Towers are raising their heads across the urban landscape, with the public expected to gasp at their sheer height when little concern is given to the mounting infrastructural and societal challenges brought about by the rampant over-development that has plagued this country over the last decades.

While the government, be it Labour or Nationalist, may insist that this is essential for economic development  and that communities’ interests can be protected, a majority of property developers exist to maximise profit, and will do so by any means possible.

Nowhere is this more apparent than within the 10th District (comprising Gzira, Pembroke, St Julian’s, Sliema and parts of Naxxar and Bahar ic-Caghaq), as a quick examination of the state of the roads, congestion, and pollution in the area easily proves.

The economic and tourism hub has been left in the hands of cash-hungry developers, who with the help of planning regulations; seek to make a quick buck while simultaneously ignoring the surrounding community’s needs.

With two towers already approved (38 storeys at the Townsquare Project and 31 storeys at Mercury House), and another 15 high-rise developments on the way (including 23 storeys at Fortina Hotel, a “high-rise hotel” at the former Holiday Inn site, and the tower at the ITS site), the people have unsurprisingly begun to feel forgotten by the central government.

Residents also feel forgotten by their district MPs who, just a few months ago, were knocking on their doors in their search for votes.

The Malta Independent on Sunday contacted the six members of Parliament who were elected on the 10th District to hear how they intended to take action, in exercise seeking to examine active roles local MPs should play in their communities.

The MPs were asked what they were doing to address the situation on a parliamentary level, whether they believed that local councils should be given greater powers, and whether they would raise these issues in the form of a private members bill.

They were also asked regarding the perception of local MPs, and the stranglehold developers have over the country in general.

While a majority pontificated about the virtues of over-development and sustainability few seemed to provide the legitimate answers to the community’s growing concerns.

When contacted, neither the PL nor the PN replied to whether they would present this issue in parliament.

PN Deputy Leader Robert Arrigo

 I have been elected from the 10th district since 2003, prior to that [he] had been Sliema’s Mayor since 1994.

People judge a MPs performance in their voting trends and in all election, be it at local council or national level, I keep increasing my votes. My presence, my meetings, and my activities in the district are highly successful. This began one week after the election and will continue.

Over-development is everywhere, far too many electoral promises by the Labour government have translated into piecemeal developments...a go as you please attitude with not transparency. The government is the god in these circumstances and the opposition is outvoted each and every time.

Local councils have been nicely muzzled and act as a kind of customer service. Pleading to the minister has become the norm again. Our dream of local governance in 1994 has been torn to shreds by Labour governments.

All institutions have been placed under the control of the government; full control is now in place... the calls for change in the 10th district have been ignored. Experience and a second chance at the polls have been betrayed.

Minister for Education & Employment Evarist Bartolo

It’s a question of balance. The country is moving forward through economic growth which invariably translates to projects on the ground and need for better infrastructure. We must focus our efforts on sustainability and minimising issues which affect the immediate area, such as noise pollution, traffic and dust. Efforts have been made on this front, but more can be done.

Our size means that what happens in one district has a domino effect. An example of this is air quality – and this is where we have seen improvement through the use of cleaner energy. 

Minister for Family & Social Solidarity Michael Falzon

Our country is moving forward with an unprecedented economic growth and job opportunities. We have more people (both local and foreign) entering the workforce and more tourists coming to Malta. Naturally this brings about a high degree of new investments and redevelopment projects which are taking place according to the Local Plan of 2006.

This is also reflected in upgrade of properties and restoration projects being carried out not only within the 10th district but all around Malta and Gozo. Yet, one must surely recognize the so-called challenges of wealth generation.

The Prime Minister and cabinet members have repeatedly spoken about the work being done to address difficulties in infrastructure. Thus, as committed in its electoral manifesto, the Government is investing heavily to upgrade current structures and technologies to a level which a high-flying economy deserves and requires.

Therefore, on this issue, the focus should rather be on how development is being carried out, considering more enforcement of building regulations, and on how our facilities should be improved to handle the successful activity of families and businesses. 

PD MP Marlene Farrugia

The area in question is experiencing a blitz. Not only is massive development taking up land  without proper planning, not only is an infrastructural  deficit materializing, but the very identity  of the community is being severed with every house that is being brought down  in spite of advice to the contrary, including the Cultural Superintendence. 

As an MP, I moved a motion for a national and local plan to be in place before the massive high rise developments are given the green light.  As happened in the last legislature, the motion has not even been brought forward for discussion, as it is PLPN who decide what motions are discussed and we only have two members.

I have tried to raise public awareness because that is the only way I can maybe affect decisions. The Government is bulldozing ahead with a puppet planning authority rubberstamping its obvious nods of consent to the senseless developments that are being permitted. 

Local councils should be given greater powers backed by manpower and finances because they are crippled by the lack of capacity to live up to their tasks. As a MP I can only try to raise thorny issues for discussion in the House. Any constituent can seek my help.

For me, Malta and Gozo is one district. I have stood up for this priceless area ever since I was elected to Parliament in 2008.  It is very painful for me to watch the people who elected me struggle to come to terms with the rampage that’s happening around them.

I feel powerless and utterly useless, as the big businessmen push their agenda indiscriminately, through their collaborators in a government that has reached unprecedented levels of arrogance and impunity.

We would be effective as parliamentarians if this government had been truly democratic, if it had the National Interest at heart, not the interest of a few gluttons, and if the PN,, who is in cahoots with the where development is concerned,  was strong, compact, and with a leader  that can lead the charge towards good governance.

PN MP Karol Aquilina

It is very clear that there is a mismatch between the developments taking place in the 10th district and investment in the infrastructure and the delivery of basic services to the people.

To make matters worse the 10th district has now been earmarked for the proliferation of high-rise buildings. I am completely against the recently approved new 32-storey Paceville tower and the tower at the ITS.

The development clearly runs counter to the best interests and aspirations of the people of St Julian’s. To add insult to injury the Planning Authority considered and approved the project in the absence of a master plan for St Julian's, this is why I support St Julian’s mayor, Guido Dalli, who voted against the project.

Decisions such as those involving high-rise buildings are taken by the institutions, in this case the PA, which at the end of the day are controlled by a majority of government appointed members.

I do believe local councils should be given greater powers especially in terms of enforcement and the processing and determination of development applications brought before the Planning Authority. As things stand today, local councils are finding themselves helpless in the face of abuse and greedy developers.

Since June 2017 I have kept in contact with my constituents through visits and have  also made a number of parliamentary questions about the sea slime in Sliema and St Julian’s, cases of excavation and demolition works carried out in Sliema and St Julian’s during the summer months and government plans for Sliema’s iconic Chalet.

Back in July 2017 I also spoke about the building of a private school on government land in Pembroke. I made it clear that government should stop taking Pembroke’s residents for a ride and declare in no uncertain terms that it will not offer the land in Pembroke for development. 

There is a clear difference between the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party on this matter. As a party we have on several occasions taken a position against proposed developments which in our view are unacceptable and which show a complete disregard for our environment and that of future generations. We have done so irrespective of who was or is the person or company involved in the proposed development.

The party financing law was a step in the right direction, but it is clearly not enough.

PN MP Karl Gouder

Infrastructure is in a mess, especially in Paceville and Sliema. When I was mayor I spent most of my time lobbying for there to be a whole overhaul with the infrastructure especially in certain places such as Paceville, where such said infrastructure has reached its limits ages ago. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be on government's priority list.

Possibly every opportunity I have to speak in Parliament I do speak about the difficult situation our residents are in. More than that I make sure to attend any hearings or committees that discuss new development in our area, however more than that it’s reporting irregularities to the competent authorities, something I encourage all residents to do.

Local Councils are totally ignored on these issues. If there is an entity that knows the situation very well it’s the local council. For years I have been lobbying to increase both their powers and also their resources, most importantly financial resources

 All districts should be given their priorities according to their needs, what is certain is that the needs of the residents of the tenth district are not given their due importance.

 When I was mayor I was on the ground all the time and therefore people see you work on such issues and other. In Parliament you are probably seen less, however I have probably put the issue to the floor around 6 - 7 times already in plenary since last June, apart from discussing with government departments, police officials etc

I think we need to strive to find a balance, which we are not finding right now. We are not saying no to development, however we need to plan, we need to see what the needs of our localities are and we need to make sure that we don’t deteriorate the quality of life of our residents. Right now I agree that there is no balance and that the pendulum is swinging solely in favour of developers.