Karl Stagno-Navarra The Trade Fairs Exhibitors’ Association has indefinitely postponed a trade fair due to have been held at the end of this month and other major events such as a boat show and a concert by UK star Cliff Richard after TFEA chairman Paul Abela told a meeting of exhibitors that the Naxxar premises did not have the necessary permits from the Director of Trade.
The news comes just two weeks after Paul Abela had said that all was set for the Naxxar grounds to host the trade fair once again even though it had been made known that the commercial event had transferred to Ta’ Qali.
While TFEA legal advisor Prof Ian Refalo insisted that the association did not need a new MEPA permit for the use of the Naxxar grounds for trade fairs, he stressed that there had been no change of use and the permits remained valid, despite any interruption in the holding of the fairs.
The issues raised during last Friday’s meeting continued to stir more controversy after Paul Abela reportedly told his members that two of three applications for warrants of prohibitory injunction filed against TFEA had now been dropped.
Exhibitors responded that no such cases against TFEA have been dropped, with one also stressing that TFEA had officially replied to the injunctions and that the time to reply had now lapsed.
With regards to the use of the car park, the exhibitors contested that contrary to what was they were told, the matter was still an issue and that the TFEA had no legal title over it.
Other exhibitors asked for explanations from TFEA about the use of the Naxxar premises as it turns out that the same new association has asked to enter an agreement with the Scicluna Estates when the same Estates are in court against the same people over the use of the premises by Fairs and Exhibitions Limited that was a company run by the defunct Trade Fairs Corporation.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Search:
MALTATODAY
BUSINESSTODAY
Download MaltaToday Sunday issue front page in pdf file format
