In a statement issued yesterday, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) claimed that, pending the outcome of police investigations into the illegal dumping at sea allegedly carried out by Polidano Brothers, it “does not exclude requesting the forfeiture of a sum” from a bank guarantee for the observance of permit conditions.

Mepa confirmed that the Polidano Group possesses a number of valid permits for the infilling of quarries with construction and demolition (C&D) waste under contract from Wasteserv. These permits are issued on the basis of LN337/01, which transposes the Waste Framework Directive of the European Union, and are monitored by Mepa staff.

The operation of quarry infilling with C&D waste by Polidano Bros is also covered by a development and environmental permit, which involves a bank guarantee for the observance of permit conditions.

Mepa has informed Wasteserv, as relevant co-beneficiary of the bank guarantee, that provisions related to the permit conditions may have been breached, following allegations raised in the past weeks that the company was transporting waste to the Malta Freeport, whence it was loaded into a barge and allegedly dumped at sea.

Mepa has requested the police to investigate these allegations. If verified, Polidano Brothers may forfeit part of the bank guarantee, although the Mepa statement stopped short of specifying how much this guarantee was to begin with.

The authority also confirmed that the original Mepa officer appointed to monitor these permits had been changed in May 2004. Architect Joe Bugeja was originally accepted by Mepa as monitor for a number of these permits.

However, following a declaration by the applicant that he had engaged the professional services of Mr Bugeja on other projects, Mepa did not accept Mr Bugeja on assignments related to this contract. Permits issued after this date are being inspected by Mepa officers.

Mr Bugeja is currently Director of Development Projects at the Malta Freeport