Today the Planning Board heard the request by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar for the revocation of the permit PA 7781/18 issued to MIDI plc to allow the: “Clearing of site including uprooting of trees, demolishing of existing buildings whilst retaining St George’s chapel and customs house”
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar based its request on the June 2020 annulment of the masterplan of Manoel Island and the EIA report. The EIA report and the masterplan were annulled on the basis of a false declaration and conflict of interest of one of the consultants who drew up the EIA report.
FAA’s request that was adjudicated today was based especially on the fact that the fraud committed by the consultant was carried out in conjunction with the applicant MIDI plc. The consultant recommended the demolition of a late nineteenth century heritage building (recently used as a club called Funky Monkey).
Because of this fraudulent report, this cowshed used for the quarantine of cattle, which stood in the way of the MIDI development, was demolished despite the reservations expressed by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. The SCH was therefore hoodwinked, as it gave its clearance without being informed of the conflict of interest of the consultant. Several witnesses attest to the function of this building which had a historic and integral function within the history of Manoel Island which for hundreds of years was used for quarantine of man and beast.
This quarantine cowshed was however located in an inconvenient place for MIDI plc as it stood on the site of their proposed Isolotto Square and apartment blocks 2 and 4. The The trees were cut down after ERA issued nature permits in April 2020 when they already knew of the fraud.
The Planning Board decided to postpone a decision but changed the permit to one which is non-executable. However, this decision is not satisfactory as all permits issued by the Planning Authority based on the annulled masterplan PA9407/17 are based on a fraud and therefore should be treated as null and void.
This outcome is unacceptable to Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar as it violates basic justice that nobody should be allowed gain from fraud. This verdict indicates a tolerance of fraud which will inevitably encourage other developers to resort to fraud to further their interests.
As regards the demolition of an historic building, it is a classic case of too little too late, as the developer has succeeded in clearing his site, and no suspension of permit can bring a heritage building back nor mature trees back to life.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar will continue with its campaign to give Manoel Island back to the people of Malta to be turned into a heritage park for the benefit of all.
The FAA Committee
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