme shall help in the cultural preservation of the local fishing fleet and is aimed at the professional categories (MFA/MFB). Registered wooden fishing vessels which year of construction dates prior to 2007 (base year also included). Only MFA or MFB registered vessels, which vessel type is either a: Firilla, Frejgatina, Kajjik and Luzzu, shall be considered as being eligible. Apart from financial and sectorial aspects, these vessels have also a cultural and historical value and should therefore be preserved.

1. Definitions

In this scheme, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

"Director" means the Director responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

 "Owner/s" means the natural or legal person/s under whom the ownership of a fishing vessel is registered.

"Applicant" carries the same meaning as "owner".

2. Who is eligible for such assistance?

Owner/s of fishing vessel/s which are made entirely of wood, are registered in the professional categories (MFA/MFB), which year of construction was 2007 or earlier. Only MFA or MFB registered vessels, which vessel type is either a: Firilla, Frejgatina, Kajjik and Luzzu, shall be considered as being eligible.

This measure will be implemented in line with the provisions of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 717/2014 of 27 June 2014 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid in the fishery and aquaculture sector (OJ L 190, 28.6.2014, p. 45). The DFA shall request for a signed declaration from the undertaking concerned about any other de minimis aid received during the previous two fiscal years and the current fiscal year. Applications shall not be considered as eligible unless the above regulatory provisions are met.

3. How does a person acquire the right for this assistance?

Eligible vessel owners should fill in an Application Form to formally register their interest in this scheme. All declarations and documentation should be provided as per instructions provided in the Application Form.

Interested applicants are encouraged to fill in the attached Application Form and then return it by hand to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture by not later than the 15/01/2019, unless otherwise notified by the DFA.

All eligible and non eligible applicants shall be notified via an official letter.

Payments shall be processed in two (2) batches, following the submission of itemised, valid fiscal receipts.

Following the vetting of receipts received, a cheque totalling only the eligible expenditure shall than be issued by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to the applicant. Applicants shall be notified by post to collect this cheque in person from the Department.

4. How support is calculated

The maximum financial allocation shall be calculated on the registered vessel length in meters as per below pre defined length categories, each having a corresponding financial value. In under no circumstance shall the value of maximum support received exceed the stipulated value. The total value of receipts submitted shall be capped to this pre-defined limit.

Category 1: 00–05.99M - €1,300 (Max. Support)

Category 2: 06–11.99M - €2,700 (Max. Support)

Following the second/last submission of receipts, eligible applicants shall not be entitled in any manner for any pending unclaimed balance.

Vessel owner/s in possession of more than one eligible vessel shall be entitled to apply for multiple vessels, which financial support shall than be calculated following the same principles as stipulated in the above schedule, depending on the applicable category.

The Grant can only be availed of/applied for once (per vessel), by the applicant (registered person/s) owning the vessel/s.

The DFA reserves the right to revise the total eligible maximum support value if required.

5. What does such assistance consist of?

This measure will be implemented in line with the provisions of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 717/2014 of 27 June, 2014, on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid in the fishery and aquaculture sector (OJ L 190, 28.6.2014, p. 45).

Only the following or similar expenditure shall be considered as being eligible:

Decorative, protective and antifouling paint (or similar);

Solid, laminated, plywood wood sheets and planks (or similar);

Copper nails, bolts, rivets and screws (or similar);

Glues, epoxy, sealant and caulking (or similar);

Direct labour costs (up to a maximum of 20% of the total eligible support)

The following or similar expenditure shall be considered as being non eligible:

Equipment (or similar);

Engine parts, engine oils, lubricants (or similar);

Power tools and hand tools (or similar);

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture reserves the right to determine the eligibility of submitted receipts/claimed expenditure, as per parameters stipulated above. All expenditure eligibility shall be subject to the scrutiny, interpretation and acceptance of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Expenditure defined as being eligible or non eligible by the Department shall be deemed as final.

The English version of both the Application Form and the Terms and Conditions shall prevail in case of conflict or interpretation with the Maltese version.

6. How shall it be paid?

A cheque totalling only the eligible expenditure shall be issued by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture to the applicant. Applicants shall be notified by post to collect this cheque in person from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

This cheque will be valid for a period of two months from the date of issue.

Registered vessel owner/s benefitting from this scheme cannot decommission their vessel for a period of 5 years following the date of acceptance of support, unless support received is entirely refunded back to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture by the applicant / owners benefitting from this scheme. If during the 5 year period the boat is sold or transferred, the original applicant/owner shall still remain legally responsible of actions incurred.

7. Whenever false information is given or failure to conform to the Provisions of the Scheme

Any false declaration/s shall be defined as being a criminal offence. The applicant shall be held personally liable to return back any monies received, if payments would have already been processed. One will also be automatically disqualified from the scheme. This clause does not have an applicable time limit and shall remain in force indefinitely.

8. Duration of the scheme

This is a one-time scheme which shall be launched, implemented and concluded between the year 2018 and 2020.

