GWU to rent out offices to ARMS

ARMS Ltd (Automated Revenue Management Service) – the billing company for Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation – is looking into the possibility of opening an office in Valletta and renting out the space currently owned and occupied by a General Workers Union subsidiary.

Contacted by MaltaToday, GWU president Victor Carachi yesterday did not deny that the union would be renting out the offices currently used by its travel and insurance agency, to ARMS Ltd.

Asked whether the union would be letting out the Untours offices on Old Bakery Street to the state billing company, Carachi said: “I have no comment to give.” Pressed whether he ruled out the possibility, the veteran trade unionist repeated that he had no comments to give.

Currently, ARMS’s offices are located in Gattard House, Blata l-Bajda, but the company is in the process of opening a number of regional offices, including Valletta.

Last year, energy minister Konrad Mizzi announced that government intended to open two ARMS regional offices by 2014, one in the north and the other in the south of the island. This, Mizzi said, would improve the billing company’s efficiency.

The offices of Untours, which form part of the GWU’s central building in the capital city, would offer an accessible space in a central location.

Last year, energy minister Konrad Mizzi announced that government intended to open two ARMS regional offices by 2014, one in the north and the other in the south of the island. This, Mizzi said, would improve the billing company’s efficiency.

The offices of Untours, which form part of the GWU’s central building in the capital city, would offer an accessible space in a central location.

Carmen Ciantar, ARMS Ltd’s chief operations officer, is also being touted for the company’s top job of CEO.

Ciantar denied that she would be appointed chairperson. However, when asked whether she is set to be appointed chief executive officer, Ciantar replied: “You should ask such questions to the ministry.”

Pressed to deny the appointment, as she had done so categorically on the post of chairman, Ciantar said: “I can neither deny nor confirm.”

Ciantar, the estranged wife of former Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, already occupies the post of director at Transport Malta. If appointed CEO, Ciantar would replace James Davis, who is currently the company’s acting CEO.  

GWU’s €1.16 million acquisition

This week, the union was in the spotlight following the revelation that Transport Malta was considering the relocation of its headquarters to a section of the A3 Towers in Paola, owned by another GWU subsidiary, Paola Estates.

Paola Estates are the preferred bidders in the expression of interest TM issued for the rental of new office space.

The A3 Towers were constructed by the Montebello brothers’ JPM Bros, the company that had also acquired the defunct Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala, as well as having developed the Mistra Heights complex in Xemxija before selling off their interest.

Paola Estates are a wholly-owned subsidiary of GWU Holdings Ltd, whose directors are union secretary-general Tony Zarb and president Victor Carachi. In 2007, the company held some €2 million in assets.

In 2010, the GWU company purchased 1,800 square metres of basement garage spaces for €302,818 at the A3 Towers, and the ground floor’s showroom, cafeteria, and the first floor’s showroom and second-floor ‘mini market and pharmacy clinic’ for €1.16 million; and then another 35 underlying garages for €285,349 in 2012.

Altogether, the GWU purchased the basement levels and first two floors of the Montebello’s A3 Towers for €1.74 million.

Although Transport Malta is still evaluating the bids, Paola Estates were confirmed as the preferred bidders by the authority’s adjudication committee. A total of six bids were shortlisted. An appeals period now follows, after which the official confirmation will be made.

“Paola Estates is the preferred bid and, if all is approved, we will go there,” a senior TM official told MaltaToday.