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Environmental NGOs and residents’ groups have accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of “overseeing the seizure of power over our planning and justice systems by developers”.
“We stand united in urgently demanding that the prime minister reverse this worrying practice. The PA must immediately stop processing applications seeking to approve developments whose permits have been revoked by the courts,” they said in a joint statement on Saturday.
They insisted that “the Sannat permit (PA/3869/24) approving the construction of two illegal penthouses should also be revoked immediately. In addition, the Prime Minister must immediately reform the Appeals Act to prevent developers from constructing illegal structures.”
“For decades, our planning system, riddled with loopholes in the law and puppet governments have damaged our environment and quality of life. However, recent events have taken this corruption to shocking levels, eroding the few rights people have to hold their government to account,” the statement said.
The groups highlighted that the Planning Authority (PA) had just approved Joseph Portelli’s development in Sannat (PA/03869/24), despite a court ruling revoking the original permit for breaches of planning policy a few months earlier.
They said: “This is not an isolated case – three other illegal developments linked to Portelli have also had their permits revoked by the courts and are awaiting approval, including an ODZ swimming pool in Qala (PA/05223/24) and two further buildings in Sannat (PA/05625/24 and PA/05626/24).”
The groups insist that “the approval process is for buildings that comply with existing policy. However, in all four cases, the court decisions clearly state that they do not comply with policy. The PA’s handling and approval of these applications undermines the entire planning and judicial process, turning it into a sham process where laws, regulations and even court decisions are ignored to appease powerful developers.”
“This seriously undermines the rule of law and threatens the ability of the people of Malta and Gozo to effectively participate in the planning process or to challenge the decisions of the authorities,” they warned.
The groups stressed that “this scandal is closely linked to the failure to reform the Planning Appeals Act. Many buildings such as Qala and Sannat were completed before the courts revoked their permits.”
They noted that “the current law allows developers to build entire projects during the appeal period, resulting in illegal construction continuing even after the courts have ruled against them, as in this case. Prime Minister Robert Abela promised to reform this unjust law, first in May last year and again recently, but No reforms have been implemented yet”
The groups claimed that “it is now clear that both Prime Minister Robert Abela and Planning Minister Clint Camilleri gave political instructions to allow developers free rein, even allowing them and the Palestinian Authority to make a mockery of our courts.”
“Not only has the prime minister failed to deliver on his promise to reform the appeals law, the situation has worsened as the PA has now re-approved development projects that were ruled illegal by the courts last March,” they said.
“Public servants such as the PA’s executive chairman Oliver Magro must also be held accountable for their actions,” the groups said. “The PA brazenly ignored the chief judge’s ruling and deliberately processed fraudulent and misleading applications which also falsely claimed that the development complied with existing planning policy.”
“While we recognise that these managers are mostly puppets, they are still held legally accountable for any criminal conduct. Recent court cases against hospital privatisation should serve as a warning,” they said.
According to the groups, “the stakes are high. If this situation is not reversed, our planning and justice systems will risk collapse, the fundamental right to challenge the decisions of the Palestinian Authority will disappear, and people will be powerless in the face of the threat of horrific and illegal development.”
The groups concluded by saying: “We will not stand by while developers, with the support of the Prime Minister, stage a coup against our planning and justice systems, with disastrous social and environmental consequences.”
Environmental NGOs and residents’ groups supporting the statement include:
Environmental NGOs
Birdlife Malta
Ding l Art Hello
Work together to create a better environment
Friends of the Earth Malta
Godix
Graffiti Movement
Malta Nature Trust
Malta Walkers Association
Malta Archaeological Society
Gozo Heritage
Residents Groups
Action Tuna Returns to Our Land
Grundy Residents Association
Birzebug Historical and Cultural Association
Marsaskala Residents Network
Marsaxlokk Heritage
Nadur Cleaning
City dwellers
Sliema Residents Association
I inherited olive trees.
Photo: Courtesy of the above NGO
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