Environment Minister George Pullicino is looking for a new Chairman for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority as Andrew Calleja’s second term in office expires in a month’s time.
MaltaToday is informed that efforts are still being made to persuade the present Chairman to remain in office for another year but so far Andrew Calleja has adamantly refused the offer.
The Development Planning Act states that MEPA board members, including the chairman are appointed for a period of “not less than three years”. But the same law also states that board members can serve for up to “seven consecutive years.”
Andrew Calleja has already served as MEPA Chairman for the past six years.
Contacted on his possible re-appointment for another year, MEPA Chairman Andrew Calleja said that he has no comments to make at this point.
“Queries on this subject should be directed to the Ministry,” Calleja told MaltaToday.
The Ministry for the Environment also refused to comment on this issue.
Calleja’s reappointment could serve as a stop gap measure before the next election as it is extremely difficult to find a candidate for such a sensitive post a few months before the election.
MaltaToday is also informed that the government is sounding potential candidates to find a replacement for Calleja. One of the persons approached by the government is very close to an environmental NGO, although sources say the appointment has been turned down.
A very close friend of Environment Minister George Pullicino, the MEPA chairman was virtually unknown when he was first appointed to the hot seat in November 2001. With a professional background in information technology, not only was he a total newcomer to planning issues but he was also responsible for the merging of the planning authority with the environment department that resulted in the labyrinthine institution that sanctions illegal buildings and is meant to protect the environment at the same time.
The past year has been an annus orribilis for Andrew Calleja who faced a storm of controversy over the Ramla development permit.
Andrew Calleja also made the headlines when he declared a unilateral boycott against Astrid Vella in the wake of MEPA’s controversial decision to allow the development of 23 villas on the Ulysses Lodge site over looking Ramla l-Hamra.
Clearly embarrassed by his antics, Environment Minister George Pullicino immediately distanced himself from this boycott.
Calleja is also responsible for the effective dismantling of the MEPA auditor’s office following a serious clash with MEPA Auditor Joe Falzon and his assistant Carmel Cacopardo. The two watchdogs had questioned his dubious involvement in meetings with the developers of the Ta’Qali tent in MEPA’s latest annual report.
In July, Calleja wrote to Minister George Pullicino arguing that Cacopardo was ineligible for the post of investigator in MEPA’s audit office giving two reasons; his participation in a activity organised by AD, and Cacopardo’s recriminations after not being chosen for the post Director for Environmental Protection in MEPA.
As a result of this standoff, MEPA’s Audit Office has not functioned for the past seven months.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt