The Mizzi Organisation has distanced itself from criticism of the ITS project made by its director Maurice Mizzi.
In a curt statement issued by the company's lawyer, it disassociated itself from the statement he made as the Guardian of Future Generations, saying it should not be construed as reflecting the position of the Mizzi Organisation.
The position of Guardian of Future Generations was set up by law to protect the island from excesses that might affect future generations.
Mr Mizzi on Monday added his voice to mounting opposition to the mega-project which the db Group is proposing for the site formerly occupied by the Institute of Tourism Studies in Pembroke.
As the Planning Authority looks set to green-light the project on Thursday, despite an ongoing investigation by the National Audit Office in the way the site was passed on to the developers by the government, Mr Mizzi, a leading entrepreneur, harshly criticised the way the project has continued to be evaluated despite “the complete absence of a framework master plan for the area that should be meant to provide both planners and the public with a holistic development vision for the area”.
“This is a grave matter that undermines the rigour of the technical planning process at practically all levels,” Mr Mizzi said.
Describing the so-called City Centre project as “a sad reminder of the grave anxiety and helplessness that many ordinary people experience when having to deal with developments of this kind”, he said the office of the Guardian of Future Generations was against this project going ahead.
He also criticised the way development was taking place all over the island and warned that “even the most lucrative economic boom needs to be managed”.
“Excesses by the construction industry do not just undermine the aesthetic, landscape, infrastructural and environmental integrity of the country as a whole but public health is easily compromised, both physical and mental,” the Guardian warned.
Even the most lucrative economic boom needs to be managed
The project is opposed by all major stakeholders concerned, particularly the Pembroke and St Julian’s local councils, residents of the area and many environmental lobby groups.
A record 4,000 objections were submitted to the Planning Authority with many residents of Pembroke claiming that if given the green light the project will “bury them alive”.
Various constituted bodies had also expressed their reservations on the deal struck by the government, under the political responsibility of Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi.