In a definite break with the nepotism and omertà characterising Gozitan politics, Nationalist mayor Chris Said reported an illegality committed by Said Constructions-a company owned by his brothers Peter Paul and Josef Said to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
In an interview with MaltaToday, Chris Said reveals that he had lodged his report to MEPA on 29 August 2005, two full years before MEPA finally removed the illegality which consisted of a yard used to park construction vehicles.
“In the farms next to the Kenuna garden, material is being deposited continuously,” Said warned the authority in an email sent to MEPA’s senior enforcement officer Mark Cini two years ago. “It is important to take action. It seems that this material is being deposited by Said Construction.”
The illegality was located on the cliff’s edge, overlooking breathtaking scenes of Gozo, Comino and northern Malta, making the adjacent public garden one of the most visited spots for tourists visiting Gozo.
In his email Said claimed that he was making this report after “making the usual drive around Nadur during the weekend.”
In his reply, Cini informed the mayor that the site was already covered by an enforcement order and that MEPA was regularly inspecting the site.
The illegality committed by Said Constructions was only reported on Maltastar last February, a few days before last March’s local elections.
When MEPA enforcement officers finally intervened to remove the illegality in August this year, the police had to protect MEPA officials from being physically assaulted by Said’s younger brothers, who were clearly infuriated by the authorities enforcing the law.
But when contacted by Labour Party newspaper KullHadd, Nadur mayor Chris Said immediately condemned his brothers’ illegalities on the Ta’Kenuna site.
“I agree with MEPA’s enforcement action. I have never protected anyone and whoever broke the law should pay for his actions,” Said told Kulhadd last August.

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Interview