Christian Peregin
Employees ponder future as Magic Kiosk is dismantled
Magic Kiosk, Sliema's controversial turquoise landmark, began its vanishing act yesterday morning as the owner watched the government confiscate his belongings, including up to €70,000 in cash.
Government workers began demolishing the aquarium-like structure, which has dominated St Anne Square for some 30 years, at 5.30 a.m. The move paves the way for the embellishment of the square, which gives residents a breather, but left employees who turned up for work standing in disbelief.
The government had warned it would not renew the lease contracts with the tenant after they expired last month and gave an ultimatum for eviction. Since this was not done, all the items removed will become government property, including television sets, equipment, alcohol and the cash in the register and safe, which the tenant, Joe Pace says, amounted to between €60,000 and €70,000.
Mr Pace, 73, was served with an eviction notice some days ago but applied for the court to issue a warrant of prohibitory injunction on grounds of discrimination. The request was rejected and a hearing was set for Friday.
In the circumstances, Mr Pace expected the project to be put on hold until the court settled the matter but his hopes were crushed yesterday when family members woke him up at the crack of dawn to tell him the restaurant was being dismantled.
His 20 or so employees who turned up for a normal day's work were stunned when they found their workplace being torn apart.
Paul Cini, who worked at Magic Kiosk for 30 years, said that, although he saw it coming, he had had no chance to seek alternative employment.
Another employee, Martin Micallef, 53, who worked there for 25 years asked: "What am I supposed to do now? I have a wife and child. Who is going to pay my debts now?"
The first items to be removed were the tables, chairs and ceiling fans, followed by solar water heaters and the tanks on the roof. In the afternoon the roof was ripped up by a crane.
The restaurant was still serving customers until Thursday evening, so the cash register was full of money and the kitchen fully stocked.
Mr Pace, who remained level-headed, seemed resigned to the fate of his beloved restaurant.
"I have dealt with politicians in the past. I know how these things are done. I expected them to wait for a court decision. That's why I didn't move out. But I guess this goes to show the government's prepotency."
He was particularly disappointed that he was not called to open the establishment and take account of all his belongings or to take the readings of the electricity meter beforehand.
"The only thing they gave me was my diary with telephone numbers," manager Louis Scicluna said.
"They are acting as if we are thieves. Actually, they are acting as if they are thieves. It's like an organised robbery," his wife, Mr Pace's daughter, said.
According to Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi, yesterday's actions were "reasonable" because Mr Pace had been given a number of warnings to leave but he chose to ignore them. He said the government had forged ahead after getting expert legal advice.
Tens of Works Division officials and policemen were on the scene as many onlookers watched the Sliema Ferries' landmark being dismantled.
The restaurant was built on government land and was rented by the Pace family for the past 32 years through two contracts. One part of the lease expired four years ago and was never renewed while the second expired on December 19. The government had filed a judicial protest some months before informing Mr Pace the lease would not be renewed.
According to the Land Department, two eviction notices were issued after that date but Mr Pace expected the matter to be resolved in court and so he did not move out, even after a permit was issued for the demolition to take place.
The decision not to renew the leases was made so that St Anne Square could be returned to its former glory as an open public space with a small wooden kiosk, an initiative of Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino. Mr Pace had offered to fund the project himself if he could run the small kiosk but this offer was refused.
"The former tenant has no ownership of the land and therefore no right to run the new kiosk," Mr Pullicino said when he visited the site yesterday.
The owner had said the Magic Kiosk was being targeted by people with a vested interest.
18 Comments
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M. Catania
Jan 11th 2009, 17:42
@ ray grech
At long last. What legal possession?/ And when Mr. Pace took over way back in 1974? Come on Mr.Grech, tell us what happened?
michael pace
Jan 11th 2009, 10:22
I wonder what percentage of that 70,000 euros was profit for one day during these winter months (busier in the summer) WOW I wonder how much is reported to the government as profit in this MEGA-MILLION business for the last 30 years
Robert Cuschieri
Jan 11th 2009, 10:21
Well done to the government. Give what belongs to the public back to the public.
You made enough money over the years Mr.Pace.
I'm sorry for the employees but I'm sure that waiters and catering staff are in demand and they can all find alternative employment. If they saw it coming they should have moved on before.
Abela Peter
Jan 10th 2009, 17:54
Mr Pace "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND"
Obviously Mr Grech is either too young or short memory.
WAS it not for the same reason the Koisk owners before them,were kicked out from their little kiosk.
Well done JASON
Julian Zarb
Jan 10th 2009, 17:35
Certainly this is the sort of action which one must support, there was a time when people usurped the law and ignored summons and other official orders; this has got to stop...we live on an island where order and discipline must become the order of the day now if we want to live sustainably, democratically and enjoy a decent quality of life...we deserve that as residents and tourists deserve that as visitors. I think that square deserves a quaint summer kiosk as it had before that dreadful eyesore took its place thrity years ago..I am proud to say I never set foot in that place. Let us give back the elegance of Sliema ferries before it is too late! Julian Zarb - Tourism Journalist and Media presenter
peter mallia
Jan 10th 2009, 17:06
Have you noticed that the square holding the magic kiosk is so large that it can compete with any major square in europe. i have nothing to do with the owner or gained anything from it. But it is just hatred that drives this idiotic move, when the sliema front has been allotted to blue eyed boys at better (worse for public) conditions than that afforded to the magic kiosk - the labour party was always stingy.
