Labour MP Franco Mercieca has told the Times of Malta that the construction company in which he holds shares has only undertaken one project.
Earlier this year, a number of environmental NGOs had raised the possibility of a conflict of interest because of the shares prior to his appointment by the government as chair of the Environment and Planning Committee.
The role was previously held by MP Marlene Farrugia, who had to relinquish the position following her resignation from the Labour Party.
Mr Mercieca pointed out that he had always declared his “minor involvement” in construction consortium Menfi Ltd.
His asset declarations show that he holds 1,000 shares in the company, with a nominal value of €1,000, and a shareholder’s loan of €769, 583.
Mr Mercieca told this paper that his involvement with the construction company started well before he entered politics. This involvement was related to one particular project – which to this day remains the sole one undertaken by Menfi Ltd.
I clearly declared that I would be representing the sole interests of the environment
The project in question was the €20 million Ħal Sagħtrija development of 75 luxury apartments perched on the Żebbuġ hill.
Other shareholders in the company include the Planning Authority chief’s family friend Adrian Buttigieg, who is a hotelier and director of the Qawra aquarium.
Developer Joe Portelli, who has various construction interests in both Malta and Gozo, is another shareholder in Menfi Ltd. Mr Portelli faced enforcement action by Mepa in 2014 for what it termed “illegal works” near the picturesque San Blas bay in Gozo.
St James Capua Hospital, whose director is former PN MP Josie Muscat, also holds shares in Menfi Ltd, as does Alfred Mangion of AM Mangion group. Mr Mercieca told the Times of Malta that following his election to Parliament he had refrained from any further involvement in the construction sector.
“When accepting the role of chairman for the Environment and Planning Committee, I clearly declared that I would be representing the sole interests of the environment – an invaluable asset for this little country of ours. I remain committed to do so now and in the future,” Mr Mercieca said.
Mr Mercieca said that as chairman of this Parliamentary Committee, he was concerned at the “very fast rate of enlargement of our building industry”.
He said this would present a huge challenge to the country’s infrastructure and risked tilting the balance that should exist between progress and environmental protection.