A recent article in the press reported that the disappearance of a unique species from a formerly protected ecological zone at Portomaso, St Julian’s, may pave the way for the approval of a permit application to construct another 46 apartments in this already overcrowded development.

Is this article a smokescreen attempting to conceal the fact that one of the conditions in all the Portomaso permits stated that “no extensions or enlargement of this development, its individual elements or any related development will be permitted”?

Anyone who purchased apartments at Portomaso overlooking the protected ecological zone and the sea beyond, verified the existence of this condition in all the Portomaso permits as a guarantee for their continued enjoyment of sea views, for which they paid top waterfront prices to the developers.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has no right now, after it imposed the condition restricting any further development at Portomaso, to withdraw this condition and to allow further development in front of former waterfront properties sold as part of the originally approved development subject to the said permit condition imposed by Mepa itself.

If Mepa allows such a permit, besides consigning the ecological zone to the dustbin, taking this public open space away from the enjoyment of the public, and allowing the new development to engulf and hide the scheduled historic fortifications from public enjoyment, it will surely be laying itself open to action for damages by purchasers of waterfront apartments overlooking this site.

If this happens, unfortunately, it may well be taxpayers who will have to pick up the bill, as usual. Meanwhile, the developers will be laughing all the way to the bank.