Joseph Camilleri
Jan 10th 2009, 17:05
@Chris Bowen: Now that Magic Kiosk is no longer there you can spend more time at the other much more beautiful sites in Malta :)
A. Charles
Jan 10th 2009, 16:45
Dear Mr. Bowen, you as a tourist may be sorry that you will not be able to visit the not so magic Magic Kiosk, but I as a Maltese citizen with innate interest in good aesthetics have not been shedding tears because its removal.
chris bowen
Jan 10th 2009, 16:07
Speaking from a tourists point of view,i will be sorry to see the kiosk go.Being a visitor to Malta for the past 20 years,i have enjoyed my visits to the kiosk,as for being an eyesore,well take a look around the island at the many unfinished properties and construction work that is going on.
Finally may i say a thankyou to the staff and management both old and new,of the kiosk for making me so welcome over the past 20 years, and wish them all the best of luck for the future
Joseph Camilleri
Jan 10th 2009, 14:58
@ Ray Grech. The lease had expired according to this report. Can you kindly explain how Mr Pace had legal possession or any legal right to sit on the property?
Paul Muscat
Jan 10th 2009, 14:11
60000 to 70000 Euros left in the till overnight? By Joe Pace.??? This must be another fairy tale of which you are so popular dear Joe Pace. You ought to write a book.
'The employees and family saw it coming'. Yet they stayed there and did not find another job or abide by the law. Then its all your fault. Not the Government's. Government's actions were all above board.
Joe Pace talks about prepotency? How does he dare?? He seem to have a short lived memory.
He dealt with politicians in the past...... Thank God today's politicians are different to the ones of the past (red or blue).
Finally the long arm of the Government has also reached you dear Joe. Well done Jason and George. Oley!!
C Cassar
Jan 10th 2009, 14:06
Well, since part of the first lease ran out 4 years ago, what was Joe Pace still doing here? The kiosk was a complete eyesore plus also a number of very old trees have been damaged by this monstrosity. Many of us are so glad that this tumour in the area has been removed. The goverment should make sure that Joe Pace pays for every penny of the reinstatement of the square so that finally it can be enjoyed by all of us plus a fine as percentage of his profits for the last four years. It's so good to see the current government act to improve the environment in Malta. For too long the older generations have been ruining the island and getting away with it. Let this be a stark warning to all others who put making money without consideration for anyone else.
Well done Mr George Pullicino.
Martin Bugelli
Jan 10th 2009, 13:40
Just for correctness’s sake, and purely for public information, please note that as per the Press Release issued by the Department of Information this afternoon, the Government Property Division (GPD) has declared that a full inventory was carried out on site prior to the commencement of the dismantling exercise. The only money present on the site was the sum of 530 Euro and 18cents, which sum was given to the operator of the Magic Kiosk by officials from the GPD, in the presence of a Police Inspector as required by law. This is all documented in the form of a receipt signed by the Operator, who also declared in writing that to the best of his knowledge these were the only monies on the premises. All food items removed from the premises were passed on to the Dar tal-Provvidenza. Martin Bugelli Director General (Information, Local Government and Public Consultation)
Deo Catania
Jan 10th 2009, 12:08
Ok, so Attard Brothers got a discount on their penalty for illegally setting up a plant in Ta' Qali with the owners claiming they can't afford to pay (as if!!!) and bringing the excuse of employing 300 people but Magic Kiosk owner has had his belongings including cash confiscated. Very friendly government that we have. All this talk about the square is just nonsense, Sliema is a whole mess and everyone knows it's just turning to food outlets, fashion stores, high buildings etc. Look just behid the kiosk, a tall building partly covered by trees, well maybe we should remove the trees now to expose the beautiful building!!!! Also a few metres away there's Giorgios Cafeteria, try passing along on Sunday morning with all those tables and chairs.......but who cares?
P Debono
Jan 10th 2009, 12:02
While I sympathise with the workers who lost their jobs, you cannot say that they didn't see it coming. At long last yet another dark chapter in Maltese history has been closed, and this should be a victory for the Maltese nation.
Also, might I point out to Joe Pace and these employees who said that there was some "vested political interest", at least the government didn't simply bulldoze your property without warning as they did to so many people with families when your party was in power.
A. Briffa
Jan 10th 2009, 10:40
"Since this was not done, all the items removed will become government property, including television sets, equipment, alcohol and the cash in the register and safe, which the tenant, Joe Pace says, amounted to between €60,000 and €70,000."
This should be enough to cover the extra expences government ministries made before the general election.
Ray Grech
Jan 10th 2009, 10:35
This is another fine example of PN arrogance, Mr. Pace had legal possession of this land and the Magic Kiosk was popular with both Maltese and tourists. Now we end up with more unemployed people and Mr Pace losing his property. Who has gained (or will gain) from this? We want answers please.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 10th 2009, 10:32
Do you come to tell me that the cash till is kept full of money? Thousands of euros???? The mind boggles!