Will Sinbad the Sailor actually sail?

Franica Pulis
Yesterday’s news that the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre (MFCC) might be facing liquidation shocked quite a few people, especially those who had booked their events there up till next January.
Two such activities are the Michael Bolton concert, scheduled for 3 October, and ‘The Remarkable Voyage of Sinbad’: MADC’s first time ever panto outside the Manoel Theatre held between December and January.
“I am in complete shock,” MADC chairman Alan Montanaro said when contacted yesterday. “All we know is what we have read in The Times. No one has informed us up till now. A person of the committee is trying to get hold of them. However, we expect to go as planned, until anyone tells us otherwise.”
On the other hand, Nigel Camilleri, one of the directors of NNG, said: “The concert will be held all the same. One of my partners was told that the concert will go ahead.”
This newspaper could not get hold of Ruben Cutajar from Sign It, which owns 25% of the MFCC. However, Alfred Calleja, chairperson of the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation, explained that talks are currently under way.
“At the moment there are the negotiations taking place. We are waiting for a counter offer by tonight. Tonight we will know the new offer and tomorrow we will be able to deal with the bank.
“If MFCC is bought from our end or by Sign It, the activities will be bought with the share. Once there will be one owner, it is up to the owner to decide what to do. However, I do not think there will be any problem with the activities since they are a source of revenue.”
He added that the main problem concerns creditors and the payment of wages.
“It is a problem of cash flow because there is quite a number of assets,” he said.

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