Momentum calls for end to ‘build now, sanction later’ culture

Momentum has highlighted three of its electoral proposals to tackle what it defined as “chaos” in the construction industry in a bid to “restore residents’ right to peace and end the ‘build now sanction later’ culture.

In a statement, Momentum argued “developers’ timetables matter more than residents’ quality of life” as it decried drilling at 6am and construction noise even on Sundays.

“Malta has been turned into one big construction site, and the people paying the price are the ones who actually live here,” Momentum chairperson Arnold Cassola said.

“Residents cannot sleep, families cannot rest on Sundays, and when they try to challenge a permit, the building goes up anyway while they wait for justice. The country is being run as if developers were the only citizens that mattered,” he added.

Momentum presented three proposals to address the issue, including humane working hours, a real day of rest, and no construction while the Tribunal is still deciding.

The party said construction working hours should be limited between 8am and 5pm, from Monday to Saturday, “to protect workers’ safety and residents’ mental health from onstant noise and disturbance”.

They also insisted that the rule against construction on Sundays and feast days should be “strictly enforced”.

Malta’s appeals system currently allows construction to continue, and even be completed, while a permit is being challenged.

Momentum said if elected to parliament it would push to mandate that all works authorised by a development permit are suspended while an appeal is pending before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal or the courts, with clear and reasonable time limits set for resolving appeals.