The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association is being “cautious” about appointing its next president after a string of irregularities forced the former head to resign.

Hotelier Tony Zahra, the MHRA’s senior vice president, said the association would not rush into a decision.

“There are no fires; we haven’t had any negative feedback on this. The situation is what it is and we are being more cautious now,” he said.

Matthew Pace resigned from the helm of the organisation last month after Times of Malta revealed he had been operating a restaurant and tourist accommodation without the necessary permits and had been slapped with an enforcement notice for an unlicensed canopy.

It also emerged that an Enemalta employee is facing charges of tampering with the smart electricity meter at Mr Pace’s restaurant in Marsascala.

Mr Pace benefited from a government amnesty, avoiding prosecution provided he paid for the power consumed as well as a fine.

He was also required to spill the beans about the Enemalta employee.

The MHRA originally defended Mr Pace’s appointment when this newspaper reported the licensing issue, saying he had set wheels in motion to regularise his position. He later stepped down, however, when confronted with information about the court proceedings related to the smart meter.

Following his resignation, the MHRA council described Mr Pace as a “gentleman”, saying he had set an example for the industry by resigning when his position became untenable.

Mr Zahra, who was appointed temporary MHRA head until a new president is named, said there was no need to call a general meeting of its members to elect a new president because such an officer was appointed by the elected executive council.

This is made up of Mr Zahra, lawyer Hugh Peralta as secretary and restaurateur Ben Muscat as treasurer.