Din l-Art Helwa, Malta’s National Trust, held its annual general meeting yesterday at the association’s offices in Valletta.

“The way the Development Zones were forced on us all within a short period of six weeks was scandalous to say the least. Much of the recent debate has centred on the Malta Environmental Planning Authority (MEPA) and land use, and MEPA has been under fire from all sides. As an association we feel that there has been too much development going on, and the balance now has to move towards conservation. The unbridled development approved by MEPA in recent years signifies that there have been some high-profile blunders in the process,” said Din l-Art Helwa’s executive president Martin Galea when he addressed the AGM.

“We are pleased to see that the environment is high on the agenda of all the parties taking part in the next election, and no matter which party is elected you can be assured that we will be holding the next administration to its election promises,” he added.

The association passed a resolution on MEPA’s Composition, Structure and Processes recognising the intense political, economic, development pressures under which MEPA operates, and the central role it plays in the well being and quality of life of ordinary people. The resolution asks for an independent study to be conducted on MEPA’s structure to ensure that the composition of those selected to serve on the boards and commissions reflect more closely the different components of civil society, and avoid, to the greatest extent possible, the conflicts of interest that currently exist; as well as to stringently tighten up and amend MEPA’s procedures and systems as necessary so that Outside Development Zone applications are rejected outright, illegal developments are never sanctioned and written guidelines and procedures are scrupulously followed and enforcement procedures rigorously implemented.

“Clear guidelines must be provided for board members, so that they know full well what is acceptable and what isn’t. For example, do you think it is acceptable for a supermarket to receive a permit to be built in one of these outside development zones?” asked Mr Galea.

The association also passed a motion thanking the Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects) for highlighting the damage done to Malta’s natural and cultural heritage in its report “The Urban Challenge”, which the association thinks should be properly studied and implemented.

The Secretary General’s Report for 2007 was also approved, including a detailed account of the association’s activities in the past year. Special mention was made of the ‘Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park’ set up in September 2007 whereby the area between Golden Bay and Anchor Bay became Malta’s first nature and history park, under the responsibility of Din l-Art Helwa, Nature Trust and The Gaia Foundation. “The government has given us e116,468 (Lm50,000) for the tasks ahead of us in The Majjistral Park, and for which we are grateful,” said Mr Galea. “However, to our minds the approval of the Mistra application, for such a high-rise development in this ecologically-sensitive area between Xemxija and Mellieha is simply not acceptable,” concluded Mr Galea to a round of applause from Din l-Art Helwa’s members.

Din l-Art Helwa is the National Trust of Malta and a member of the International National Trust Organisation (INTO). The association’s membership increased by about 3,000 in the last year.

Din l-Art Helwa’s director Dr Petra Bianchi, Founder President Judge Maurice Caruana Curran, and Secretary General Major Edward Xuereb were also present at the AGM.