Sliding doors and the disaster at Mistra

It is easy to see why. The original outline development permit suggested a total of more than 900 residential units: given the infrastructural demands of such a large project on the immediate surroundings - traffic, pakring, air pollution, etc. - this would be considered problematic anywhere on the island. In the relatively unspoilt environs of St Paul's Bay, it is little short of an environmental disaster in the making.

Bearing in mind also that the proposal came so soon after national protests against the extension of the development zones in 2005 - protests which were supported by the Labour opposition, lest we forget - the Mistra project came to represent the sort of environmental disregard many had come to associate with the previous PN administration.

But this is only half the story behind the controversy at the time.

Xemxija Heights was a joint project between a Kuwaiti company and the infamous Montebello brothers: very well-known canvassers of former finance minister Tonio Fenech, who had overstretched themselves and faced massive financial problems. 

It was only a call-in by the Bawag Bank for €41 million that slowed the project. 

The Montebello brothers originally rose to notoriety after their involvement in the renovation of the private residence of Tonio Fenech in Balzan: an episode allegedly linked to a change in use of the Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala - a change of use deemed crucial to its sale.

The Montebello brothers faced various media probes over their lobbying in the case of the Jerma Palace Hotel; and they also faced criminal charges over corruption involving the private secretary of the same minister whose home they had renovated "bi pjacir" ("as a favour").

At the time the outline development permit was issued for Xemxija Heights, the Transport Authority had objected to the project, basing its objections on the serious traffic congestion if such a development were to go ahead.

Today, with the Montebello's political controversies out of the way - and Transport Malta's objection mysteriously lifted - MEPA has sanctioned a massive project of over 700 units, albeit reduced from 900.

Observers will surely have been struck by the ensuing reversal of roles between the Nationalist and Labour Parties.

In the debate at MEPA, the whole episode was reduced to a rubber-stamping exercise, where the NGO's considerations could not be taken into account: just as used to be the case under the PN... with Labour echoing public complaints.

More significantly, the Nationalist representative Ryan Callus seemed to modify the previous position held by the PN, and now called for a reduction in the number of units.

Why the former PN representative Joe Falzon had not voiced such a similar opinion five years beforehand is of course strange.

All this did not alter the position at MEPA and last Thursday, the development permit went ahead. 

Ironically, the decision was lauded by lawyer Anne Fenech, who represents the Kuwaitis. Yet again she had no qualms in stating her position, in spite of the fact that she is the PN's current executive president (as such, her opinion could have embarrassed Ryan Callus).

But the decision-making process cannot be blamed solely on the Nationalist administration or party, even if both have shown great inconsistencies. Today, all blame lies squarely on the shoulders of MEPA, which is primarily dominated by the government of the day.

That government is now occupied by the labour Party, which once protested at overdevelopment, but now, from its position in government, has embraced development almost as an end in itself, irrespective of the long-term repercussions.

The onus of this decision lies on the new MEPA board, which is clearly pursuing a direction which is pro-development.

The most worrying aspect to all this remains the one originally flagged by the Transport Authority: i.e., the underlying traffic problem, which will definitely lead to more pressure to extend the road system in the north of the Island.

Extending the road-system will further eat into the countryside and open up the countryside to more development.

Once again, we are faced with yet another onslaught on the environment by a government with little or no consideration for the long-term environmental and social considerations linked to rampant development.