Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1091272
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION S2 MALTA has failed when it comes to forward develop- ment planning, and now needs to concentrate more on having a strategy in place for the sector, the construction lobby's chief said. The recent Annual General Meeting of the Malta Devel- opers' Association focused on the success registered by the industry locally. Association president San- dro Chetcuti conceded that development planning, had, since the British left the is- land, been piecemeal in na- ture. He insisted that a sound and practical strategy was long overdue. "We now cannot afford to turn all of Malta into a Bu- gibba and Qawra," Chetucti said. "I do not have anything against these localities but it is important that we maintain and save certain townscapes without denying anyone their rights." The MDA, Chetcuti said, had managed to transform the construction industry, taking it from a recession to the "biggest boom the coun- try has seen" since the Second World War. He said he agreed that the economy didn't have a "pause button" – something which the Prime Minister has previ- ously made reference to – and that stopping now would lead to economic regression. Touching on the issue of competition from foreign de- velopers, Chetcuti said that local entrepreneurs in the sec- tor weren't afraid of compet- ing, but it had to be ensured that there was a level playing field for both the Maltese and foreigners. He also lamented, however, that developers were coming across excessive bureaucracy which was holding the sector back. Relevant authorities needed to be more efficient in or- der to keep up with the rhythm and demands of the industry. The Malta Developers Association: from representing its 58 founding members in 2010 to becoming one of the biggest associations in Malta today "We cannot afford to turn all of Malta into a Bugibba and Qawra" - Sandro Chetcuti "Bureaucracy is increasing every day. Entrepreneurs in the sector are complaining of unnecessary problems at the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, for instance – the system there has collapsed, as it can't keep up with the volume of work and often results in increased costs for the consumer.out monitoring. We need a self-regulating mentality." Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (left) and Opposition leader Adrian Delia (above) addressed the AGM "Local entrepreneurs in our sector aren't afraid of competing, but it has to be ensured that there is a level playing field for both the Maltese and foreigners" A story of hard work and success