Lobby groups ask PM to halt Baħrija valley development

Galea. L

Jun 13th 2009, 09:08

c. camilleri
That's because what you call competent authorities are incompetent.

Jeff Inguanez

Jun 12th 2009, 21:14

Joseph Grech,
As you said, it's all "theoretical".
But then you essentially say that institutions like MEPA
should decide permits on theories rather than fact.
So, with your theories, NGOs do not lodge objections in the planning process
but then lodge objections through the press
and these objections are to be acceded to.
And, according to your theories,
any Tom, Dick and Harry can apply for and get permits,
but not if they happen to be politicians in the governing party.
In a state ruled by law, there are rules applying for everyone
and upheld by courts and public institutions.
That's the process that decides permits.

Joe Morana

Jun 12th 2009, 18:38

What Competent Authorities?
A Look at the new apartments by Fort St Angelo, the Hagar Qim Visitors' Centre, the Sliema 's unsustainable development, The Fort Cambrdige Approval pre-Public Consultation press release, the illegal Armier,Gnejna, St Thomas bay boathouses , the Mistra Saga, The new Nadur Cemetry, the Balzan 'mistake' , are some exmaples of the competency of such authorities.

Astrid Vella

Jun 12th 2009, 17:56

@ Jeff Inguanez and C Camilleri. This permit violates no less than 16 MEPA regulations on protection of the countryside and Special Areas of Conservation.

MEPA itself describes the area thus: “Bahrija valley system supports typical watercourse vegetation and several rare and endangered species as well as endemic ones with a restricted distribution in the Maltese Islands.” The Wied Rini and Wied il-Bahrija watercourse is classified as “one of the most important freshwater habitats in the Maltese Islands.”

So do you still think that the permit is legal, or are you just taking Musumeci's word for it?

Do I understand right that you are expecting NGOs with no staff or resources to do MEPA's job and monitor some 300 permits a week? May I remind you that we, the taxpayers are already paying about 15 million euros a year for MEPA to do that.

adrian borg cardona

Jun 12th 2009, 17:22

To those who are criticizing the NGOs: without them this Island would be covered in concrete. NGOs do NOT decide anything but are watchful on abusive and illogical permits like the one in question. I want MEPA to explain to me, a Maltese citizen, why it decided against its own policies and against the recommendations of the case officer. By law, the DCC has to give reasons - what are they? Also, why does an architect apply for a permit when he know that the application is against all the policies of MEPA? Is it because may be he knows that he will swing it through? This is not the rule of law but the rule of the jungle! May the strongest beast win! This what you want.

Joseph Grech

Jun 12th 2009, 17:09

@ c. camilleri - Indeed building and development planning should ideally be left in the hands of the ''competent authorities.'' Are you by any chance refering to MEPA and the present administration? Competent authorities indeed! The public has had hundreds of declarations: Mepa will be reformed; Goodbye to crass incompetence and speculation; We are environmentalists; we believe in sustainable development; Discard nepotism, political mismanagement, intrigue....Then Nationalist Party President Victor Scerri, helped by a Perit in the good books of the present administration decides he wants to live smack inside Bahrija Valley. He somehow obtained a permit mind you! And is now offended saying his application was above board. And he is too selfish to retract his application - and save the P.M. and P.N. this enormous embarrassment! And the Minister for Mepa (the P.M.) is still considering what he should do - stand by the P.N. President or by the Environment? We live in a country run by people who promise ....but do not deliver.

c. camilleri

Jun 12th 2009, 16:45

Now we are coming to the stage where NGOs with no responsibility decide what is right and what is wrong in this country instead of the competent authorities. I think that any objection should be launched to the competent authority and not use the media to sow doubts. These people should employ their time in more useful things than Interfering in other people's business.

Joseph Grech

Jun 12th 2009, 15:57

@Jeff Inguanez - Certainly in Malta ''there are rules applying for everyone
and upheld by courts and public institutions'' But then there are unwritten ''special rules'' that apply for the select few. For one moment let us IMAGINE that the developer's special position within the ruling party made him aware that changes to development regulations MIGHT be introduced in an area that included a valley which would be considered as a special area of conservation . Had you or I been him we would probably have HURRIED through the application. We would also have sought the help of a Perit who has sound links with the establishment and who concievably might have got to know about the intended changes. This is all theoretical mind you - BUT the public may be viewing this sordid issue from this angle. Hopefully the P.M. will to. Really he should not have a difficult task throwing the application OUT if he really is concerned about our environment.
One last thing dear Mr. Inguanez - how come you think ''NGOs decide permits.'' You are living in cuckoo-land! It is speculators who do - with the friendly nudge of politicians.

J.Bonnici

Jun 12th 2009, 13:37

Ta' xejn jidhlu fil-politika.

Jeff Inguanez

Jun 12th 2009, 11:55

I believe (but I'm starting to doubt)
that we live in a country where we enjoy the rule-of-law,
meaning that there are rules applying for everyone
and upheld by courts and public institutions.
It is evident, even from the NGO press release,
that this permit was granted according to law.
It is also evident that no objections were lodged by the same NGOs.
We cannot start living in a country where NGOs decide permits.
We cannot start living in a country where NGO-rule rather than the rule of law
is the order of the day.
We cannot start living in a country where everyone believes they're right
and institutions count for nothing.
We cannot start living in a country where objections are filed by press release rather than throught the proper objection procedure laid down at law.
I hate to believe that we live in a country where a permit is withdrawn if
one happens to be a politician.
I am a normal citizen owning my house, but I hate to believe
that, in my country, whether I am granted a permit to build is decided upon
by NGOs and not by the institutions the law itself sets up.