One of “Malta’s largest illegally developed sites” just got bigger after workers for Charles Polidano, iċ-Ċaqnu, carried on building at the Montekristo estate this week, less than a year after he apologised for the inconvenience caused by the lawless sprawl at Ħal Farrug.
Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) enforcement officers stopped the work on Thursday after they discovered the new development next to the animal park on the Montekristo estate.
On Friday, two police officers who, Mepa CEO Johann Buttigieg said, will be paid for by the contractor, were stationed there.
The work is a continuation of a vast illegal development which was forcibly stopped by Mepa last November. Following that action, Mr Polidano personally wrote to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on November 29 to “confirm that no works will be undertaken on the site in question and apologise for any inconvenience”.
Nine months later, however, work resumed.
In a statement, released by Mr Polidano’s lawyer (see pdf link below), the construction magnate defended himself by arguing that Times of Malta was unfairly targeting him.
The statement suggested that instead of “reporting negatively”, the newspaper should focus on the success of the events organised at the MonteKristo estate, a vast expanse of land which was once described by Mepa as one of the largest illegally built sites on the island.
“Instead of Times of Malta reporting the positive contribution to the economy of Il-Fiera L-Kbira and the business and employment that was generated before, during and after the fair. Why the company was not contacted in order to give an interview or statement about the fair initiative...” the statement said.
The company also pointed out that it was also involved in many charity events, particularly through its animal park, a small zoo that houses some 2,000 exotic animals.
The park too is has been developed illegally and does not conform with the specifications of the Animal Welfare Act. In fact, the authorities have now confirmed that they will be issuing criminal charges over illegalities at the park.
But the company insisted that the press should shift its focus away from the illegalities.
“Why has Times of Malta never reported the fact that the animals area at MonteKristo is visited on weekly basis by hundreds of disabled children and adults, children from different institutes and elderly from different homes free of charge also offering them beverages and snacks...”
Reacting to the newspaper’s questions about the latest instalment of illegal works at the site, the company said that these were actually “embellishment” and “landscaping works” intended to give bigger areas to the animals housed.
This claim, however, was contradicted by the Mepa CEO, who said the work carried included the development of buildings, whose foundations had been laid illegally before last November.
He also argued that Mr Polidano’s argument that he was forced to continue works illegally for the sake of the animals’ welfare did not stand up. “Obviously, that is no valid reason for illegal development, he should have made sure he had a permit for the facilities before importing the animals,” Mr Buttigieg said.
Read more in The Sunday Times of Malta today. Read Mr Polidano's statement in full in the pdf link below.
Attached files