PN president Victor Scerri may still develop his Bahrija land which was in a special conservation area, the Labour Party said.

It said in a statement that although the people were given the impression that the valley development would be stopped, only Dr Scerri's last permit was revoked. This was for a 192 cubic metre development. Permits remained for a somewhat smaller development.

The other permits, the PL said, were retained in spite of the auditor's comment that structure and local plan policies for the area were breached. The area was also protected through EU directives.

The PL said it was still waiting for Dr Gonzi, who was responsible for Mepa, to say who would be shouldering the political responsibility for the issuing of such a scandalous permit and for the eventuality of a development in such an ecologically important zone.

Political responsibility was shouldered in any serious democracy, the PL said.