The conservation architect, Claude Busuttil was awarded the decoration Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres at the French residence on 14 juillet, the national day of France. In his acceptance speech the discreet Perit Busuttil, spoke in French and said that he fell in love with Paris when still a child after looking at some postcards and a guide to Paris which his parents had brought back with them from that beautiful capital city. His love of architecture and French history started then, all those years ago.

Among many occasions he seized to collaborate with France, Claude Busuttil was responsible for the co-ordination of the conference Vauban à Malte: La Carrière et l’Héritage de l’ingénieur militaire Sebastien le Prestre de Vauban (né en 1633 et mort en 1707).

For a time he was the very active executive secretary of the St John’s co-cathedral foundation. In this capacity and with his knowledge of French he met many important officials including Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, who was passing through Malta incognito while on holiday. Claude seized this opportunity to show the minister the three chapels of France, Auvergne and Provence at the co-cathedral, which needed restoration badly and which when compared with that of Italy, now restored into its original splendour by the generous Italian government, looked somewhat sad. M. Borloo understood immediately when he saw these chapels at close quarters and promised to help Claude. But the architect’s contract with the Foundation was terminated and this essential line of help and communication swiftly came to an end. I have always wondered why the knowledge of this enthusiastic and capable architect did not continue to be utilized by the Foundation and I must ask him when I next see him.

In his acceptance speech Claude said that he has always wanted to study in France and his wish is finally going to be realized as he will be reading for his Ph.D. at the Sorbonne Paris IV next October. More about this occasion another time. I could only stay for an hour or so but M and Mme Rondeau have a gift for making whatever they orginise pleasurable and M. Rondeau’s speeches are always full of the wisdom and humour of the excellent writer that he is. He is also a man of action. I thought his arranging for France, which has enough foreigners and refugees already, to take 96 refugees from Malta was truly laudable and in the spirit of Europe.

This brings me to the fact that the new German ambassador Bernd Braun will be arranging for his country to take 14 Eritrean refugees from Malta. Germany too, has its share of refugees. I learnt this at a vin d’honneur which H.E. and his American wife Annette held at their residence in Lija for members of the press and others. I thought it was an excellent idea, this vin d’honneur, and happily I was able to attend last Friday morning and spend an hour there drinking lovely German wine and getting to know the ambassador and his wife. He was ambassador to Russia, Estonia and Kenya. He said that German investments in Malta were in the region of Euros 24, more than German investments in countries like Poland which is of course so near Germany.

A friend told me that Villa L-Ajkla was originally the hunting lodge of the Sant Fourniers. Then it was bought by a Carbone and now someone else, whose name escapes me, owns it. We wish Mr Braun and his wife a happy and fruitful stay on these islands.

So MEPA reform is finally upon us. Let’s hope they get it right this time as from what I’ve heard some regulations seem good but some, like devolving more power into the hands of our politicians, are downright scary. I am certain our plucky environment NGOs will not be in favour of that measure, and can’t help repeating how sickening it is to read attacks on these groups who are working so hard to try to improve conditions for all of us. The latest piece of garbage is that Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) is in favour of politicians taking over policy decisions because they called on the PM to halt the Bahrija outrage. Even with my limited understanding it is obvious that asking the PM to investigate abusive permits, which only he can authorise, is a far cry from taking over the drawing up of policies. Only someone wanting to maliciously damage FAA could equate one with the other. I have said it a dozen times. We live in a world of half-truths. Don’t believe everything you read. If you are really interested in an issue dig much deeper than the written word… but even then you will not learn all the truth. There are always those with vested interests whose job is to keep the truth as well hidden from the public domain as possible.

It is obvious that those who have an interest in retaining the status quo, with all power and control in the hands of a few who can abuse at will, are panicking. According to at least one newspaper today Joe Falzon, the Mepa auditor concluded that the last permit issued in relation to the project (in a line of four) clearly ran against Mepa’s policy and should have never been given. ‘The report is awaiting the final comments of Mepa chairman Austin Walker who is, in turn, waiting for legal advice.’ So the Ramblers Association, FAA and NatureTrust were right when they said that the processing of the many Bahrija applications was suspect and that the permit should be revoked. There are those of us who are watching to see whether it is going to be revoked or not.

Of course there’s a lot of money involved in all these deals and some readers brought to my attention that Perit Musumeci’s name no longer appears on the list of an important Mepa board. He can’t be pleased about this. Sitting on an important board means power and getting to know what is happening and brings with it contacts. In Malta everything runs on contacts.

One gratifying fact is that FAA’s work is becoming increasingly recognized more and more by so many. This week FAA announced its board of trustees who include Marquis Nicholas de Piro, Tony Guillaumier, Sir Martin Laing as well as FAA Chairman Paul Cardona. I was so happy to see the names of people who do not merely consider their own and their family’s interests but really have Malta at heart. These individuals of calibre do not lend their name to anything unless they believe in it. FAA is very lucky to be endorsed by them.

Once again I congratulate FAA and its indefatigable crusader Astrid Vella, who, may I remind you, last December won the EU Jury Prize as EU volunteer of the year. It is hardly an inconsequential little award manipulated by friends of friends. It is a substantial and prestigious award. We know we can rely on this particular housewife from Sliema and no matter how scathing the blogs and columns are she has our support – the support of those of us who have had enough and as much as possible will no longer allow the human bulldozers to get their way and destroy more of these islands.