Pama Shopping Village has obtained a trading licence three months after opening, but the massive retail centre on the outskirts of Naxxar faced no penalties despite operating without a licence for nearly three months.
Contacted yesterday, a Pama spokesman said a trading licence, a receipt for which was seen by this newspaper, was issued on January 26, three weeks after the Times of Malta revealed that the complex had been operating in breach of the law since opening in early November.
The spokesman said, however, that the company was never subjected to any fines as a result of the irregular situation.
Under the Trade Licences Act, businesses require a licence issued by the regulatory authority to carry out any commercial activity. The penalty for contraventions is a fine from €116 to €1,164, as well as an additional daily fine of €23 for continuing offences.
Businesses require a licence issued by the regulatory authority to carry out any commercial activity
Questions sent to the economy ministry as to whether any of the third party outlets within the extensive commercial complex had been issued with fines remained unanswered at the time of going to print.
When contacted, Food Chain Limited, which operates Burger King and KFC outlets, said it had faced no fines as all permits were in order before the outlets opened their doors. The operators of Hamleys gave the same response. Another outlet contacted, Zen Sushi, refused to comment on the situation.
In January, a ministry spokeswoman said that once Pama’s lack of trading licence had been brought to the attention of the relevant authority, the operators were given a window within which to regularise their position, failing which the police would be asked to intervene.
The spokeswoman said it was normal procedure to allow operators time to obtain the necessary permits before insisting on legal action.
Businesses such as Pama which handle food and drinks have to submit an application for a trading licence prior to opening, although some categories of retail outlet are simply required to notify the authority up to 30 days after opening.
Pama said the delay in applying for a licence was due to the company awaiting a compliance certificate from Mepa over a decision last November, in relation to which the planning authority also imposed a €1 million bank guarantee.
Pointing to the trading licence receipt of €1,000, the Pama spokesman insisted yesterday that opening without a licence was not “an attempt to save money”.