AD chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said “The revelation by Architect Farrugia that there was daily political interference at MEPA during his times, with politicians phoning up and ‘informal’ instructions being given on which enforcement notices to enforce and which to ignore, is absolutely shocking. One can now understand how Mr Polidano has been allowed by the political powers to develop illegalities all over Malta which now number close to 100. It is now the duty of Prime Minister Muscat to show that he means business by acting vigorously against all illegalities. Anything less than vigorous action will continue proving that even this government is in the pockets of Malta’s ‘cowboy’ contractors and developers.”
Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairman and Spokesman on Sustainable Development, expressed extreme worry at the deletion of a large number of electronic records from MEPA’s webite related to cases of enforcement. “This tampering with official data signifies that the fight against abuse,” added Cacopardo, “has also to deal with collusion from a small number of MEPA employees. It is indeed unfortunate that MEPA took some time to realise the scale of this abusive action which may have serious repercussions.
“This abusive action,” concluded Cacopardo, “is the direct result of MEPA’s inertia in tackling past planning abuses.”Alternattiva Demokratika joins the coalition of NGOs in expressing concern about these matters. It is now more urgent than ever to have a strong and consistent environmental voice taking these issues in hand. The election of a Green MEP in the next European elections is an essential step towards beginning to address these problems.
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Iċ-chairperson ta’ AD, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal “Dak li żvela l-Perit Farrugia li kien ikun hemm indħil politiku ta’ kuljum fil-MEPA fi żmienu, b’politiċi jċemplu ta’ spiss u bi struzzjonijiet ‘informali’ jingħataw dwar liema infurzar tal-liġi għandu jsir u liema avviżi għandhom jiġu injorati, huwa xokkanti għall-aħħar. Issa wieħed jista’ jifhem aħjar kif is-Sur Polidano tħalla jiżviluppa illegalitajiet madwar Malta kollha u li llum jammontaw għal kważi 100. Issa huwa d-dmir tal-Prim Ministru Muscat li juri li ser jieħu dawn l-affarijiet bis-serjeta` billi jaġixxi bil-qawwa kontra dawn l-illegalitajiet. Jekk dan ma jsirx ikompli jkollna prova li anke dan il-Gvern qiegħed fil-but ta’ dawk il-kuntratturi u żviluppaturi ‘cowboys’ Maltin.”
Carmel Cacopardo, id-Deputat Chairperson u kelliem dwar l-iŻvilupp Sostenibbli, wera tħassib serju dwar il-fatt li ġew imħassra numru kbir ta’ rekords elettroniċi mis-sit elettroniku tal-MEPA marbutin ma’ każijiet ta’ infurzar. “Dan it-tbagħbis ta’ informazzjoni uffiċjali jfisser li l-ġlieda kontra l-abbuż,” żied jgħid Cacopardo, “trid ukoll tindirizza l-involviment ta’ numru żgħir ta’ ħaddiema tal-MEPA. Hija tabilħaqq sfortuna li l-MEPA ħadet iż-żmien biex tinduna bl-estensjoni ta’ gravita’ ta’ din l-attivita` abbużiva li jista’ jkollha riperkussjonijiet serji.”
“Din l-attivita` abbużiva,” temm jgħid Cacopardo, “hija frott in-nuqqas ta’ azzjoni min-naħa tal MEPA biex tindirizza abbużi ta’ ippjanar fil-passat.”Alternattiva Demokratika tingħaqad mal-koalizzjoni ta’ Organizzazzjonijiet mhux governattivi oħra biex tesprimi t-tħassib tagħha dwar dan. Issa sar iktar urġenti minn qatt qabel li jkollna vuċi ambjentali soda u konsistenti li tindirizza dawn l-affarijiet. L-elezzjoni ta’ Membru fil-Parlament Ewropew mill-AD fl-elezzjonijiet Ewropej li jmiss huwa pass essenzjali biex jibdew jiġu indirizzati dawn il-problemi.”
