Tista’ taqra dan l-artiklu bil-Malti
The Prime Minister has obtained a quick green light from the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to uproot up to 20 mature and indigenous trees from his newly-acquired Outside Development Zone property in Zejtun.
The obligatory environmental permit was part of Robert and Lydia Abela’s plan to raze the villa, located on two tumoli of land, that they acquired under dubious circumstances in 2017 for a bargain price of €600,000. The property is to be converted into a modern villa.
The Planning Authority, led by Abela’s hand-picked CEO Oliver Magro, had already approved the development plan and the ERA followed suit by approving the uprooting and transplanting of large mature trees in the lush garden and former animal quarters.
The villa’s grounds as they currently stand.
Work on the development, which will be led by veteran architect Ray Demicoli, has not yet started.
According to the planning permit, the Abelas will be demolishing the old villa, much of which was built illegally through a 1985 permit, and replacing it with a new large dwelling overlooking a garden and pool.
The three-storey ODZ building will consist of a basement, three bedrooms and a gym.
Robert Abela and his wife, both lawyers by profession, are known to have dealt in construction and development for several years while serving as legal advisors to the Planning Authority on a €17,000-a-month retainer.
They acquired the ODZ Zejtun property back in 2017 for the declared price of €600,000 even though the property’s estimated market price was over €2 million.
When questioned about whether he had declared the property’s true value in his tax declaration, Abela insisted that he had.
Around 20 indigenous trees will be uprooted and transplanted as part of the development.
The Shift, however, has revealed that the Inland Revenue Commissioner at the time, Marvin Gaerty, had not even sent assessors as per standard practice, and as required by law, to draw up an independent valuation for the newly-acquired property.
It later resulted through The Shift’s investigations that the Abelas signed the final contract just a few days after the Planning Authority agreed to sanction the former owners’ illegalities.
The villa’s grounds as they currently stand.
The Abelas have meanwhile also applied to transform a farmhouse in Xewkija, Gozo into a seven-bedroom ‘residence’. The Gozo project also involves an indoor pool and a spa.
According to his last declaration of assets, the Prime Minister is currently getting by on his salary alone and his wife did not declare any income.
Meanwhile the party Abela claims to love so much is falling apart at the seams, largely due to himself. Malta’s very own Donald T.
Ah, but Abela is desperately trying to keep his party glued together by papering over the cracks with children allowance and tax refund cheques.
Did the battle-cry “Business Friendly” mean ‘supporting businesses to encourage enterprise, economic growth and increased employment’ or just ‘being supported by friendly businessmen’?
Sometimes one wonders which – and not without reason.
In hindsight, it probably always meant just one thing: ‘Joseph Muscat friendly’. I don’t have to go into further details because the way Malta looks today is evidence enough for this. Malta’s decline in international reputation, whether it is in economy, finance and freedom of the media (see article regarding the world press freedom index), it is also a result of that.
Elsewhere, trees are being replanted. There are great mechanical aids for this. But Malta has so many trees….or??
Another example for the true meaning of ‘Project Green’ by the PL. This time with the projects for the private property of the leader of the PL and PM of Malta himself.
Lanqas il-liġi tal-ġungla m’għadha ssaltan! Inżilna livell agħar
It seems that our Part-Time Prime Minister is more pro-business other local entrapreneurs.
Who in the world would say NO to our Commandant, if appointed by the same Commandant?
Also, a question comes to mind, how will he and his better half finance these huge personal projects, based on his very average salary?
Being a socialist by saying so is rather confusing, when first-time buyers struggle to finance the modest purchase of their first flat, their residence.
It is surreal that several of his colleagues have built a strong asset base with their average salary and low loan repayments.
From it’s inception, the project is layered with sleaze; and who but Abela endorses the sleaze.
Where else can they put their trough? they would need to get rid of the spa and swimming pool if they kept the trees.
It is no wonder that Ian Borg, Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister, is so safe in his Ministerial and Parliamentary positions despite his illegal swimming pool in the front garden of his “matrimonial home” at Santa Katerina, Rabat Malta, which residence he built with a permit judged by the Office of the Ombudsman as the outcome of a “grave error.”
How can the PM exercise any authority at all on Malta’s Chief Ambassador when Abela has planning issues on his own property?
In the circumstances, Ian Borg is bigger than his party and than the country. Definitely bigger than his PM. He can afford to be treated differently than woman MP Rosianne Cutajar, who was bullied by the PM on the basis that “no one is bigger than the party.”
The situation has become desperate with crooks running the country connived with the Government.