Qui-Si-Sana residents feel let down by government MPs

Qui-Si-Sana residents fear being "bulldozed" by the government with regard to the proposed car park in their area, a development which will "destroy" peace in the neighbourhood.

At a meeting held by the Qui-Si-Sana Residents' Association at the Preluna Hotel, in Sliema yesterday, residents remarked that the government members of Parliament they had elected were simply ignoring their cause.

Of the government MPs the association had written to, only backbencher Robert Arrigo, the former Sliema mayor who is publicly against the development, wrote back to the residents offering his support.

Environment Minister George Pullicino, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, who were both elected from the locality, only acknowledged the letter and never got back to the residents after two months.

Association president Simon Camilleri said residents had also written to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi asking for a meeting. The Prime Minister had only acknowledged the letter without any further response.

"We will have to fight our own battle without the help of the politicians we have voted for," Mr Camilleri said.

A number of residents remarked they were disillusioned by the attitude of government politicians.

Mr Camilleri claimed that different sources had said that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority wants the developer to start works "as soon as possible".

"It seems that some important people want the works on the car park to start within a few weeks, immediately after the public consultation meeting with the residents," he added.

On Thursday, the Sliema local council voted for a public consultation meeting between the residents of Qui-Si-Sana and the authorities over the development brief for an underground car park in the area.

While four of the councillors, including Michael Briguglio (AD), Martin Debono (MLP), Maryanne Aquilina (MLP) and Tony Mallia (PN) voted for the public consultation to be held, the mayor, Albert Bonello Du Puis (PN) and deputy mayor Gloria Mizzi (PN) voted against saying they first wanted to meet the representatives of the Qui-Si-Sana Residents' Association.

The residents yesterday said the reasons given by the mayor and the deputy mayor were "ridiculous".

"They know what we think of the project. If they feel they cannot represent us any more, they should resign," one irate resident said. In this regard, the association unanimously approved a resolution deploring the mayor and the deputy mayor's attitude during the meeting of January 19. They said the Qui-Si-Sana issue had been placed at the bottom of the agenda.

A resident said the local council, which had voted in favour of a public consultation meeting, should immediately write to Mepa calling for consultation with residents who will be affected by the development.

Another said it was "scandalous" that in an area where a small flat sells for Lm250,000, the government would give away about 40 tumoli of land to a private developer. He said the project will only create problems for residents.

The association said it will be commissioning a lawyer to fight the issue in court if necessary. A resident, who said that courts "led nowhere", added that the assistance of the European Union should be sought, either through the Maltese MEPs or through the European Ombudsman. "People have voted for Europe so that politicians do not get a free ride anymore," she remarked.

A resident compared the Qui-Si-Sana car park issue to the problems that Marsascala residents are facing due to the proposed upgrade of the Sant'Antnin recycling plant in their area. Another said residents of Marsascala are having to accept the new recycling plant because they had "given in" to the authorities' when the first plant was built years ago. "Let's learn from experience and not surrender from the beginning," he said.

The residents are opposing the development of the car park not only because of the impact it will have on their area, that includes the public garden overlooking the sea, but also because development briefs for the area include the pedestrianisation of Bisazza Street and lower Tower Road, which effectively means that all cars passing through the area will have to go through Qui-Si-Sana.