'You tricked us': Large crowd protests over 'planning reform for developers'

A large crowd showed up to protest outside parliament on Monday evening over planning reforms decried as being for the benefit of developers.

The protest, the second this month, was held while Finance Minister Clyde Caruana was delivering his budget speech in the chamber. 

The activity was organised by a group of NGOs which are insisting that legislative bills issued as part of the reform must be withdrawn. It started with a march from Great Siege Square to parliament,  where police barricades were erected during the day.

Activist group Graffitti set up camp outside parliament on Sunday afternoon ahead of the protest. Prime Minister Robert Abela himself visited the campers on Monday afternoon, sitting down for a chat with the activists. But that did not detract the protest a few hours later.

Protesters marched along Republic Street. Photo: Jonathan Borg

The reform was laid out in Bills 143 and 144, and a legal notice published just before the summer.

The NGOs, grouped under the name Ġustizzja Għal Artna, say the proposed reform bulldozes environmental safeguards and gives the Planning Authority wide new powers to approve development that is currently not allowed by local plans. 

'Take us seriously'

Ingram Bondin, from the Ramblers Association, said the demonstrators were not scared to stand up when something was not right. 

"Prime Minister, we are always ready to talk, talk to us as much as you want, but take us seriously," he said in an address.

"We are here because you tricked us, you promised us a reform of the appeals process (to stop works while appeals are pending), but instead you have given us a reform to benefit developers."

Mark Sultana, from BirdLife Malta said the large crowd was manifesting its love for Malta.   

"If these laws go through, we will lose our democracy," he said.

Andre' Callus warned of further protest unless the government scraps the planning reform and holds consultations.

"If these laws pass, every tree cut, every green space lost will not be just a number. But we will lose our identity, we will lose our memories and our experiences."

Moviment Graffitti's Andre Callus took to the stage with a simple message: "These reforms will destroy our country and us."

He said that those who thought the people would remain quiet and let "billionaires" walk over them, were wrong.

"People will resist, people will fight for our land," he said.

Callus said architect Robert Musemmeci had written the text of the bills, and he asked the crowd who they thought he had in mind when he wrote the bills - the people, or the developers?

He said that unless the government relented, further protests would be held in the coming weeks.

Protesters marched along Republic Street. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Members of the opposition, including Adrian Delia, Rebekah Borg and Albert Buttiġieġ, were seen among the crowd before heading to parliament for the budget speech. Other protesters included former Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer and activist Yana Mintoff. 

Speakers included the deputy mayor of Mellieħa, Matthew Borg Cuschieri, Patrick Calleja from Din l-Art Ħelwa and Josmar Azzopardi from Għaqdiet Ambjentali Għawdxin.

A concert was held after the speeches.