Prime Minister’s Planning Authority retainer doubled to €17,110 a month

Jan 31 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela’s law firm has more than doubled from €7,300 per month to €17,110 in 2019 through a Planning Authority (PA).

Documents seen by Times of Malta show how Abela Advocates, the PM’s law firm, was paid over €1.2 million in that period for work that is largely handled in-house by the PA. Defending the fees, a spokesperson for Abela said that the very long hours of work carried out by the firm’s lawyers ‘extended also to the weekends.’

Tens of thousands in additional payments from the PA for court fees were paid to Abela Advocates, with the lucrative contract originally assigned to George Abela, the current PM’s father. This was back in 2001, when he was a partner with planning law expert Ian Stafrace in Abela, Stafrace and Associates.

The PA continued extending the contract by giving direct orders to Abela Advocates instead of issuing a fresh call for applications upon its 2011 expiry. The firm only renounced the brief who Abela became prime minister in 2020.

Invoices show that the retainer was fixed at €7,376 per month between 2013 and November 2015. It increased to €12,292 when the law firm also started to represent the PA in Environment and Planning Review Tribunal appeals, which follows the resignation of the authority in-house lawyer for such appeals.

Rising incrementally by 39% between March 2018 and March 2019, it hit €17,110. A spokesperson said that the sums reflected spikes in demand by the authority for legal services as a result of the rise in planning applications filed and ensuing legal issues connected to them.

‘Moreover Abela Advocates was physically present at the authority’s offices on a daily basis. The taxed bill of costs were payable in accordance with the contract for legal services.’

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How to handle bullies | by Ed’s Common Sense

Jan 31 2022

Recent events in Malta have shown that we may not be taking bullying seriously enough. The aggressive and unwanted behaviour, especially amongst youths, is to be condemned and if possible, avoided. That’s why this week, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Dr. Edward Curmi is here to give us a couple of tips on how to handle bullies. Take a look and let us know what you think!

Dr. Edward Curmi is also the author of 2 self-help books titled Ed’s Common Sense.

1. Walk away subtly when the bully approaches you. Try and imagine you’re walking away from a stranger. Act like you don’t care.

9 signs that you are an overthinker

2. When coming close to a bully distract yourself and focus on something completely different.

9 signs that you are an overthinker

3. When the bully approaches you, count to 100 and keep walking. They must never see how upset you are.

4. Never show you are upset. Keep walking and don’t turn around no matter what they say.

5. When a bully tries to upset you if you ever need to say something tell them calmly ‘everyone has a right to their own.’

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LESA will still pursue quarantine breach fines despite rulings

Jan 31 2022

LESA law enfacement agency will still follow up on its cases against individuals who were fined for breaching quarantine regulations. This comes despite a magistrate’s decision that it has no legal power to enforce the rules.

Svetlick Flores, the local enforcement system agency’s chief executive officer, said that proceedings will continue before the courts and the commissioners for justice which is where the agency is making its legal arguments.

He stated that since there are ongoing court proceedings on such cases, it is not prudent to comment further at this stage. However, LESA will be making its arguments in court. ‘The final judgements will then determine whether any action must be taken’ he stated.

According to a magistrate ruled last week, no local council, regional committee or agency for local enforcement has the power to enforce or commence proceedings against anyone who breached COVID quarantine rules.

Despite quarantine regulations falling within the competence of the commissioners for justice, they were not, noted the magistrate, listed among offences community officers could enforce.

Deciding on separate appeals filed by a man and a woman who were fined, the magistrate said that ‘given that such power is not expressly provided for in the law… then, the Local Enforcement System Agency cannot bring forward proceedings and prosecute persons for a breach of the regulations in question.’

The man and woman were fined €10,000 and €3,000 respectively, with LESA being among the agencies to issue fines. The others were police, Malta Tourism Authority and Transport Authority.

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Kevin Paul and Audrienne eliminated off XFactor Malta Season 3

Jan 31 2022

Kevin Paul Calleja and Audrienne were eliminated off the third season of XFactor Malta .

After a successful run on the third season, Kevin went up against Timea Farr during the sing off after Audrienne was eliminated.

The jazz singer expressed her thanks to the judges and the audience for the opportunity to have taken to the stage and shown Malta her musical skill as Kevin and Timea prepared for the sing-off.

Both singers gave their best performance after the soundtrack night, going the extra mile to save their spot in the competition.

But Timea managed to keep her spot for the next round, with all judges except for Howard Keith voting in her favour.

Kevin expressed his gratitude for having been in the competition and getting the chance to show his skill and passion for music. He even hinted at his career following the competition, so it definitely won’t be the last we’ll see of the beloved singer!

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