Green party marks Dwejra 'first anniversary of shame'

Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday "celebrated" the planning authority's "first anniversary of shame" due to its "inaction" on the construction of a two-storey concrete building in Dwejra.

The green party's two European Parliament candidates and members of the Gozo regional council visited the site carrying signs saying "Happy Birthday" in what they called a symbolic gesture.

The structure, meant to become the Dwejra Interpretation Centre, was part of a heritage management plan for the area approved in 2005. This paved the way for the controversial sanctioning of a number of illegal boathouses though it also proposed conservation measures for the entire area.

Half way into the build, however, the planning authority halted works on the centre last March, saying it would be investigating "possible deviations from the approved plans". The shell is still standing.

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD's candidate in the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament, said it was truly shameful that the Prime Minister failed to take action to safeguard this unique site in the Maltese islands.

"The Dwejra management board shoulders a grave responsibility and is urgently requested to settle the issue of this monstrous concrete structure already one year on since Mepa declared these works to be in contravention to its own approval plan," AD chairman Arnold Cassola said. Mepa was asked to react to AD's statement but no response was forthcoming by the time of writing.