The ongoing saga about skyscrapers has opened up deep questions reaching well beyond construction projects. The debate has touched upon the influence of our outspoken and popular Archbishop on social and political matters, the morals and vision of individual politicians and politics, and the credibility of political parties and NGOs.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna told The Sunday Times of Malta last week that he encourages people to be actively involved in all aspects of life. He explained that politics must be moral in order to ensure the common good, as morality is what makes us authentically human. Essentially, morality is about values and the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
Theology aside, Scicluna candidly observed that politics ultimately depends upon individuals. In other words, the morality of individuals determines what happens in practice. This applies to anyone holding power and influence, such as politicians, leading or wealthy individuals, senior public officers or board members.
Scicluna has lambasted recent decisions to grant permits for high-rise “cement monstrosities” which he says are insensitive to the landscape and our heritage, and the impact they will have on others. He criticised the government for including Mrieħel “without giving civil society the opportunity to voice any sort of concern”.
Yes, politics, big and small, depends upon individuals. These permits were finally granted by the members of an independent authority, each of whom is responsible for his or her own decision. There is no getting away from this. Moreover, Mrieħel was included upon an instruction from above, presumably the Office of the Prime Minister.
Right or wrong, responsibility for the decisions to build these massive buildings falls upon the shoulders of those who created the policies, recommended the permits and took the decisions, together with the developers who pushed hard to get their feet through the door.
“Some developers and businessmen have Midas in mind,” said the Archbishop, “when they gloat on the high-rise projects that the Planning Authority has recently approved. I wonder whether they realise that once they ruin our landscapes and turn our cityscapes into concrete jungles, they themselves and their children and grandchildren will only have their money to set their eyes on.” Strong words.
Together with the developers, those politicians supporting this complete transformation of Malta’s landscape will carry responsibility for it for many years to come
The politician currently responsible for planning, Deborah Schembri, favours high-rise, which is fair enough, but not the way she presents it. On the one hand, she claims that building high-rise relieves pressure on the countryside. But she also claims that skyscrapers have larger apartments resulting in fewer properties per site than building low-rise. Forgive me for wondering whether this is unintentionally illogical, or intentionally misleading.
Schembri feebly attempts to argue that the government’s new high-rise policy is more stringent than what we had before. Has she not noticed that this new policy has led to a flood of skyscraper dreams and proposals? With this new policy, Townsquare shot up from 23 to an oversized 38 storeys. More stringent? Perhaps on paper but certainly not in practice.
This sort of confused thinking makes me pray that politicians stay far away from planning. Yet the truth is that they cannot always do so. Politicians obviously should not handle individual permits, as that would lead to a complete mess. But they do have a say in planning policies and direction.
Among the current crop of politicians, Marlene Farrugia has come out strongly calling for a master plan. Government whip Godfrey Farrugia has questioned whether high-rise buildings invade the public domain by taking up airspace that is not rightfully theirs, as the skyline is part of our common heritage. In more couched terms, Evarist Bartolo is also calling for caution and good governance to prevail.
The leader of the Opposition was initially criticised for not mobilising people against the Tigné project. Simon Busuttil has, however, now publicly endorsed the ongoing campaigns, even giving a personal donation to NGO fundraising initiatives and urging others to do the same. The Nationalist Party has taken the position that 38 storeys is excessive for Tigné, with negative consequences for residents of the area.
Politicians Ryan Callus, Marthese Portelli and Robert Arrigo have all taken stands against these projects. As expected, Malta’s green politicians Arnold Cassola and Carmel Cacopardo are also up in arms.
Besides the Archbishop and NGOs, politicians from all sides are therefore engaging in this controversy. Should each planning decision become a political battle? Absolutely not, but in cases such as this, politics and the environment fuse together.
These skyscrapers will have such a major impact on Malta as a whole, aesthetically and in so many other ways, that the country’s leaders must have an opinion – and show good leadership. This is not about a couple of minor private buildings, but concerns Malta’s future landscape and way of life.
Media polls have registered widespread concern, with a majority not favouring high-rise. People expect careful thought and prudence in such big decisions, and detest the idea that construction magnates are setting the agenda.
Together with the developers, those politicians supporting this complete transformation of Malta’s landscape will carry responsibility for it for many years to come. It is still possible to review these decisions, but time is fast running out.
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