In his novel Animal Farm, George Orwell sought to tell a children’s tale with a subliminal message. Perhaps not subliminal, but a double entendre of sorts. In the story, he shows us how no matter what system is used – some will be more equal than others.

The story shows how the animals on the farm got rid of their evil master and they sought to govern themselves. The ensuing system that was set up was much like the utopian communist system. Everyone did their bit and assumed his and her responsibilities. But as time went by, Napoleon and Snowflake fell out because the latter had suggested that some pigs were more equal than others.

And so it seems that the same happens in Malta too. Yesterday, our sister paper TMIS published a story on its front page, saying that Montekristo – belonging to Polidano Brothers – had been given a trade licence despite the fact that it had multiple enforcement notices issued against it. And not only that, it also appeared that the licence was issued while illegal development works continued.

Back in November, enforcement officers from the Planning Authority, as well a large number of police officers and soldiers, backed by heavy machinery and even an AFM plane, descended upon Hal Farrug after the Polidano brothers – Charles, also known as ‘ic-Caqnu, and Paul – ignored a number of enforcement notices and carried on with unsanctioned work.

Mepa intended to demolish illegal structures that had “mushroomed” around the complex without the necessary permits. But enforcement officers only managed to knock down one illegal structure – a four metre-high concrete store – until the courts ordered demolition work to stop after the Polidanos filed a prohibitory injunction. Some days later, Charles Polidano apologised to the Prime Minister in a press statement and confirmed his company's “willingness to fully cooperate with the competent authorities on the matter”.

But it seems that this has now been forgotten, and things in Hal Farrug continue to develop unhindered.

Trade industry sources told us that trade licences are not issued so easily. But Montekristo apparently submitted the necessary application and architect’s declaration and the trading licence was issued, which permitted the premises to hold commercial fairs. They also submitted the necessary ad hoc application and the basic fee for a commercial fair licence for the fair in question. Therefore, according to the Commerce Department , Montekristo has undergone all the necessary procedures to hold the Commercial Fair in question.

But what about the fact that the fair was being held on land that had numerous pending enforcement notices? The operators have a total of 55 active enforcement notices against them for environmental abuse over 20 years. It seems that Orwell is right, some pigs are more equal than others. And that is how it has always been. Case in point, under a PN administration in 2001, Polidano Brothers put 1,200 employees on forced leave at the Riviera Hotel. Even then, things were just swept under the carpet and life went on. And now we are in a new era – that of Malta taghna lkoll... the call may have changed, but the system certainly hasn’t. Well, at least for some. Does anyone care? It seems not.