Bahrija permit: Rabat mayor sees efforts to shift the blame

The Mayor of Rabat has criticised Mepa for revoking only one of the permits granted to Victor Scerri for his development in Bahrija, and said Wied Marga would still be 'destroyed' as a result.

Sandro Craus, who heads the Labour-controlled council, said it was shameful that at the Mepa board meeting on Thursday, efforts were made to put the blame on those who made the mistake of issuing the permit.

Mr Craus said there was only mistake - the application for the permit should never have been submitted, especially be somebody who should have set an example.

Furthermore, Mepa should never have even considered the first application for a permit.

Yet despite the warnings of the Mepa auditor that the environment was being spoilt with the blessing of the authorities, Mepa was still continuing to bless this development, Mr Craus said.

He insisted that Mepa should see to it that the damage already done to the valley is reversed.