Opposition MP Ryan Callus has asked the planning authority board to investigate whether there was any foul play involved when it issued a development permit for a dwelling owned by the daughter of a minister’s consultant outside the development zone in Siġġiewi.

Mr Callus, who is the Opposition’s representative on the board, also asked for an immediate halt to all works pending the outcome of the probe and an urgent discussion on the matter during today’s Mepa board meeting.

He argues that Mepa should conduct its own investigation into the permit and if any false declarations are found to have been made, it should revoke the permit.

The granting of the permit to a relative of Albert (Bertu) Pace, a consultant to Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes, was revealed by this newspaper. The permit allows the developer to demolish a 25-square metre garage to create a driveway for a 280-square metre house on agricultural land.

It allows the demolition of a 25m2 garage to create a driveway for a 280m2 house on agricultural land

It was approved against all odds after a letter by the agriculture department was presented to the planning authority board at the eleventh hour.

The letter changed the decision from a planned refusal to an approval, raising questions on whether Mr Pace’s role as a consultant had any influence on the agriculture department’s efforts.

It turned out the entire case was based on a document signed last August on departmental letterhead by Stephen Galea in the role of vet support officer, saying he had visited the farm “to carry out inspections… pre-year 2000”.

At the time, Mr Galea was just 25 years old, while official records showed he was employed as a labourer – a position he still holds.

Since the permit was approved under the new rural policy, it was critical for the issuance of the permit that it was proven the area was once a farm.

The procedure employed by the agriculture department is the subject of an internal investigation by the Environment Ministry.

Mr Callus requested that Mepa investigate the permit in a letter sent yesterday to chairman Vince Cassar. The architect in the development application was Labour MP Charles Buhagiar.