MTA chairman stands by Mistra report

Malta Tourism Authority chairman Sam Mifsud today defended a report penned for the MTA by its former consultant George Micallef on the development of Mistra, saying the authority believed that the north needed a new entertainment area to boost tourism.

Mr Mifsud was testifying before Magistrate Lawrence Quintano in the compilation of evidence against Mr Micallef, 48, of St Julians, who is pleading not guilty to making a false declaration on and before October last year. The case revolves around the report prepared for the MTA by Mr Micallef, who also prepared a report to back a development application for the development of a disco at Mistra on land belonging to Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

Mr Mifsud said his position was based on the authority’ policies of promoting a spread of places of entertainment – currently focused in the St Julians/Paceville area. These policies were strictly based on tourism priorities and did not go into environmental or heritage considerations.

Testifying in a previous court sitting, Police Inspector Ian Abdilla said that Mr Micallef had told the police he had been asked by Mr Pullicino Orlando to write a favourable report about the proposed discotheque. Mr Micallef added that , irrespective of this, he would have still recommended the project from a purely touristic point of view.

On taking the witness stand today, Mr Mifsud said that he first saw the report in question when investigating police brought it to his attention. He added that it was not unusual for the MTA to draw up reports on where establishments were needed, adding that MEPA requested such reports on a regular basis.

Police Inspectors Angelo Gafà and Ian Abdilla prosecuted. Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared for Mr Micallef.