Public land and sea are being administered as if Malta is governed as a fiefdom, Partit Demokratiku said on Tuesday, after reports that the Corinthia group had been given the right to carry out land reclamation in Pembroke.
On Monday, Island Hotel Investments, the group that owns Corinthia hotels, said it had no plans for land reclamation.
In a statement, PD said there are no laws to limit government.
“Public assets are being misused and our natural heritage is being squandered. The latest mega-project by Corinthia Group has all these hallmarks,” stated Secretary-General and MEP candidate Martin Cauchi Inglott.
PD said it was at the forefront to protest against such an extensive project four weeks ago.
“Our coastal shores and seas are rightfully ours and the concessions by OPM Castile of a preferential allowance of the adjacent seawater for land reclamation is indicative that this government is steamrolling on our natural public domain assets,” stated MEP candidate Camilla Appelgren.
This megalomaniac frenzy of high-rises by hoteliers turning into property developers has been noted amongst others at Tigne Point Fortina, Manoel Island and in and around the cradle of St George’s Bay. They are all executed by under-valued market prices in what seem to be pro-shady deals that go against the public interest. This has become the hallmark of a senseless government that does not support Malta’s sustainability, PD said.
“To add insult to injury, the people have no access to government-held information. We do not have an open government as Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat had promised prior to being elected in 2013.”
“These mega projects are increasing the supply of up-market apartments and not coming anywhere near to solving the housing crisis,” stated Martin Cauchi Inglott. “Such developers, who are privileged with concessions, should be made to pay social tax, even in the form of affordable housing elsewhere on the island,” he further declared.
PD said it is evident that this government is riding on the wave, as our laws do not have an in-built mechanism to ensure financial propriety.