Birzebbuga residents are crying foul and demanding an immediate investigation into the handing over of the Birzebbuga Water Polo and Aquatic Sports Club – a government-owned sports facility – to a private developer through what is claimed to be a web of shady connections and deceit.

Apart from the apparent illegalities involved in the transfer of public land, the foreshore, including areas not constituting part of the property, have been illegally closed off to the public.

Moreover, full details of the project have not been made public, with developers having invoked a commercial sensitivity clause – apparently to prevent public scrutiny of the project even though it involves the transfer and use of public, not private, land.

The developers have proposed a Lm400,000 project to supposedly revive the sport of water polo in Birzebbuga but, residents claim, the land is to be turned into no more than a private lido that residents would have to pay to enter.

Speaking yesterday, Harry Vassallo, chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika which has lent its support to the development’s objectors, commented, “Other conflicts of interest exist with regard to the appointment of the club’s auditor and the post held by a club official on the National Sports Council, which is entrusted with the task of overseeing the proper conduct of affairs in sports clubs such as this.”

Dissidents point to a web of connections and corruption that has seen the project being approved by the Lands Department, the local council, the National Sports Council and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority without any of the appropriate authorities so much as batting an eyelid.

Residents point out that John Cutajar, the son-in-law of the Birzebbuga mayor, is the secretary of the water polo club, which has not had a paid up member for four years; Victor Battistino serves as both the water polo clubs public relations officer as well as a government-appointed secretary at the National Sports Council; and the club’s president, George Farrugia, has also had himself appointed as the club’s auditor.

Questions have been raised over who negotiated the contract, which will see the land being transferred for a period of 23 years, and who will be the ultimate beneficiary of the development. So far only a “private entrepreneur” has been named as putting up

the estimated Lm400,000. Furthermore, the deal, objectors pointed out yesterday, was enacted privately without a public tender being issued.

Since work on the water polo pitch began in May, the demolition of the premises has been amateurish and has constituted one hazard after another to public safety. For starters, a cement truck was emptied and cleaned on the adjoining sandy beach, demolition rubble has been continually dumped into the currently disused water polo pitch that feeds into Pretty Bay, while spiked separating gates from the pitch’s stands have also been thrown into the pool face-up – presenting a grave danger to young people who sometimes still dive into the pool.

Dr Vassallo observed yesterday that the authorities have become so barefaced about misdeeds such as the land transfer in question that they are no longer even attempting to cover their tracks.

Dr Vassallo called on Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, under whose remit the Lands Department and the fraud squad falls, and the National Sports Council, responsible for establishing the bona fide of sports clubs, to immediately investigate the situation.

AD will also be referring the case to the Ombudsman and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s Audit Officer for an investigation into public land fraud, as well as the abuse of the commercial confidentiality clause to prevent public scrutiny on the use of public land.

“The persons claiming to represent the Birzebbuga Water Polo and Aquatic Sports Club have violated the club’s statute and the conditions of the lease granted to them by the Lands Department,” he commented.

“They seem to represent nobody since the club has no paid up members and not a single water polo player, yet MEPA still issued a development permit which would lead to an illegal transfer of government property to a private developer,” Dr Vassallo said. “Following the issue of the permit, public access to parts of the beach at Pretty Bay has been barred at the start of the summer season apparently in view of the intended works. We are very surprised that the local council has not taken action to secure full access at all times.

“The present situation warrants immediate investigation by Minister Tonio Borg who is responsible for the Lands Dept as well as by the National Sports Council which is responsible for establishing the bona fide of sports clubs.”

Dr Vassallo encouraged Birzebbuga residents yesterday to form a new club and demand a transfer of the club’s lease to such bona fide club that truly holds the residents’ interests at heart.

He added, “No government that wants to retain a shred of respect from the public can afford to tolerate the long series of contractual and statutory violations which exist in this case and which have been completely ignored in a process that illegally accommodates very private interests at public expense.”