Gonzi will not attend Mistra party

The Prime Minister will not be attending Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's pre-election party at Mistra on Saturday and his decision is not motivated by environmental concerns raised by green groups.

He will give the late-night party at the controversial Mistra site a miss because the Nationalist Party's "policy" with regard to MEP candidates' events dictates that Dr Gonzi attends just one event per candidate.

Saturday's party is organised by Dr Pullicino Orlando on behalf of MEP candidate Alex Perici Calascione. Only last week, Dr Pullicino Orlando said Dr Gonzi was invited and he would be attending.

However, a PN spokesman said: "Dr Gonzi attended an event organised by Dr Perici Calascione last Thursday and, hence, he will not be present for the event on May 30".

The party raised the ire of environmental NGOs Nature Trust and Din l-Art Ħelwa, who yesterday called on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and Dr Gonzi to stop the party from going ahead.

Their call was backed by Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman Carmel Cacopardo, who accused Mepa and Dr Gonzi of having "once more been impotent" and of "failing yet again in their mission to protect Malta's natural heritage".

It is not known whether the NGOs have also objected to a similar event planned to be held at a public beach to the north of Malta where loud music will be played and an entrance fee will be charged.

A spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister shrugged off the suggestion that Dr Gonzi should intervene in Mepa's work.

"The Prime Minister does not interfere in Mepa's decision processes," the spokesman said.

The fields, where the party will be held, were at the centre of controversy before last year's general election, causing havoc for the PN. On the eve of the election, Labour had made public an outline development permit that had been issued by Mepa for the construction of an open air disco.

It had also alleged corruption in the granting of the permit. The permit has since been withdrawn and there is also a pending court case on the matter against two Mepa officials on charges of corruption.

At the time, Dr Pullicino Orlando denied knowing the details of the project insisting he had leased the land to another person. It was this person who had applied for a disco in the area.

Now, environment groups said Saturday's event would cause "noise and light pollution, negatively affecting the biodiversity of the rich ecological site".

They expressed concern that the agricultural land had already been flattened by steam rollers. The fields belonging to Dr Pullicino Orlando are part of the buffer zone of a Natura 2000 site and necessitate particular protection.

The Nationalist backbencher said he would be doing everything according to law. "I will be abiding by all conditions to the letter. I am seeking police and Mepa permits for the event. I would have done so in any case but more so considering the hullabaloo created over this piece of land last year," Dr Pullicino Orlando said.

A Mepa spokesman confirmed that the Environment Protection Directorate was processing an application for a single activity permit for a public event in an open area at Mistra Valley.

However, questions sent to Mepa yesterday as to whether the permit has been issued and what conditions were imposed remained unanswered at the time of writing.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com