From D. Muscat

That The Times and The Sunday Times are pro PN is a well known fact but now, as the election draws closer, articles in favour of the PN and against the MLP, and especially against the AN, are on the increase.

Only last Monday the paper carried reports on the various activities organised by the respective parties and I was irritated by the unwarranted comments of one of the reporters covering the AN meeting. Among other things this reporter emphasised that was only some 50 people turned up – then you look at the coverage given by MTV on the Sunday sermons delivered by the PN and the MLP at their respective party clubs and as a rule the attendances never exceed the 70/80 figure!

But let me now turn to something else. The PN now state that they are projecting up to 2015. I ask how is this possible when they have not yet been able to tackle a simple application, made in 1992, by a pig breeder to extend his farm? Over the years the Lands Department never bothered to acknowledge or even answer one single letter addressed to its offices – so this pig breeder had no option left but to write to the Prime Minister and submitted all copies of correspondence. This was duly acknowledged and it was promised that the matter would be looked into. Apparently something was done since the Lands Department wrote to the interested party that in order to consider his application he should have a MEPA permit. The pig breeder wrote back to state that no applications could be made to MEPA since the land was not his – something I believe the Lands Department was well aware of. So, it was suggested and accepted that an “outline application” be considered.

Applicant’s architect submitted an application to MEPA within two to four weeks and they were quick to consider and approve the outline application subject to some 15 or 20 conditions.

This outline approval and conditions was duly passed on the Lands Department some two years ago. Regrettably no communication has been received since then. Reminders to the Office of the Prime Minister have been unacknowledged/unanswered. To be honest, someone from Office of the Prime Minister did phone to say that the matter should be solved by December. Unfortunately the pig breeder failed to ask “December of which year?”

So, how can we believe all these promises being made when a simple and rather straightforward application has remained outstanding since 1992! Then we have the statements made by the Prime Minister that we would have an additional two golf courses. Can anyone see them? And what about the Ta Qali Crafts Village, or the promise made to have all catering outlets classified?

D. Muscat

ATTARD

(PS Copies of the correspondence and applications available on request)