Edwin Vassallo defends contractors and lashes out at ‘Slimizi’
James Debono
Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo has lashed out against the residents of Sliema for constantly grumbling against development, while being the first to sell their properties for development into apartment blocks.
Speaking on behalf of building contractors irked by the Nationalist-run Sliema council’s hefty charges on the placing of cranes in residential roads, the backbencher said:
“Sliema people should decide whether they want peace or quiet, or whether they want development. It is Sliema people who sell their houses to developers while other Slimizi grumble against development,” Vassallo told MaltaToday.
Last week Vassallo asked the Prime Minister to investigate the Sliema local council for charging developers a daily charge of €46.58 for crane permits while residents conducting repairs in their own houses are only charged €2.33.
He also questioned the council’s practice of asking developers for bank guarantees for any damage they make to roads and pavements, when these are already charged by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
“This is one of the added costs businesses have to pay. It is also unjust because instead of eliminating abuse the council is making money from the same abuse by introducing tariffs.”
While acknowledging that certain contractors commit abuses, Vassallo insists that the way forward should be that of enforcing the construction regulations introduced by Minsister George Pullicino last year.
Vassallo also questioned the legality of these tariffs insisting that a bye-law should have been issued to introduce the charges.
Asked for her reaction to Vassallo’s comments, Sliema mayor Marina Arrigo said she would reply by email but no reply was forthcoming.
According to AD councillor Michael Briguglio, the Sliema council is only charging contractors to help make up for the constant damage done to the locality’s infrastructure. “The government knows, at least informally, about the fee we charge and it has not stopped us from doing so. This system has been supported by councillors from all three political parties represented in the council.”
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