Set the record straight

Elaine Fitouri's letter (May 18) referring to a reply from Sylvana Debono from Mepa deserves a great deal of praise. She is perfectly correct in stating that Mepa is "finding it hard to apologise".

I fully understand her situation because I've been trying to get Mepa to at least be honest, because I know an apology will never follow.

The problem has been dragging on for years, but Mepa are adamant to change their story whenever they feel like it, simply because if they state the truth they would have to accept that they did not take any action.

The issue is simply that a cafeteria was changed into a supermarket with the necessary permits and then, after almost three years, was changed into a restaurant.

Just to make sure they are not accused of not taking any steps, Mepa have changed the version of their story countless times. Ms Debono never replied to our letters in the press, simply because all the evidence is against Mepa.

Mepa's main problem is that they snub our efforts to show them the evidence. They don't let us address the board when it meets even though we are officially registered objectors.

On May 18, we were present at Mepa listening to submissions by the applicant, his architect and Mepa, while we were silenced by the Appeals Board.

The Mepa file which included all the proof was "misplaced", they said. To date we have not been proved wrong. Mepa simply stated that the restaurant is legal because the supermarket was never opened.

How can Mepa state this without proving anything and this when we have loads of proof to the contrary? Such cases are harming society. Hatred grows against these untouchable authorities.

We have been proved right by the court, the Audit Office, the Development Control Commission, the Ombudsman and now even by public officials. Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo confirmed our story, saying he clearly remembers the supermarket.

Even the mayor of Sliema and councillor Anthony Mallia assured us they are certain that the supermarket was open for years because they were customers.

To add to the documented proof, we have photos, statements by public officials and tens of Sliema residents ready to give evidence. We have also the cloth shopping bag the supermarket distributed to clients and an invoice from one of the suppliers but Mepa keep insisting there was never a supermarket.

How cheeky of them. Why keep on saying so? The evidence will eventually have to be accepted. We only ask the Mepa chairman to give us the chance to show him the evidence.