Kurt Sansone
Mepa auditor's report finalised
The auditor of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has concluded his investigation into the planning permit issued to Nationalist Party president Victor Scerri for the reconstruction of a farmhouse in Baħrija.
Mepa auditor Joe Falzon yesterday confirmed he formally passed on the final report to the authority's chairman Austin Walker after the latter had given his reaction to the draft document.
A Mepa spokesman said it was not up to the chairman to publish the report.
"We have followed normal procedure and the chairman will be forwarding the report to the Prime Minister as the person responsible for the authority. It is up to him to decide whether to publish the report or not," the spokesman said.
The news comes a day after Dr Scerri said he would not be held accountable for mistakes made by others in the granting of the controversial permit.
He denied any wrongdoing and said that, in view of public statements made last week by Mr Falzon that the authority failed to abide by its own policies when granting the permit, it was up to the Mepa chairman and the Prime Minister to decide what to do.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister placed the onus of the tenability of Dr Scerri's position in the PN on the lap of the party president himself.
However, Dr Scerri shot the ball back into Dr Gonzi's court in what is turning out to be a major political embarrassment for the Prime Minister, who took Mepa under his wing after the last election.
Dr Gonzi yesterday avoided saying directly whether he would be asking for the resignation of any Mepa official over the irregularities despite having declared in an interview with The Sunday Times in June that if investigations revealed that there was something irregular in the permit he would be the "first one to ask not just for the withdrawal of the permit but also for the resignation of the person concerned".
"The government's direction to Mepa is to apply the approved policies and requirements set at law. Mepa should take all the necessary measures and actions provided by law if one or more of its policies are found not to have been adhered to," a spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister said.
The planning process in this case has dragged on for nine years and in 2008 Mepa granted another permit for an extension to the original plans.
Excavation works on the site started earlier this year but Dr Scerri stopped the project pending an investigation by the Mepa auditor and the police. It was Dr Scerri himself who had called for both investigations on the day that about 300 environmentalists protested on site against the development.
Dr Scerri has defended his actions saying he had done everything according to procedure and at no time did he pile any pressure on anybody.
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Tony Abela
Jul 23rd 2009, 07:42
Keep it up Perit Joe Falzon, the country needs more people like you, and be assured that you have the support of the majority of the truly Maltese citizens who have a backbone or any sense of moral values.
Joe Vella
Jul 22nd 2009, 18:17
@ Hernan Vella
Joseph Muscat and the PL do not have to wait to be in Government to start writing some of the wrongs, Joseph Muscat can start right now, by giving back properties taken away from Families to be used as PL/MLP clubs.
Mr. Hernan Vella, What is Joseph Muscat waiting for? Don't hold your breath.
Herman Vella
Jul 22nd 2009, 15:45
@ Joe Vella
Has it occurred to you that the PN have now been in Government for more than 20 years and that, IF there was any illegality in any past transaction, they would heave taken all the steps to correct it? On the other hand any illegalities that occurred these past 20 years will surely be remedied by a future Labour government, you can rest assured.
DVella
Jul 22nd 2009, 15:40
Can anyone elighten us as to what the Planning Directorate's role in all this was??? What did the Case Officer's report contain? Was the permit recommended for Refusal or for Granting when it was referred to the Board for a decision??
Joe Vella
Jul 22nd 2009, 14:24
@ Mario Gellel
Perhaps Joseph Muscat and the cynics in the PL should start by giving DR. Gonzi a lesson in ethics by starting giving back the private properties that were taken from citizens by past Pl Governments to be used as PL Party Clubs.
I can hardly wait.
D.Calleja
Jul 22nd 2009, 14:16
@ Astrid Vella
"We furthermore point out that the NGOs' claims have been confirmed by the MEPA Auditor who has pointed to serious irregularities in all the permits in the Bahrija case."
May we ask how you can make these sweeping statements when the contents and details of the auditor's report have not yet been made public? The only certainty comes from the Auditor's comment given to a repoter in which he allegedly states that the issue of the LAST permit was irregular. But somehow you now state that ALL permits were irregular . . . is this a prejudiced stand or do you know more than we do?
mario gellel
Jul 22nd 2009, 10:39
Dr.Gonzi, now you have a good opportunity to show your Par Idejn Sodi, by sending a copy to each family in Malta and Gozo, so we as normal and onest citizens will know the truth for once. Have the courage to do it so maybe we can put some trust in your govt ????
Astrid Vella
Jul 22nd 2009, 10:37
At no point have the NGOs targeted Dr Victor Scerri.Although we have stated that people in public office should lead by example(which also goes for the architect involved),we have never once alleged that Dr.Scerri exerted undue pressure.We never referred to his family other than to mention that the permit was in his wife's name,so the allegation of pressure is totally unfounded.
Even in the case of speculative developers(which Dr Scerri clearly is not),NGOs always address themselves at MEPA,the regulatory body.The DCC boards,who have forgotten their role as Development CONTROL Commissions,need to answer for permits which they have issued which violate MEPA's own regulations.In this case the DCC in question approved not one but four permits which were all recommended for refusal by the officials of the MEPA Directorate.
Dr. Scerri's references to 'mob rule' are out of place;likening the peaceful protest of 300 citizens calling for respect of regulations to the rampaging mobs pre-1987 begs the question of whether Dr Scerri shares this desire for law-abiding dealings.
We furthermore point out that the NGOs' claims have been confirmed by the MEPA Auditor who has pointed to serious irregularities in all the permits in the Bahrija case.