Work stops pending probe
Development works on a Bahrija property, belonging to Nationalist Party president Victor Scerri, have been stopped and will not continue until investigations into the awarding of the permit are finalised.
Dr Scerri said last night he would make the "necessary decisions" once the investigations, by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority chairman and the Police Commissioner, were concluded.
"All the work that has been done is covered by permits and, although I can legally continue with the work, I have taken this decision out of my own goodwill and without any prejudice," he said.
Asked whether he excluded completely halting the development, Dr Scerri said he did not exclude anything.
He said he had never asked for preferential treatment but neither did he want to be discriminated against.
He excluded that the party had pressured him to stop the work.
Dr Scerri said no work had been carried out since his call last Monday for the investigations into claims he exerted undue pressure to be granted development permits to build a villa, in the place of a three-roomed farmhouse, on his land in Bahrija.
In separate letters to both Mepa chairman and the Police Commissioner, Dr Scerri said the controversy had erupted because he was involved in politics and he felt comfortable asking for such an investigation because he knew he had not put any undue pressure on anyone. Dr Scerri promised his cooperation during the investigations.
The development was exposed by the Labour Party shortly before the June 6 European Parliament elections and various environmental organisations have criticised Mepa for granting the permit. They held a protest on site on Thursday and called for the Prime Minister's urgent intervention to stop the construction.
Dr Scerri yesterday hoped the verification process was carried out objectively and justly and not based on political motives.
"I am amazed how people who are today riding on public emotions without any respect to a formal process which took almost 10 years, remain silent in front of other outside development zone permits," he said, preferring not to specify.
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D Camilleri
Jun 20th 2009, 19:26
What they are going to find is that permits are all in order and legal
What the people like myself cant understand is how mepa can approve a permit on the valley floor 2 metres away from running water, the home of the maltese freshwater crab, in an outside development zone, when mepa case officers raised many and many objections, especially after our prime minister explicitly told us that no more permits will be given in ODZ, and the mepa will be reformed.
ODZ applications should be refused outright, instead of the architect boasting that he can get permits anywhere and the applicant, the NP President at that, telling us its all legal.
The Mepa board have god like status, they can throw away any recomendation, and approve and refuse cause they woke up in a bad mood and print their press releases before they approve something
J. Agius
Jun 20th 2009, 18:40
"I am amazed how people who are today riding on public emotions without any respect to a formal process which took almost 10 years, remain silent in front of other outside development zone permits," he said, preferring not to specify.
I find Dr Scerri’s words incredibly worrying coming from one who is so immersed in our political life; what, as a politician has HE done about these permits in ODZs? Remained silent and joined the band wagon? Go on Dr Scerri, do specify, make these cases public, tell the NGOs about these other permits; or are you afraid it will sink the name of GonziPN further down in the mud?
Joseph v. Grech
Jun 20th 2009, 16:47
Dear Mr. Victor Scerri, You know very well that it was scandalous of you even to present an application to build a residence instead of an ancient farmhouse smack in the middle of Bahrija Valley. Had you intended to take up farming you might have been excused but seeing that you are more interested in politicis then you should shoulder political responsibility and withdraw that application immediately. If indeed you have legal rights you should be compensated - with the Mepa Board members who Okd the application footing the bill! But do not for a minute please consider going ahead with your project. Do not treat people with disdain. Do not weigh down the P.N. and the P.M. with a hopeless case. You have made yourself the worst political liability imaginable. As regards the ''formal process which took almost 10 years'' you must be very aware of the intricacies and rot that entailed.
Anthony Slater
Jun 20th 2009, 13:01
It doesn't matter if this is his land or not.
The area is 'Outside of the developement zone' so what part of 'outside developement zone' does Victor Scerri not understand?
Claudio Fabri
Jun 20th 2009, 11:02
Disgusting!
We are not debating that the permits are not in order. The debate is how/why the permits have been issued in the first place.