The president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association resigned yesterday after being confronted with evidence he had operated tourist accommodation without the necessary permits and had illegally rigged his unlicensed restaurant’s smart meter.
The move follows a report by The Sunday Times of Malta revealing that Matthew Pace is operating a restaurant without an onsite cooking permit.
He has also to testify in court against an Enemalta employee he had paid to tamper with his restaurant’s smart meter
Mr Pace’s eatery, 47 Summer Nights, is the subject of a protracted legal dispute between him and his landlord who claims the MHRA president carried out unapproved construction works which nullified the restaurant’s licence.
This newspaper has now also found out that Mr Pace had rented out tourist accommodation without a permit. He has also been summoned to testify in court against an Enemalta employee he had paid to tamper with his restaurant’s smart meter.
Confronted with these claims, Mr Pace yesterday said he had tendered his resignation from his MHRA post.
He would not comment on his business dealings, saying he had “nothing more to add”.
Mr Pace was given an amnesty in exchange for his court evidence and on condition he paid back all his dues with interest.
He did not testify when summoned last October and the case is ongoing. Others involved claimed to have paid the Enemalta installer some €1,400 to have their meters rigged in a bid to make illegal savings on their energy bills.
Mr Pace’s restaurant has also been slapped with an enforcement notice for setting up an unapproved permanent canopy.
His block of self-catering tourist flats in Marsascala, next to his restaurant, was only certified as legal a few days before he was appointed MHRA president in August.
I have nothing more to add
The Sunday Times of Malta asked the Malta Tourism Authority, which regulates such establishments, whether Mr Pace had been warned about the unlicensed operations and if any action was being taken. A reply was not forthcoming by the time of writing.
The apartments are also subject to an ongoing court case on copyright breach on the 47 Summer Nights logo, which belongs to the property owner.
Contacted after exposing his unlicensed restaurant operations last month, MHRA executive board members were asked if they felt his position was still tenable.
All the members had said they were aware about his restaurant licensing concerns prior to his appointment but still unanimously supported his presidency. One member had described Mr Pace’s attempts to regularise his position as “exemplary”.