Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1287818
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWS Yachting Malta is issuing a call for Expression of Interest for Fair and Show Contractors interested in offering their services for the Malta Boat Show, which is being held between the 4th and the 8th November 2020. Businesses operating in the Fairs sector including, but not limited to Tent and Stand Suppliers, Lighting and Sound contractors, Ticketing and Printing contractors, Event Health and Safety consultants, Prefabricated offices, Mobile Toilets suppliers, Security Services companies and other related services interested in offering their services to the Malta Boat Show are to contact Yachting Malta on gm@yachtingmalta.org by not later than Friday 18th September 2020,for a Terms of Reference document and Bid Form. Expression of Interest Yachting Malta Ltd, c/o Royal Malta Yacht Club, Ix-Xatt ta' Ta'Xbiex gm@yachtingmalta.org +356 9982 3780 www.yachtingmalta.org the identity of these two separate historic localities and should be retained as such." But reacting on Facebook to re- ports on the illegal development, owner Keith Balzan Gera claims that he had bought the field for former racehorses slated for culling, and that he had spent thousands of euros to clear the field from debris. He also claims that stones de- posited on site were meant to be used in the construction of a small boundary wall left on site after the Planning Authority in- tervened to stop the works. "Just because a couple of wank- ers kept reporting me… I had to stop and the place is a mess not thanks to me but thanks to who- ever reported me," he claimed on Facebook. This is not the only application threatening the Għeriexem val- ley. Works on the widening of the existing road to accommo- date a promenade are currently underway after a permit was is- sued despite strong objections by the Environment and Re- sources Authority. The promenade will lead to the uprooting of 16 trees. The valley has the largest fig trees in the Maltese islands. The works will also overlap with an area rich in water-associated plants, which are a result of the outflow of water from the Għeriexem freshwater spring, found directly opposite to this area. Another application, presented by Alan Pace, foresees the demo- lition of an existing farmhouse to replace it with a 120sq.m dwell- ing with a swimming pool and rubble wall to border the site. The ERA has warned that the construction of a new, modern dwelling with a pool and park- ing space will result in an ad- verse impact on the character and environmental quality of the immediate rural scenery. "Ap- proval of this application would lead to urbanization and formal- ization of this area ODZ, thereby contributing to the overall en- vironmental degradation of the wider rural character." The 1968 survey sheets show that the only structure present on site back then was a 43sq.m water reservoir which is now disused. Subsequently a building was added to the reservoir. The Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage is also objecting to the application, noting with concern the intensification of development inside a relatively pristine cultural landscape. "The proposed development is incon- gruous with the existing context and cannot be favourably con- sidered from a cultural heritage point of view." jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES BIANCHI MATTHEW AGIUS JOURNALIST Manuel De- lia filed a Constitutional case against the home affairs minis- ter over restrictions imposed in a recent visit to the Corradino Correctional Facility. Delia claimed that he had made eight formal requests to access the prison and detention cen- tres to investigate and report on the veracity of claims of illegal behaviour, torture and inhu- man and degrading treatment of prisoners and detainees. Despite these requests, access was not given, he said. He filed further requests after it became known that a Borm- la resident turned social media influencer, known colloquially as "Terry ta' Bormla", had suc- cessfully applied for access to visit the prison in a press capac- ity and had published posts on social media about it in August 2020. Delia complained that the re- strictions imposed on his visit went beyond the reasonable pa- rameters indicated in the access protocols. He was not given the opportunity to investigate alle- gations of overcrowding in cells, living conditions, access to hy- giene and other factors, he said, adding that he was not allowed access to certain divisions. At no point was he allowed to serve his role as a public watch- dog on the situation in prison, argued the lawyers. This control over the flow of information was depriving the public from objec- tive and balanced reporting on the conditions and treatment of detained immigrants and pris- oners and had a chilling effect on independent investigation. Delia's lawyers asked the court to declare that the actions of the defendants breached the fundamental right of freedom of expression and to order that he be given access to interview prisoners and detainees with the aim of finding the truth about the allegations, under the condi- tions which the court saw fit to impose. EDITORIAL MT2 Constitutional case filed over restrictions on Corradino prison press access