In view of the development of the mega-concrete jungle Mistra project, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said, “The Mistra 750 flats cum commercial development cum traffic disruption has again highlighted Maltese political hypocrisy. Muscat Labour’s Party did not oppose it and thus abandoned the residents to their fate: it is payback time now for the uncontrollable big developers. As for PN, the PN representative on the MEPA board, Ryan Callus, proposed decreasing the extent of the project for traffic and aesthetic reasons, but of course the developers protested vehemently through their lawyer, who is none other than Dr Ann Fenech, the President of the PN. This is real hypocritical political behaviour.”
Carmel Cacopardo, AD spokesperson on sustainable development and home affairs, said: “The Mistra Village permit is the result of the positioning of the Parliamentary parties favouring the construction industry. The PN in government has favoured it in a subtle manner throughout its 25 years in office. Labour has declared openly that the building industry will be considered as a very important contributor to economic development.”
“With these political positions,” concluded Cacopardo, “the Mistra Village permit and others which will surely follow are a foregone conclusion.”
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Mistra: Alternattiva Demokratika tikkundanna l-ipokrizija politika
Fil-kuntest tal-iżvilupp tal-ġungla enormi tal-konkrit fil-Mistra, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal, “Is-750 flat jew żvilupp kummerċjali jew tħarbit tat-traffiku fil-Mistra reġa’ għal darb’oħra ħareġ fil-beraħ l-ipokrizija tal-politika Maltija. Il-Partit Laburista ta’ Muscat m’opponiex l-iżvilupp u għalhekk telaq lir-residenti għall-rieħhom: issa l-iżviluppaturi l-kbar u bla kontroll iridu jitħallsu. Fil-każ tal-PN, ir-rappreżentant tal-PN fuq il-bord tal-MEPA, Ryan Callus, ippropona li jitnaqqas id-daqs tal-proġett għal skopijiet kemm ta’ traffiku kif ukoll ta’ estetika, imma naturalment l-iżviluppaturi ipprotestaw bl-aħrax permezz tal-avukata, ħadd ħlief Dr Ann Fenech, il-President tal-PN. Dan huwa aġir politiku ipokrita”.
Carmel Cacopardo, il-kelliem ta’ AD dwar l-iżvilupp sostenibbli u l-intern, qal: “Il-Permess tal-Mistra Village huwa riżultat tal-pożizzjoni taż-żewġ partiti fil-parlament li tiffavorixxi lill-industrija tal-bini. Il-PN aġevolaha b’mod sottili matul il-25 sena li għamel fil-gvern. Il-Labour iddikjara b’mod ċar li l-industrija tal-bini ser tkun meqjusa bħala kontributur importanti fl-iżvilupp tal-ekonomija”.
“B’dawn il-pożizzjonijiet politiċi,” ikkonkluda Cacopardo, “deċiżjonijiet bħal dak tal-permess tal-Mistra Village huma xi ħaġa li wieħed jistenna.”