Ah, so that’s another reason why the Malta Developers Association is so very in with Labour
I found this piece on the front page of an industry newsletter called The Property Standard (November 2010). Former Nationalist Party minister and current anti-Lawrence-Gonzi campaigner Michael Falzon, who heads up the association with that Labour Business Forum man Sandro Chetcuti, says here quite clearly that Robert Abela drew up the association’s mission statement and statute.
Robert Abela being the president’s son and husband of Labour Party official Lydia Abela (there is a plaque to commemorate their baby at Verdala Castle) and also the man who warmed up for the Labour leader at the party’s most recent mass meeting, referring to the man who made his father President as ‘GonziPN’ and calling him tal-klikka.
But there’s more. Robert Abela’s law firm has had, for the last several years, a monopoly on the provision of legal services to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
He does not see anything wrong or conflicting, apparently, in providing legal services to the Malta Developers Association at the same time.
Trid tkun Laburist min guf ommok, insomma.
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Who drafted MLP’s proposal to dismantle parts of MEPA? Was it a combined effort of Sandro CHetcuti and Astrid Vella. Today Astrid was very cautious in her comments on the mLP proposals. For obvious reasons she cannot criticize them, given that she is so immersed with Labour interests.
WILL Sandro Chetcuti be given special treatment by the post-MEPA organization (if any) after March 10, when he presents all the building projects waiting for the MLP to be elected. And will Astrid as a member of the new member of the board of the new organization give him a helping hand (if not already)?
What got my goat was her ‘proposals’ and Joseph’s replies.
They’re under implementation already, all of them.
Mario Demarco should really explain all the work undertaken to make the authority greater than the sum of its parts.
Astrid won’t accept it. Makes her redundant.
Chetcuti already is.
Robert Abela’s lack of ethics is to be expected, given his background, but one has to note that it is likewise wrong of MEPA to employ the services of a lawyer who also works for the MDA.
The MEPA auditor never had anything to say about it, either.
Really pains me to admit this but Malta is a Third-rate dump rapidly heading to being a Fourth-rate dump.
Planning?
Environment?
Get out and about and see what’s going on.
I do get where you are coming from but when I look at the local politicians I can’t see it ever changing.
No-one cares enough.
One may be interested to note that, back in the early years of PN administration after 1987, it was precisely Michael Falzon (as Minister responsible for public works etc.) who was among those strongly in favour (to say the least) of the newly created Malta Planning Authority.
Its main aim, of course, was to wrest building/development controls from the ‘placet’ of the Public Works Minister – as had been the case up till 1987. You know what I am talking about.
If I am not mistaken he was the protagonist who piloted its creation – and rightly so, may I add. How come this volte-face? I wonder.
As Alice said ‘curiouser and curiouser’ indeed.
When his role makes him personally familiar with the type of diffuculties encountered, I don’t doubt how Labour intends to resolve the formulation of policy.
Get rid of it.
The discussion around the toadstool yesterday uncovered the forma mentis. Some architects can’t be bothered to understand that perhaps abuse should be nipped in the bud.
Putting in an application which blatantly ignores policy isn’t even possible with the new protocols.
Killed their slow but sure buck, toing and froing to Mepa, revising this, messing with that, inciting conflict between contrasting aspects of policy.
Those were the days.
No wonder certain architects have taken to law degrees lately. Architecture, what’s that?
Labour propose to amplify that vicious cycle, reducing design to legalistic compromise on a popular vote.
Inflate demand for ‘developers’ who can’t sustain themselves.
Confuse matters by giving local councils the vote on projects which ‘size’ isn’t specified.
Instead of providing clear criteria by which a project can offset any disadvantages.
What criteria will a local council apply, political majority?
To hell with awareness and Mepa’s inbuilt knowhow, gathered over the past two decades.
Joseph’s repeated emphasis that his isn’t the dismantling of Mepa followed by Astrid’s ‘opinion’ and Chetcuti’s suggestions are clear signs.
We will relive planning controversy on a daily basis.
To each his own business.
By effectively destroying MEPA, josephmuscatdotcom will have a much better chance of pushing through the power station and gas terminal application in 60 days.
Imagine the confusion there will be as all the various sections (and there are many – MEPA is a complex organisation) try to find out where they’re going and what are their exact remits.
This is something the PN will have to deal with. With no MEPA and no environmental NGO to confront an aggressive Labour government, the party will be the only entity left to resist and, if necessary, refer the matter to the EU.
Bit tricky for Astrid to remain on the environmental agency’s board then is it?
Not her competence, Antoine.
Oh dear, sarcasm.
Chetcuti said the present MEPA fees are “suicide”. Still not sure how the fees could commit suicide. Could they hang themselves perhaps?
so bye bye tax rate reductions, so the fat cows can get fatter.
Anyone remember the streamer across Paola Square in the ’80s: ‘Don’t Worry, Vote Lorry’?
They can put it up again, cause that’s where we’re heading.
People with no principles or character will turn out to be of an “AHLEB GUS” mentality
‘With no MEPA and no environmental NGO to confront an aggressive Labour government, the party will be the only entity left to resist and, if necessary, refer the matter to the EU.’
Are you serious with the above? Which EU?
If Labour will be in government the EU regulations will be flushed down the drain and this is an important issue which the voters needs to consider before casting their vote in the forthcoming election.
All the regulations and controls that we have in place will be ignored and destroyed and that will be the point when the trouble with the EU will commence.
Joseph Muscat publicly stated that he will also ignore judgements given by our courts so let alone what he will do with any desicion taken by the EU and I am sure it would be his pleasure to start arguing with the EU as soon as he is in power and those people who went on the rounabout to burn the EU flag will go and support him like we experienced during Mintoff and KMB cause it will be the same attitude with Joseph Muscat as Labour changed to worse.