Andrew Calleja’s term as chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has been renewed by another year, a spokesperson for Environment Minister George Pullicino told MaltaToday.
Calleja’s second term as chairman expires tomorrow. 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. His reappointment serves as a stopgap measure before the next election as it is extremely difficult to find a candidate for such a sensitive post on the eve of an election.
Last month MaltaToday revealed that the government was 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.
MaltaToday is informed that just a few weeks ago Calleja was adamantly refusing the renewal of his term by another year but efforts to persuade him to stay on finally paid fruit. During the past month Calleja presided over MEPA’s decision to annul a controversial permit to redevelop Ulysses Lodge into 23 villas after MEPA’s lawyers discovered a tract of public land running through a small part of the development.
MEPA has also asked the Fort Cambridge developers to submit an Environment Impact Assessment after first waiving this obligation just a few months ago.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt