More unsightly buildings and fewer tourists

I don't think anybody really believes that Mepa is corrupt (Perceived Corruption Not Surprising by Marija Falzon, November 24). If they were just another part of Malta's famous brown-envelope industry, they wouldn't make so many blatant and perverse decisions, would they?

Rather, I think they have just lost the plot about why they are there, and even forgotten that the name of the organisation includes the words Environment and Planning.

I seem to remember that, apparently recognising the failure of both Mepa and the MTA (another government organisation that was obviously failing in its remit) the Prime Minister bravely took over control of both. And since then we have had more unwanted and unsightly buildings, and less tourism. These are not unrelated matters; it is surely difficult to justify further development when year on year there are fewer people to cater for.

Before any further new developments or extensions to existing ones are permitted, there should surely be a basic requirement to prove that - given the amount of unoccupied property and the decline in use of tourist accommodation - there is actually a genuine need for them.