Receipts shall only be considered as valid if the expenditure incurred/receipt date falls between the period 12/11/2018 and 12/11/2019.

9. Amendments to the scheme

The Minister shall make the necessary amendments to this scheme by publishing the said amendments in the Government Gazette.

The closing date of this scheme has been extended from the 14th December, 2018 to 15th January, 2019.

Fishing for Litter Scheme

Opening Date for applications: 12/11/2018

Closing Date for applications: 31/12/2018

1. Objective of public call

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA) within The Ministry for Enviornment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change (MESDC) hereinafter referred to as the 'Contracting Authority', is hereby publishing this call with the purpose of identifying eligible persons to participate within the Fishing for Litter scheme during the bottom trawling fishing seasons from January to December 2019.  Applicants must be in possession of a valid fishing licence and be authorised to operate bottom otter trawls. These services will be provided during the period of the latter mentioned year. After expiry of this period, the agreement with the selected list of successful applicants may be renewed on an annual basis under the same terms and conditions. 

1.2 Unsatisfactory performance may lead to the termination of the agreement according to established procedures and good practice.

1.3 All references to any particular gender shall be construed to refer and include the other gender.

2. Applicable Rules and Regulations

The selected applicant/s shall be supplied with empty Jumbo Bags by Waste Serve Malta Ltd free of charge.   These will be used by the selected applicants to collect plastic litter that is recovered incidentally from the sea during normal bottom trawling fishing activities.  Once such a Jumbo Bag has been filled with marine plastic litter, the applicant is to inform the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture that a Jumbo Bag will be landed at one of the designated collection sites as may be stipulated by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture from time to time. This notification is to happen simultaneously with the mandatory notification that the vessel is returning to port from fishing activity.   On landing, a Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture official will be in attendance, make checks as may be necessary and insert an entry on the Fishing for Litter Form as provided by the same Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and held by the Service Provider to confirm the landing.  Replacement empty Jumbo Bags may be collected from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The selected applicants shall act in all respects according to instructions and direction as given by the Director General (Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture) or his delegated representative.

3. Duration of Agreement and Payment

3.1 The agreement period shall commence on the day of the official letter from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture notifying the acceptance of the application. 

3.2 At the end of the fishing season, the service provider should submit the completed Fishing for Litter Form/s to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.  Based on this submission, payment will be processed.  For each Jumbo Bag landed, filled tightly with recovered marine litter, the Service Provider will be paid €200. Payment will be effected on an annual basis through the issuing of cheque payments or direct deposit in their bank account. 

3.3 The Contracting Authority reserves the right to annul the Expression of Interest (EOI) procedure and reject all applications without thereby incurring any liability to the affected applicants. In so doing, the Contracting Authority shall not be liable to give any reason whatsoever.

4. Termination of Services

4.1 Termination of services shall be provided for in the letter of acceptance prior to commencement of services.

4.2 Should items other than marine plastic litter be deposited in the Jumbo Bags landed, the agreement with that particular applicant may be terminated forthwith.

5 Eligibility Requirements:

At the time of application, prospective applicants must be in possession of a valid fishing licence issued by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and be authorised to operate bottom otter trawls. 

6. Application Procedure

6.1 Properly filled application forms (to be collected from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture) must be deposited by hand in the tender box provided at the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture by the closing time and date indicated at the top of this notice.

6.2 By the closing time and date, ALL applications must be physically deposited in the tender box provided at the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. In the event that the Contracting Authority extends the call for applications, the new time and date will be construed to mean the (new) submission date. Any application delivered/received after the lapse of the closing time and date shall be considered as a late submission. Late submissions shall not be accepted.

6.3 Submissions shall be contained in a sealed package/envelope with the Advert Number clearly marked on the outside of the package/envelope and submitted either by recorded delivery (official postal/courier service), or hand delivered and in all instances deposited in the Tender Box at the above address. Any other method of submission shall NOT be accepted.

7. Notification of acceptance for Service

The Contracting Authority shall notify in writing the successful applicant that his/her application has been accepted.

8. Amendments to the Scheme

Any necessary amendments to this scheme shall be made by publishing the said amendments in the Government Gazette.

The closing date of this scheme has been extended from the 14th December, 2018 to 31st December, 2018.

Notice in terms of Article 61(1)

In Terms of the proviso to article 61(1) of the Duty on Documents and Transfers Act, the Commissioner for Revenue hereby notifies the persons listed hereunder to call at the Capital Transfer Duty Department, 46, Triq il-Merkanti, Valletta, to collect the notices made on such persons.

the Electoral Commission notifies that the candidate elected as Councillor in the casual election held on Thursday, 27th December, 2018, for the Local Council of Il-Marsa to fill the post vacated by Mr Frank Zammit is that whose name is shown hereunder:

SCERRI EMANUEL K/A NOEL

J. CHURCH

Chief Electoral Commissioner

Office of the Electoral Commission

Evans Building

Triq il-Merkanti

Il-Belt Valletta

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