Gafà Saveway Ltd have been running the shop for the last eight years and their last contract expired on 14 May. This contract stipulated that Gafà’s Saveway would give the MIA 12.5 per cent of its yearly gross turnover, payable as a concession fee. Over the last four years, the protest said the company had given the MIA a total of Lm79,463.

According to the protest, when director Dominic Gafà had a meeting with MIA chief executive officer Peter Bolech, the latter was confident that Gafà Saveway would make a favourable proposal in the invitation to tender.

The judicial protest said that when the MIA issued a “tender for the provision of a retail activity within the MIA departures hall” in April, Gafà Saveway proposed paying the MIA 20.5 per cent of its yearly gross turnover, guaranteeing the

airport Lm39,000.

This offer was rejected and the complainant company said it came to hear that the tender was awarded to Camilleri & Sons who, the protest claimed, offered less favourable terms.

As a result, Gafà Saveway was ordered to vacate the premises by 14 June, leaving the six people who worked there without jobs.

The company has asked the MIA to revoke the contract given to Camilleri & Sons and make its choice once again in an independent and transparent fashion, with legitimate considerations.

The protest was presented in the First Hall of the Civil court by Dr Edward Gatt, Dr Italo Ellul and Dr Anthony Ellul.