Environment Minister Leo Brincat today said that the decision on the maritime base at Haywharf was beyond his remit.

The government has been under fire for the building of a concrete base which obliterates the view of the bastions.

Minister Brincat was also asked for his personal opinion on the project and said that what is an eyesore is an eyesore.

In this case, considering national security, the submission of a formal Development Notification was not required, and according to articles in the media, the development was urgently needed for national security.

Turning to MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg, and the criticism he received about the Zonqor University project, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Michael Falzon said the CEO is currently in charge of both Environment and Planning within MEPA, and thus has a right to be consulted.

Mr Buttigieg had been heavily criticised by NGOs who said that “This government has been using the CEO of MEPA as its private consultant, rather the ultimate arbiter of what can be permitted within planning regulations. So much so that when the highest authorities met with the NGOs, the MEPA CEO sat with Government, arguing in favour using Zonqor for the American University”.

Environment Minister Leo Brincat explained that legally, the Environment Protection Directorate did not need to be consulted on preliminary site selections. He said that it is standard practice for government entities, when considering sites, to consult MEPA.