For pity’s sake, when will this interminable arguing over the Ramla development, the EPP and petition issue come to an end?
From a purely logical standpoint I can fully understand why the Petitions Committee have closed the file on the Ramla development, and are probably glad to do so, since an open petition against something which it is informed will not come about is clearly a waste their of time.
But we now have our MEP, Simon Busuttil failing to go the whole hog and inform the developer (as if he hasn’t already realised), that the Government will not countenance a development in any form, amended or otherwise, and that, therefore, the appeal procedure is a waste of time and money.
Simon Busuttil knows as well as anybody that the petitions exist only because of the appeal which has yet to take place (and presumably cannot be stopped without a tonne of writs falling about MEPA’s ears), and is a natural defence and precaution against a possible permit being granted. By saying that no development is “authoritised” [sic], and omitting the word “currently”, Simon Busuttil is simply playing with words and I assume that the petitioners’ stance will remain unchanged so long as the appeal is listed.
The developer, in the meantime is being torn in two by this appeal, which I assume cannot be stopped and a foregone conclusion that the permit will not be granted. On that alone, he has my sympathy.
The developer might well agree with Oliver Hardy when he famously said to Stan Laurel “You got me into this mess – you get me out of it.”
Finally, to make such a cheap political gibe against the AD party, by suggesting Victor Galea requested the petitions remain open ‘for (AD’s) own political ends’, is ungentlemanly, untrue, immature and unbecoming of a European Representative of Malta. He is also wrong to assume keeping the petitions open for political ends is not a good enough reason. Since no development is currently authorised, I understand the precaution only too well. As I understand it, AD acts for the people of Gozo on the Ramla issue, supports the greening of Gozo and was way ahead of the PN policy in proposing that Gozo becomes greener still.

Martin Day,
Xaghra

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