Fil-qasam tal-amministrazzjoni pubblika konnessa mal-art kif ukoll fil-politika dwar l-iżvilupp tal-art, f’Malta, m’hawnx saltna tad-dritt iżda anarkija. Il-ligijiet u r-regoli huma mkasbra kontinwament. Dan qaluh kelliema tal-ADPD-The Green Party meta indirizzaw konferenza stampa quddiem l-uffiċċji tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar fil-Furjana.

Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party il-Perit Carmel Cacopardo qal li l-attitudni ġenerali illum hi li b’mod prattiku tista’ tagħmel li trid, imbagħad tirranġa wara. Hi attitudni li għandha għeruq fondi. Dan hu l-mod li bih l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar imxiet fil-każ tal-kumpless Montekristo ta’ Charles Polidano, f’Ħal-Farruġ. Li tħallew jakkumulaw l-irregolaritajiet għal żmien twil hu falliment amministrattiv tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar li naqset milli twettaq l-obbligi bażiċi tagħha. Il-posponiment kontinwu ta’ azzjoni dwar l-irregolaritajiet li akkumulaw fil-kumpless Montekristo taw messaġġ li ma kien hemm xejn gravi li ma setax ikun irranġat.  Dan kollu ġie msaħħah bil-purċissjoni tal-politiċi jorganizzaw l-attivitajiet tagħhom b’konnessjoni mal-kampanja elettorali u mal-ħidma politika tagħhom fil-kumpless Montekristo meta kien magħruf minn kulhadd li dan il-kumpless kien mimli irregolaritajiet. Il-preżenza kontinwa tal-politiċi hemm, anke sa riċentment minn Membru tal-Parlament Ewropew, kienet minnha innifisha pressjoni pubblika indiretta favur l-illegalità u favur in-normalizzazzjoni tal-anarkija fl-iżvilupp tal-art.

Cacopardo kompla jgħid li nagħmlu żball jekk naħsbu li dak li ġara in konnessjoni mal-kumpless Montekristo kien xi trattament preferenzjali. Sfortunatament dan hu l-mod normali kif timxi u imxiet l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar. Fil-fatt il-proċedura tar-regolarizzazzjoni fil-qasam tal-iżvilupp hu l-mod organizzat kif dan kollu jsir għal każijiet żgħar, uħud riżultat ta’ traskuraġni u oħrajn riżultat ta’ nuqqas ta’ għarfien u xi każijiet anke riżultat ta’ abbuż. L-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar ikollha ukoll kwantità ta’ każijiet ta’ sanzjonar ta’ żvilupp: jigifieri talbiet biex żvilupp li sar bla permess, kollha jew in parti, jingħata l-permess.

L-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar bis-sistema tal-multi li bihom tirranġa kollox, innormalizzat l-anarkija fil-qasam tal-iżvilupp tal-art u l-bini. Id-differenza bejn dak li ġara fil-każ tal-kumpless Montekristo u l-operat ta’ kuljum tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar hu l-iskala – li fil-każ tal-kumpless Montekristo hi waħda massiċċa – għax fil-prinċipju huma identiċi: irregolaritiajiet li dwarhom tħallas il-multi u tista’ sserraħ rasek, temm jgħid Cacopardo.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci bdiet billi fakkret kif riċentement, intlaħaq ftehim biex is-Suncrest ta’ Anġlu Xuereb tibqa’ tagħmel użu minn art pubblika li ilha tokkupa mingħajr titlu legali  għal 38 sena, ladarba tħallas multa ta’ żewġ miljun Ewro – bin-nifs, m’għandniex xi ngħidu! Mhux biss, imma eżentawh ukoll mil-liġi li tagħti dritt ta’ aċċess lill-pubbliku tul il-kosta kollha.

Gauci sostniet li għandna istituzzjonijiet li flok ixekklu l-iżvilupp illegali, tista’ tgħid qegħdin jixprunawh. Fil-fatt, l-attitudni tal-awtoritajiet innormalizzat l-abbuż. Donnu oramaj drajna li jekk hemm xi ħadd li bena bla permess, b’xi mod jirranġawlu: basta li jkun lest li jħallas il-multi. Dawn huma okkażjonijiet li ndraw għax il-governanza tajba fuq il-karta biss teżisti. L-aqwa li nżommu lil kulħadd kuntent u li r-rota tkompli ddur. Imma aħna ma nitgħallmu qatt? X’sar minnha l-kredibbiltà? U xi ngħidu dwar l-inċidenti traġiċi li seħħew dan l-aħħar?  Min se jerfa’ r-risponsabbilità ta’ bini li tela’ illegalment jew li nbena ħażin? Dawn huma affarijiet li kull ċittadin b’rasu fuq għonqu għandu jistaqsi u li dwarhom għandu jitlob kontabbiltà lill-awtoritajiet.

Gauci kompliet tgħid li dak li naraw u nisimgħu fl-aħbarijiet huwa sintomu ta’ mentalità fejn kollox jgħaddi; l-aqwa li jkollok il-flus sabiex l-irregolaritajiet jinħafru u jintesew. Għalxejn nipprovaw inserrħu l-kuxjenza b’inkjesti pubbliċi u ‘l hekk imsejħa riformi li ma jiswew għal xejn jekk ma jiġux enforzati. Hemm bżonn li l-awtoritajiet irabbu sinsla għaliex il-bidla m’għandhiex biss tkun kożmetika; bidla kożmetika qatt ma wasslet għas-serjetà! L-approvazzjoni riċenti għal tibdil li se jsir fis-Suncrest kif ukoll Montecristo huma sintomu ta’ marda li li għandha għeruq fondi u li mhux faċli tindirizzah. Dak li hu ħain ġie normalizzat u issa mhux biss hu aċċettat imma fuq kollox hemm min jippretendi li hekk tajjeb li jsiru l-affarijiet.  Donnu saret xi ħaġa kbira li nistennew is-serjetà fl-imġiba u l-operat tal-awtoritajiet!

Mingħajr rieda ħhal governanza tajba li ma tħares lejn wiċċ ħadd, u sakemm se nkomplu nagħtu prijorità lill-profitti ta’ malajr, ser nibqgħu ma nitgħallmu qatt, temmet tgħid Gauci.

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Anarchy in land administration and land development: illegalities and abuse absolved

In the public administration sector in connection with land administration and land development in Malta, instead of the rule of law we are faced with a state of anarchy.  Laws and regulations are continuously flouted.  This was highlighted by ADPD – The Green Party when addressing a press conference in front of the Planning Authority in Floriana this Saturday morning.

Deputy Chairperson of ADPD-The Green Party, Architect Carmel Cacopardo said that the general attitude today is practically doing what one likes and being subsequently absolved.  It is an attitude which is deeply rooted.  This is the way the Planning Authority dealt with Charles Polidano in connection with his Montecristo Estate in Ħal-Farruġ.  Allowing irregularities to accumulate over the years reveals the failure of the Planning Authority to exercise its basic obligations.  By indefinitely postponing any action concerning these irregularities at the Montekristo Estate, the Planning Authority sent the message that there is absolutely nothing that cannot be fixed, however serious it may be.  This message has been reinforced by the never-ending procession of politicians who host their political activities in connection with their political campaigns at the Montekristo Estate, whilst everyone knew it had numerous irregularities.  The continuous presence of politicians at this estate, including the recent visit by a member of the European Parliament, indirectly supports these irregularities as well as the normalisation of the anarchy present in land development. 

Cacopardo also mentioned that it would be a mistake to think that what has happened in connection with the Montekristo Estate was a case of preferential treatment. Unfortunately, this is the norm as far as the Planning Authority is concerned.  In fact, the procedure for regularisations in development planning caters for small cases, largely the result of carelessness, a lack of adequate knowledge and at times outright abuse.  The Planning Authority also deals with a number of cases concerning the sanctioning of development, meaning requests to sanction development that has been built without a permit, in total or in part.

The Planning Authority has a system of fines that has ended up endorsing  everything, even normalising the anarchy to be found in land development.  The difference between what has happened in the Montekristo Estate case and the daily operations of the Planning Authority is the sheer scale of things – indeed the case of the irregularities at the Montekristo is beyond considerable, and in no way can be compared to the typical cases.  In principle, they are being treated the same: just pay the fines for the irregularities and you can put your mind at rest, concluded Cacopardo. 

The Chairperson for ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci referred to a recent incident regarding an agreement for the Suncrest Hotel, owned by Anġlu Xuereb, to continue its operations on public land that has been occupied without adequate title  for the last 38 years once a fine of two million euro is paid in instalments.  Not only has this been sanctioned, but the agreement also included that the whole operation is exempt from the law in what concerns public access to the whole coast. 

Gauci reiterated that we have institutions that encourage illegal development rather than prevent it.  In fact, the authorities have normalized this abuse.  It seems that we have grown accustomed to the practice of sanctioning illegal development, because at the end of the day these things can be settled.  These practices have become the norm because good governance is simply something to be found on paper, but not in practice.  As long as everybody is happy and life goes on.  But when are we ever going to learn?  What has happened to credibility? And what about the recent tragic accidents?  Who is taking responsibility for the illegally constructed buildings or buildings that have been badly constructed?  Are the authorities accountable? These are things that every citizen of sound mind should be asking. 

Gauci also said that what we see and hear on the news is a sign of a mentality that everything goes as long as you have money in your pocket to ensure that irregularities are forgiven and forgotten.  It is useless to ease our conscience with public inquiries and so-called reforms because nothing is ever enforced.  There is the need for the authorities to grow a spine because change should not be cosmetic – a cosmetic change has never seen serious change.  The recent approvals regarding the Suncrest Hotel and the Montekristo estate are a symptom of a disease that has very deep roots and it is not easy to address.  This has been normalised to the extent that not only are matters accepted: it is also assumed that this is how things should be done.  It is now apparently too much to ask for the authorities to conduct themselves with seriousness and integrity in their actions and operations.

Without the will for good governance, and as long as quick profiteering remains prioritised, we shall never learn, concluded Gauci.