Arnold Cassola has asked the Standards Commissioner to launch an investigation on the illegalities carried out in Comino based on an article published by The Shift that revealed further details on the works already condemned by the Ombudsman.
Cassola has requested George Hyzler to investigate Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri’s abusive behaviour, who was responsible for the work commissioned using William Lewis, the Labour Party’s Organising Secretary, The Shift revealed.
The works were carried out between February and March and involved heavy trenching works across the dirt road leading to the popular Blue Lagoon. They were carried out without the Gozo Ministry first obtaining a permit despite the area being a protected Natura 2000 site.
The purpose was to build a culvert along the way and install utility services, particularly electricity. The Gozo Minister insisted the illegalities were necessary because “urgent works” were needed to improve the tourism product. Yet it seems the real reason was the provision of services to the kiosk owners that line the bay.
Cassola asked Hyzler to look into the fact that Camilleri commissioned works in a protected area without a permit, and that the minister lied when he said the “urgent works” were necessary to improve the tourism product.
The Shift is informed that the works will benefit the kiosk owners that line the bay during summer, selling food and drinks to tourists who visit the Blue Lagoon for the day. As a result of the work done, the kiosks – mostly owned by canvassers of Camilleri – would be able to get electricity from the grid.
In his letter to the Standards Commissioner, Cassola referred to the abuse of a direct order through which he engaged a top Labour Party official without a public call. This, Cassola added, showed nepotism.
The Ombudsman investigated the issue following public outrage and concluded that the long service culvert was illegal and in breach of planning laws. He recommended the issue of a stop notice and said the site be reinstated while the Planning Authority should impose fines in favour of a fund for Comino’s environment.
Featured photo credit: Friends of the Earth.
Problem, this is Mafialand, even if the commissioner finds him guilty of a plethora of crimes against ODZ rules, building illegalities etc, absolutely fuck all will happen, the report will be binned into the Castille complaint shitcan and forgotten about, meanwhile all the Gozo stall holders will get richer just like their Maltese Mafioso cousins.
We need ten more like this gentleman. Thank you Mr. Cassola.
Over the past couple of years Arnold Cassola has been doing the work of the opposition and holding the government to account.
In the meantime, the Nationalist Party, bar a few notable exceptions, has morphed into Labour 2.0.
How bleak our future is!
Yes, I quite agree. They’re very busy arguing among themselves instead of doing their parliamentary duty to the people of Malta.
Yet more blatant corruption and sleaze to destroy the last bastion of natural beauty.
Is Comino to become another Xlendi or Marsalforn despite the area being a protected Natura 2000 site? If this disputable rape of Comino is allowed to happen, it will pave the way for Comino to be as over-run with kiosks as Sliema is.
Where is the opposition, the PN should have been shouting from the rooftops even as this illegal works began?
The kiosk owners, canvassers of Camilleri would be able to get electricity from the public grid. His chosen few would benefit from this blatant land grab to provide them with electricity benefitting only them, imagine the filth and litter these kiosks will produce ending up in the sea. How long will the Blue Lagoon be crystal clear with all the kiosk pollution. Who will pay for the clean up of the area and the sea. Why should the public tolerate more sleaze and corruption to benefit these people?
But self-interest, nepotism, mafia style corruption and greed have become the contemptible and acceptable currency in today’s Malta.
I’d rather not have beach beds/umbrellas for hire or cold fizzy drinks & ice cream when I visit Comino (and take my own in a picnic cooler) because it was like the wild West the last time I was there. This yearly 3-4 month frenzy has to stop at some stage or other.
They do not know what is Shame. This happens always before elections. I assume that this corruption will end itself by means of law in futur. Inkella ser ikollna li l’injorant u l manigoldi jikmandaw pajjizna bi-rikatt tal-vot. Fin l’istess ghal nassaba li qatt ma jaraw il-kultura ta’ GEO fuq Rai 3