Pama Shopping Village, the new massive retail centre on the outskirts of Mosta, is currently operating without a trading licence, the Times of Malta has learned.

A spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry confirmed yesterday that no licence had been issued for the centre, which opened last November and hosts a large supermarket and numerous retail outlets and restaurants.

“It is the responsibility of the business operator to ensure that all required trade licences are applied for and acquired so that the business may operate within the parameters of the law,” the spokeswoman said.

The situation has now been brought to the attention of the Trading Licences Unit, which has in turn contacted the operators to warn them about the situation.

It is the responsibility of the business operator to ensure that all required trade licences are applied for and acquired so that the business may operate within the parameters of the law

It is understood that the operators have been given a window within which to regularise their position, failing which the police will be asked to intervene.

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 of between €116 and €1,164, as well as an additional daily fine of €23 for continuing offences.

Pama Shopping Village is built on a 32,000 square metre site on Triq Valletta in the limits of Mosta and centres around a 3,000 square metre supermarket, which also houses restaurants and retail outlets.

The site includes an adjoining retail complex featuring home and fashion outlets and extensive underground and street level parking.

Pama Shopping Village on the outskirts of Mosta.

Pama awaiting Mepa certificate

The operator, Pama Shopping Village Ltd, is owned by PG Holdings Ltd, a holding company set up by entrepreneur Paul Gauci. Mr Gauci has been involved in business for more than two decades and is also behind several other retailing ventures, including Zara in Sliema and Pavi Supermarket in Qormi.

Last November, the planning authority objected to unsightly services installed along the back wall of the supermarket and revoked its compliance certificate. It imposed a €1 million bank guarantee on the owners to ensure the relocation of the services and a €58,000 fine for works done without a permit.

When contacted, a PG Holdings spokes-man said that Pama Supermarket Ltd was currently awaiting a Mepa compliance certificate, due in the coming days, following which the company would be able to apply for a trading licence.

The company did not respond to questions as to why the centre had opened without a licence and whether it would close its doors until a licence was issued.