Sun, 20 May 2012 17:11:00 +0200
The suspension of the Malta Enterprise Energy Scheme is anti-commercial, indiscriminate and will have an adverse effect on the country, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, GRTU said.
The chamber said in a statement that the scheme was intended to aid companies install clean energy producing equipment, mainly photovoltaic installations, lowering their utility bills and in turn aiding the government reach its renewable energy targets.
The scheme generated around 300 projects, directly affecting at least 600 companies and many more indirectly.
It also helped create hundreds of green jobs while it allowed beneficiaries to create more jobs.
The scheme funded 50 per cent of the projects with 85 per cent of the grant coming from the EU, the remaining 15 per cent from the government.
The chamber said that the revenue generated for the government in taxes, value added tax, national insurance and reduction of unemployment outdid the government's 15 per cent grant.
The scheme, the GRTU said should also help the government avoid hefty penalties or to buy green credits from other EU countries by the end of 2012 to counteract not reaching its renewable energy target of two per cent. It...
Sun, 20 May 2012 14:40:00 +0200
Roy Hodgson acknowledged he was always going to upset a few people by omitting Rio Ferdinand from England's Euro 2012 squad - but was buoyed by Gary Cahill's performance in Chelsea's Champions League triumph.
The former West Brom manager attracted a lot of criticism for leaving out defender Ferdinand, who has been in fine form for Manchester United this season.
Although the 33-year-old has been struggling with a long-standing back problem, Hodgson confirmed his decision was based purely on footballing reasons.
"Any decision you make as an England national team manager is a difficult one," Hodgson told Sky Sports News.
"There's so many good players out there so every time you turn your back on someone and give someone else a chance, you're opening yourself up to criticism that that person would be every bit as good as the one you've chosen."
One player who has been selected for England in Poland and Ukraine, however, is Cahill, who was one of Chelsea's star men as they produced a magnificent rearguard action to repel Bayern Munich's attackers before eventually triumphing on penalties at the Allianz Arena.
Hodgson believes the former Bolton defender has a bright future...