Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1192401
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 DECEMBER 2019 NEWS No 14. President's Republic Day Speech What are we skinning? President George Vella's Republic Day speech. Why are we skinning it? The island is experiencing some of its most politically turbulent moments in recent memory, and a speech by the President tends to be an important snapshot of where we stand, politically... or at least, rhetorically. So you're saying it's just empty talk? No, not exactly. It is talk - that's what a speech is, at its crudest - but a speech by the nation's President on such an austere event could go either way. Which way do you think it went, then? I think Vella struck the right balance between sombre and hopeful. It was a responsible speech that did not shy away from the realities we are now facing, while also retaining an air of seriousness about the way ahead. The English-language bit was a nice touch, I felt... Yes, and it's one of the many points in which his experience in foreign affairs came to the fore. Acknowledging that the world is watching and sending out a reassurance that we are doing the best we can to address the issues that have tarnished Malta's name internationally was certainly another step in the right direction. Agreed for the most part, though if I hear the word 'serenity' one more time... You're right, that did nudge at the old gag-reflex for me too. But neither can we expect a president's speech to please everyone, all the time. Especially in a tribally-divided island like Malta. Especially at this point in our history. But do we really need a barrage of cliches at this point in time? Isn't it better to advocate for action instead of bandying feel-good words around? Look, I agree with you, but the President's words can give us a good starting point. Let's absorb them, and continue to hold those responsible with the well-being of our nation to account, because we may just have allowed ourselves to slack on this count over the past few years. Fair enough. Also, the reference to a 'gang' that tarnished Malta was pretty badass. Do say: "Agree or disagree with some or all of the content behind President Vella's Republic Day speech, it's hard to deny that it does strike an apposite note in this time of crisis. It now falls to both politicians and citizens to ensure that all the promises therein are adequately followed up on and addressed." Don't say: "I really liked the speech, though the Prez saying he has limited powers made me a bit sad. Can't we just make him dictator and sort this mess out before NYE?!" The Skinny Malta, shrunk down JAMES DEBONO CONCERNS on overdevelop- ment at Birzebbugia's Ghir- ghien area is mounting over a 150-apartment development whose planning application is being split in four. Residents who spoke to Mal- taToday said the applications by two commercial groups for seven to eight-storey-high blocks were presented on four adjacent plots occupying 4,842sq.m of land along Triq il-Barrieri, on which over 150 apartments are planned. A development brief issued 10 years ago was meant to en- sure the comprehensive devel- opment in the area of il-Ghir- ghien in Birzebbugia. Three adjacent applica- tions presented over the past months are proposing 126 new dwellings. These have now been joined by a fourth appli- cation in which the number of apartments is not yet speci- fied. Birzebbugia residents are increas- ingly concerned about traffic problems and infrastructural pressures, aggravated by the fact that the applications are not being assessed holistically. Residents fear that by splitting the development in separate applications, developers are trying to avoid environment impact studies. The development brief limits development to four storeys and a semi-basement but the 2015 development guidelines translate this height into 22 metres, in which developers are now fitting eight levels. The latest application pre- sented a few days ago by devel- oper Anton Camilleri envis- ages an unspecified number of basement garages and overly- ing apartments and penthous- es with a "height limitation of 22m" on a 1,317sq.m plot. Another adjacent applica- tion presented by Adelberth Camilleri – a partner of Anton Camilleri in Garnet Holdings – envisages the construction of 33 lock-up basement garag- es and nine overlying maison- ettes, 45 apartments and eight penthouses on a 2,302sq.m plot. Paul Attard of GAP Holdings has also applied to construct 35 lock-up garages, 34 dwell- ing units and five penthouses on a 780sq.m plot. Another application presented by Ray Grixti, a partner of Attard in Tigné Developments, envisag- es 10 lock-up garages, 22 units and three receded units on a 443sq.m plot. The Birzebbugia local coun- cil has already objected to the application presented by At- tard and Grixti, calling on the PA to assess the applications together. Noting that the ap- plications are complimentary and had been presented by the same architect, the council is insisting on a holistic Environ- ment Impact Assessment for development in this area. The case is reminiscent of piecemeal applications pre- sented by GAP in Luqa which was eyeing a green area inside Luqa's development zones. NGOs had objected at what they saw as an attempt to evade a holistic environment impact assessment but the de- velopment was still approved. The area in question is highly disturbed but also includes a number of almond, pomegran- ate and prune trees. The Ghirghien brief ap- proved in 2010 specified that 20% of the area should be kept as open space if the area is de- veloped in a comprehensive way. But the same development brief includes a loophole al- lowing developers to pay an open space contribution if they apply through separate applications. The brief also sets a height limitation of four floors and semi-basement if the area is developed comprehensively and of three floors and semi- basement if the area is not de- veloped comprehensively. Birzebbugia residents outraged at ruse to avoid impact studies