People power near election

Regarding what was stated by the planning authority’s PR officer, Peter Gingell (The Times, January 19 and The Sunday Times, January 20), we wish to confirm the accuracy of our statements (these could be easily checked) published on January 6 and 11.

Further, the land in question had suddenly become a white area within the development zone in 2008, having been Outside Development Zone in 2004 when the outline permit was granted.

The full development permit was granted in 2008, just before the elections, when apparently, within a week, more permits were granted than during the whole of the previous year. Even today, part of this land (to acquire three swimming pools, side by side) is ODZ and in the Rabat Conservation Area. If ‘preserving’ archaeological sites means concreting over them (as they have now been), we dare say they’ll be preserved.

It is also untrue to say that no objections were registered against this development. They started in 1994 and never ceased, in spite of the strategy, adopted by the developers and clearly sanctioned by Mepa, of not complying with the Mepa requirements to keep the residents informed (see Mary Pace’s letter June 20, 2012, among others by Carmel Cacopardo, Astrid Vella, other NGOs and many residents).

However, we are amused to have spooked Mepa into publishing a rebuttal. Is that to do with the election? Or is it a newly found fear of underestimating the power of ordinary people in large numbers who are championing a return to honesty, fair dealing and care for the environment, on this once most beautiful of Mediterranean islands?