Qawra/Bugibba residents' rights

I refer to the letter sent by the mayor of St Paul's Bay in reply to my previous correspondence. The main grievance in my letter was the much felt non-existence of a much needed local council for Qawra and a separate one for Bugibba, instead of the present system where all these three localities fall under one council. This was a major point which Paul Bugeja did not bother to mention in his reply to my letter.

The St Paul's Bay local council had no right to decide on its own such a big issue as that of the construction of two enormous high-rise buildings 18 and 23 stories high without consulting the residents.

How such a huge project be of "least inconvenience" beats me when much smaller projects by comparison to this new proposed venture are causing problems to residents and tourists alike as can be seen from the various articles and letters published in this newspaper almost on a daily basis.

The council is using its powers not to improve the environment of the locality but to give a helping hand to Mepa and the local entrepreneurs to go ahead with this project which had created much hostility from Qawra residents when first proposed some years ago.

Perhaps the mayor and councillors are such fervent believers in Brand Malta that they are convinced the number of tourists is going to increase enough to warrant the need for such a big construction project, apart from the thousands of other empty units found all over Malta. Not to mention numerous other blocks finished, partly finished or still under construction that are found all over Bugibba and Qawra. Come on, residents of Qawra/Bugibba, this is your wake-up call. Speak up for your rights or forever remain silent as once the project starts it will be too late to do anything about it!