Ever since I voiced my concern regarding the excavations going on at Hamrun, certain officials at MEPA have made entirely false allegations in my regard. They have quoted totally incorrect information and recklessly gone ahead with the dissemination of lies. Since this matter has been publicised, with even the Environment Minister choosing to weigh in on the subject, I will state the facts, all of which are easily verifiable by looking up publicly accessible documents.

On 8 October, MEPA PRO Sylvana Debono stated in a press release that a stop and enforcement notice number 718/03 had been issued for property I own in Hospital Street, Rabat. This is incorr-ect. The enforcement notice I received relates to property in St Francis Street, Rabat. I am not the owner of this property, and never have been. I cannot be expected to abide by an enforcement notice that does not refer to my property.

To date, there is no enforcement notice which refers to my property in Hospital Street, nor to any other property of which I am the owner. This is more than evident from the most public and supposedly reliable of sources: the MEPA website. This shows that my application relating to Hospital Street is completely distinct from enforcement proceedings relating to St Francis Street. The latter concern other premises and another person.

Unfortunately, MEPA officials have inexplicably confused the two, and have continued to defend their mistake even after I pointed out the mix-up. They continue to insist on a phantom enforcement notice despite clear evidence to the contrary. They continue to publicise their blunder in the face of incontrovertible facts.

MEPA’s attempt to lynch me is based on non-existent circumstances, on a phantom enforcement order. Will MEPA now conjure up an enforcement order and have it served on me? Will they create the facts to fit their false story? Will they retaliate for having been shown up as ill-intentioned blunderers? Nothing would surprise me less.

MEPA’s actions in this case have been despicable and improper. Publishing false information and maligning individuals does not fall within MEPA’s remit, whatever their political allegiance.

Mark Causon