Yesterday's statement by Planning Authority Johann Buttigieg that he has transferred the directorship of a private company operating in the planning sector to his own son is simply a gimmick, NGOs said Tuesday.

It will do nothing to conceal his proven corrupt behaviour or make his position at the Planning Authority (PA) any more tenable, they added in a statement.

First and foremost, Johann Buttigieg should be fired from the PA immediately because he was found to have conspired with developer Yorgen Fenech over development applications and business deals while serving as CEO of the public authority responsible for assessing such applications impartially, the statement said.

In conversations that began over chat and continued at private parties hosted by the developer, Buttigieg demonstrated his willingness to engage in business deals with developers and facilitate the approval of projects that benefited them.

He also recently lied when he claimed that these conversations took place three weeks before he ceased to be head of the PA, when, in reality, they had taken place many months earlier, the statement added.

This massive scandal exists independently of the separate scandal involving his ownership of a private company operating in the planning sector while heading the PA. "His ridiculous decision to relinquish the company's directorship while transferring it to his son, and remaining the sole shareholder, amounts to little more than a change of name - the typical prestanome arrangement used to conceal one's business interests. Moreover, this move would never have happened had the media not exposed his blatant conflict of interest."

Johann Buttigieg must be fired immediately and permanently barred from holding public office or taking up consultancy positions, to begin to reverse the immense harm being done, the NGOs said.

"We also demand a full inquiry into the illegitimate ties between Johann Buttigieg and developers, alongside the introduction of laws requiring public officials to communicate with interested parties exclusively through official channels. A transparency register covering all meetings between public officials and interested parties must also be established."

Organisations

BirdLife Malta

Din l-Art Ħelwa

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar

Friends of the Earth Malta

Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent

Għawdix

Moviment Graffitti

Nature Trust Malta

Ramblers Association Malta

Wirt Għawdex