Contractors claim permit for dumping at sea

A Freeport architect and three contractors yesterday appeared in court to answer to the charge of illegally dumping construction waste at sea.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, presiding over a health sitting, heard how the case hinged on the interpretation of a permit that had been issued in 1995 by the Plannning Authority.

Freeport architect Joe Bugeja and contractors Charles Polidano known as Ic-Caqnu, Salvu Ellul and Anthony Bezzina are arguing that their activities were covered by the 1995 permit.

However the prosecution, headed by Police Inspector Alex Miruzzi, claims they did not have a permit to dump construction waste at sea. During yesterday ' sitting, Inspector Miruzzi explained that on August 17, 2006, police were informed that construction waste was being dumped illegally at sea near the Freeport.

At the same time, similar com - were being lodged at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa ).

The inspector said that Mepa officials confirmed that no permits had been issued allowing the contractors to load barges with construction waste and dump it at sea.

It was decided to block off the ramp that was being used in the illegal operation.

But, following a meeting with Mr Bugeja, who was coordinating the activities, it was agreed that the ramp would not be blocked since Mr Bugeja guaranteed that the dumping would stop until the matter was sorted out.

Mr Bugeja told the inspector that the works were covered by a permit issued in 1995 by the Planning Authority under a clause that allowed such activity.

This permit, Mr Bugeja claimed, covered the companies Freeport Corporation and Oil Tanking Limited. Mr Bugeja was a director of the latter company.

The inspector went on to explain that he spoke to Mr Polidano, Mr Ellul and Mr Bezzina.

They all cooperated with the police and said they believed that their works were covered by a permit.

Mr Ellul, a director of Elbros Construction Limited, gave the police a copy of a contract between his company and Oil Tanking Limited that, according to Mr Ellul, was covered by the 1995 permit, the inspector testified.

Mr Bezzina, who was one of the directors of Bezzina Maritime Services Limited, submitted a document issued by the Environment Protection Directorate.

The document showed that his company had a permit to dump dredging material (material removed from the bottom of water bodies, such as lakes and harbours) and dump it at sea.

However, the permit did not allow for the dumping of construction waste, the inspector noted. He added that Mr Polidano, as a director of the companies Polidano Brothers Limited and Polidano Group Limited, showed the inspector a permit from the Planning Authority to dump material, from the Tigné project, off Grand Harbour.

Inspector Miruzzi said he also learnt that two barges, Sawlus and Pawlus, were seen dumping waste at sea off the Freeport about four or five times daily. The barges were registered under the company Marina Limited, of which Mr Polidano was a director.

Lawyer Michael Sciriha appeared for Mr Polidano, Jason Azzopardi for Mr Bezzina, Beppe Fenech Adami represented Mr Ellul and Joseph Zammit Maempel and Jesmond Manicaro appeared for Mr Bugeja.