Ramblers Association writes open letter to Prime Minister, calling into question not just Minister Pullicino’s ‘honesty, integrity and morality’, but that of the whole government
The Ramblers’ Association (RAM) yesterday reiterated calls for the withdrawal of the controversial Bahrija development permit granted to PN president Victor Scerri, after accusing the government of failing to protect a site of utmost ecological sensitivity.
In an open letter addressed to (among others) the Prime Minister and MEPA chairman Austin Walker, RAM openly queried public statements made in June 2005 by George Pullicino, then the minister responsible for MEPA, to the effect that “up to now not even an outline application for development has been submitted to MEPA” in Bahrija... when it later transpired that MEPA had in fact already issued development permits to Ms Marthese Said (Victor Scerri’s wife) for the reconstruction of a villa in Bahrija’s Special Area of Conservation.
“RAM therefore argues that the Hon. Minister either never sought information from, or else was given incorrect information by, MEPA,” the association said in an open letter. “Otherwise, one would have to conclude that the Hon Minister was knowingly concealing these applications, and thereby making a false declaration, thus misleading all those who care about our natural environment and preventing their taking action.”
The Ramblers’ Association called for the withdrawal of all the aforesaid permits.
In reaction to RAM’s letter, the Resources and Rural Affairs ministry said that George Pullicino’s 2005 statement was being misrepresented, as he was then referring (quoted on dive.com) to alleged “large-scale developments such as a 5-star hotel or a golf course in the area, not simply to any development.”
The minisers’ 2005 statements, according to his ministry, did not mention whether or not Pullicino himself had sought information from MEPA before writing or whether he had been given wrong information. Nor did they not mention whether or not he was aware of Mrs Said’s three applications (2000, 2002 and 2004).
“One therefore can easily understand why this reaction did not come from the Minister personally but from officers of his Ministry,” RAM wrote in its open letter yesterday. “What minister can keep an honest face while making this kind of public statement about the most protected site on the island? RAM’s communication did not allow him the luxury of silence; the bold assurance he had given did not leave him a leg to stand on and he had no easy answer. But neither did one expect the shallow and shameless answer his ministry has come up with. It puts into question not just the Minister’s but the whole government’s honesty, integrity and morality.”
RAM reminded Pullicino of his previous statement that: “As the minister responsible for planning and as a Maltese citizen, I am confident that the planning system is sufficiently robust to provide important countryside areas such as Bahrija and Fomm ir-Rih adequate protection from insensitive development.”
“Does he honestly consider Dr Scerri’s project a ‘sensitive’ one to this highly protected area?” RAM remonstrated. “Can the government and its planning system now be trusted to provide ‘any’ protection to countryside areas which the EU itself has labelled as untouchable? When the preacher does not practice what he preaches, what faith can survive?”
In the meantime, the association pointed out that work on the Bahrija site is still proceeding, wreaking havoc in this natural countryside gem.
“It is totally unconscionable that the government is still allowing this in-your-face development, in breach of innumerable regulations, policies and guidelines, under the guise that the MEPA is an independent authority,” RAM concluded.
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