The approval of a 38-storey tower in Sliema has, understandably, caused uproar and controversy. This application, and the one for the Mrieħel towers, were the first litmus test for the newly set up Environment and Resources Authority.
During the Mepa separation, all three consecutive parliamentary secretaries responsible assured all and sundry that the environment would be given a greater voice.
On Thursday, August 4, not a single official from the environment authority stood up and uttered a word. I could spot ERA headship officials within the crowd but no one felt the need to stand up and say anything about the project’s environmental impact. How’s that for a stronger environmental voice?
To make matters worse, the only vote granted to the environment authority remained unused. The chairman’s inability to be present for the vote for personal reasons is totally understandable. However, the fact that a substitute was not provided, to serve as his proxy as rightly requested by chairman Victor Axiak himself, is further proof that this government does not give a hoot about the environment or our quality of life.
In this case, it has badly let down the Sliema community. The environment authority’s representative on the board could have made all the difference in this case.
It is unacceptable that the Environment Minister failed to act on the request made by Prof. Axiaq for a substitute. It is either a clear case of negligence on the minster’s part or a submission to his government’s attitude towards the building of a capitalist society that disregards the vociferous chorus of criticism that has engulfed the Sliema tower project.
Jose Herrera had promised to serve as a strong voice for the environment but he has so far been silent. It seems he is following in the footsteps of his predecessor and risks becoming the non-existent, irrelevant environment minister we once had.
In its bid to change Malta’s identity, the Labour government will inevitably allow long-lasting negative impacts, which will extend for decades beyond its mandate
In conversation with legal experts in the field, there is no doubt that the Planning Act does not exclude having a substitute to the Environment Authority’s representative. Indeed, had this not been the case, it would have been a nominee, as in the case of both government and Opposition nominees, where a nomination is required by the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader respectively. In any case, the law does not prohibit a proxy for the authority’s representative.
Much has been said about the notes that would have been read out by the environment authority chairman during the Sliema hearing, which have unfortunately been kept under wraps. If his comments were intended to be made public then, but were concealed, they should be made public now.
The media has reported that Prof. Axiaq described the impact assessment as a sham. If this is the case, and given that the point was not raised during the hearing, then where will the environment authority’s credibility stand if it decides not to appeal the decision? This is its second litmus test.
While acknowledging that the Townsquare proposal had its benefits of open space and the restoration of Villa Drago, its towering height and vertical massing exceed any sense of proportion. This eventually translates into increased traffic, parking and visual impacts.
Indeed, the lack of any sense of proportion is the government’s primary failure. In its bid to change Malta’s identity, the Labour government will inevitably allow long-lasting negative impacts, which will extend for decades beyond its mandate. This is what has happened in the Townsquare case. All seven votes in favour were from government appointees, and if there is anyone to blame for this mess it is the Prime Minister.
There have been attempts by the Labour-leaning media to blame the Opposition for alleged inaction. This was merely an attempt to sway the attention from where it truly deserves to be – on Joseph Muscat.
The Nationalist Party was there when it mattered most. The Sliema local council did its duty by listening to its constituents and voting against.
As the Nationalist Party’s representative, I considered the facts attentively and ultimately voted against. The Prime Minister’s representative, on the other hand, did the exact opposite: stayed mum and voted in favour.
Likewise, Simon Busuttil spoke out clearly against, while Joseph Muscat stayed mum.
Ultimately, Sliema residents can only blame one person for this, and that’s the Prime Minister.
Ryan Callus is the Opposition spokesman for the Environment, Lands, Planning and Infrastructure. He is a member of the board of the Planning Authority.