The Marsascala Shopowners Association has called for the resignation of Joe Tabone, a board member of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and also a board member of the Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (GRTU), because of what the association said was a conflict of interest.

Association president Reuben Buttigieg said Mr Tabone has a conflict of interest because he first voted in favour of the fish farm project at Marsascala and then he was elected as vice-president of an organisation which is opposing the project.

He said Mr Tabone also voted in favour of the re-development of the Sant’ Antnin waste recycling plant, another project which the GRTU is opposing.

Mr Tabone cannot expect businesses in Marsascala to believe that he is representing their interests, said Mr Buttigieg, when he voted in favour of the two projects that they, and the GRTU, are opposing.

He said that according to the GRTU’s statute, the council has the right to dismiss any member who goes against decisions taken by the association. What is more obvious than voting in favour of two projects which the association is opposing, he asked.

“This is why we are calling for his resignation. We are giving the GRTU president until tomorrow to take the necessary action. Otherwise, we and several other people who agree with our position, will be handing in our resignation as members of the GRTU,” he said.

“The GRTU is a national organisation and we cannot expect Mr Tabone to represent us and our interests if he voted against our interests on the Mepa board,” he said.

Mr Mifsud said the council had two petitions from residents, businesses and entities opposing the Sant’ Antnin project and the aquaculture project.