What a Waste of Time

Press Release: Il-Kollettiv disappointed with revised Bills 143 and 144 as the government insists on neutralising residents’ and NGOs’ rights

Il-Kollettiv has expressed its disappointment at the government’s revised Bills 143 and 144, which mark an obstinate insistence in suffocating residents’ and NGOs’ legal rights.

In a statement, Il-Kollettiv Secretary Wayne Flask described the whole process, including lengthy talks during the last six months, as “an utter waste of time.”

“The revised drafts reached us six months after our last meeting with the Planning Reform Committee. While only part of the red lines in Article 143 were addressed, Article 144 now seeks to give the Environmental Planning and Review Tribunal even more power to quash or sidestep residents’ appeals,” said Flask.

“Taken as a package, these Planning Bills are not just a way for developers to do as they please, but to enshrine their entitlement in law. Not only does the MDA have to power to haul government housing schemes in front of the EU Commission, it is now using its former consultants to run the country itself.”

“The Prime Minister is politically responsible for this. Not only has he promised, then held back, the natural principle of suspending works under appeal; he has twice attempted to push through a ‘reform’ which robs his own voters of their legal rights. Despite the popular anger at the reforms, Abela is willing to make Malta and its residents a permanent hostage of a broken lobby, as long as he wins the election by a huge margin. The game is very obvious.”

Flask said the group will be unequivocally endorsing Ġustizzja għal Artna’s actions on the issue, and called on resident groups to participate in an event in Nigret, Zurrieq, to be held on Sunday 17th May. “Unfortunately, it seems that the only way to get the message across is by taking to the streets. For all our good intentions, dialogue with the government on anything related to construction is like talking to a blank party wall.”