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We refer to the article on Maltese traders making use of our catamaran which appeared in MaltaToday on 24 December. What the article failed to report was that the Carabinieri, in Catania and Pozzallo, after establishing that all their papers were in order, allowed the Maltese traders to continue with their commercial activities.
According to EU requirements transporters of groupage merchandise and employees of road haulage companies should be in possession of an international road transporters licence issued by the competent authority, in this case the ADT. Traders transporting their own goods do not require this licence. We understand that the ADT are in the process of making the necessary arrangements to provide applicants with the required licence.
Mr Victor Galea’s reference to our clients as “illegal traders” and “cowboys” is unbecoming of his position as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. The impression given by Mr Galea, on various occasions, is that he is using his position in the Chamber to protect his main activity, that of an established importer.
Your readers may wish to know that contrary to what Mr Galea has been saying, ad nauseam, these traders are making an honest living, perhaps with a slight adverse effect on established import companies and to the determent of a Sicilian “established firm” whose charges are 80% higher than those of Maltese counterparts. This firm has enjoyed a virtual monopoly for years and instigated the incidents reported in MaltaToday. If it were not for the prudence shown by the Italian authorities, who are inundated with reports and accusation against Maltese traders by this person, the situation would be one that could only be described as harassment. That this foreign firm should have the backing of the President of the Chamber of Commerce, against the legitimate commercial activities of Maltese entrepreneurs, is unthinkable. These Maltese transporters provide a same day delivery service to Maltese importers and exporters. This is in stark contrast to the service provided by the Sicilian firm. There is absolutely nothing to prevent this firm from doing what the local transporters are doing. Refusing to change and applying pressure on the authorities, backed by a constituted body and based on misinformation, to prevent others with some enterprise, from putting innovative ideas into practice is hardly the way forward.
Furthermore Mr Galea should know that since joining the EU alterations have been made to border procedures to the satisfaction of the Departments of Customs and VAT. These procedures are in line with both local and EU regulations and to the credit of these Departments have eliminated a lot of unnecessary bureaucracy while ensuring the collection of taxes due in a cost effective way. The procedures followed by our clients on arrival in Malta are those established by the competent authorities. The self declaration form, for purposes of customs, VAT, eco-contribution and other taxes completed by the “cowboys” is exactly the same as that used by Mr Galea’s “law-abiding entrepreneurs”. To persist in public name calling and make unsubstantiated claims that taxes are not being collected, for ulterior motives, is an abuse of one’s official position and is commercially unethical.
There are sufficient safeguards for market surveillance and enforcement, perhaps more than sufficient. Is Mr Galea’s proposal that government departments establish a task force to make border procedures more cumbersome and costly what members of the Chamber of Commerce really want? Does the Chamber believe in the free market economy? Are Mr Galea’s statements representative of what the Chamber stands for? If Mr Galea’s main interest is the collection of taxes then he has missed his true calling.
We are a little surprised with the position taken by the Chamber, assuming that it is the Chamber that has taken this position. Historically the Chamber has always advocated a reduction in cargo transport and landing costs; Virtu Ferries are proving such a service, the cost of transport has decreased by 50%, border procedures have been simplified, imports can be on the shelves within 24 hours. We would have expected the Chamber to support this service rather than team up with foreign interests to put spokes in the wheel. We are grateful to those in the Chamber who have taken the trouble to let us know that they hold a different opinion.
The local commercial and industrial sector regards our joining the eurozone as the one single most important factor in the development of the Maltese economy in the immediate future. It is heartening to read that both the retail price index and the rate of inflation have decreased, the latter to within eurozone acceptable levels in the last few months. Dare one suggest that these “Maltese traders”, “illegal traders” or “cowboys”, whose commercial sin appears to be that they have not inherited an import business, are making a contribution in this direction? Try buying a packet of detergent or a body lotion from one of the retail outlets importing goods with one of the cowboys instead of your usual retailer and you will soon find out what all this fuss and myopia is about.
Henri Saliba
Director, Virtu Ferries Limited
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