Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1367395
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 MAY 2021 OPINION Standing up for Malta and its people (and mostly unobtrusive) il- legal structures retroactively sanctioned… you know: like they always do with all those mega-projects, owned by all those immensely powerful and wealthy businessmen? Well, I imagine you've all al- ready worked out where all this is heading. Just this week, we all got a sterling example of how the PA actually deals with the smaller, pettier offenders… that is to say, people who also built their developments with- out a valid permit; but who don't actually have access to a few million euros they can easi- ly afford to throw away. By now, enough has been said (and written) about the outra- geous double standards the PA applied, when coming down like a tonne of concrete on Ronnie Gauci: a pensioner, whose only 'crime' was to actually make a small corner of Għargħur just a little bit prettier to look at. And yes, he did so illegally: erecting random pillars of brick- and-concrete here and there, planting flower-beds, and even building a small fish-pond… all in an area of 'high scenic value'; and all without applying for a planning permit. But this time round: there was no offer of a retroactive sanc- tion, at ridiculously affordable prices. No surreptitious alter- ing of the Għargħur local plans, to facilitate the illegal develop- ment. No overturning of a pre- vious refusal, on the flimsiest of minor technicalities… No indeed. Ronnie Gauci made one crucial error in his calculations. He contented himself with 'stealing little'… instead of doing what all those greedy developers have so suc- cessfully done, for so long: and simply bought their permit over the counter (and with it, the en- tire Planning Authority itself, lock stock and two smokin' bar- rels…). So he had to be punished. And severely, too: he was threatened with a E50,000 fine – that's at least five times as much as was paid to regularise much larger, more horrendous illegalities – and forced to manually remove all those additions himself… which, to a man so clearly ded- icated to what was ultimately a 'Labour of Love', is probably a worse fate than prison anyway. But the best part of it all is the PA's stunning defence of its ac- tions. This, for instance, is an excerpt from a statement it is- sued on Friday: "The PA acted within its remit when deciding on structures erected on public land with- out permission. It is the duty of the PA to ensure control on unnecessary sprawl in pristine undeveloped areas. If develop- ment requires permission, the Authority is required to take action against development car- ried out without permission…" And… you know what? I'll think I'll just end there, on that note. (Honestly, though: what on earth could you possibly add to that?) ALMOST two years ago, when I announced my candidacy to contest the MEP Elections as part of the team put forward by the Labour Party, there was one key pledge that I made to all the voters and which I always intend to keep. As an MEP I will always seek to pro- mote Malta's interests and that of its people and always defend Malta's reputation, wher- ever the attacks come from. As the European Parliament is after all a political institution, made up of different political groups with different agendas, as well as interests tied to each individual country, you would expect to find those whose only interest is to tarnish Malta's reputation, because unlike their own country, Malta with a Labour govern- ment keeps pushing forward, earning more and more suc- cess, protecting its people and doing all the necessary re- forms required. Let us not forget that Malta currently has the only govern- ment which is part of the S&D political family which is in a majority and not in a coalition and that fact bothers the EPP intensely. What one would not expect is for fellow Maltese, those who should always work hand in hand with us to protect our reputa- tion be those at the forefront, lobbying to push forward this resolution to dam- age Malta's reputa- tion. Sadly, this is the position we find our- selves in, with Roberta Metsola, David Casa and Simon Busuttil doing their best to at- tack the government led by Robert Abela and at the same time not caring about the damage that it does to Malta. One must ask why you would push forward a resolution full of disinformation, unfounded allega- tions and that nowhere does it mention the significant reforms being made by the Mal- tese government. After all, these are reforms which have been needed for many years, not just the years under a Labour administration; but even when the PN had all the opportuni- ty to be ambitious, enact the changes that were needed. All PN governments failed to do so. Reforms are ongoing and although there is more to be done, those who are not biased against Malta can recognise that this is a reformist government and that is more than you can say for other governments in Europe who have serious allegations against them. Instead of focus- ing on governments in countries such as Poland and Hunga- ry who have serious questions to answer, Metsola and Casa prefer to talk against Malta instead of de- fending it. What happened to Daphne Caruana Galizia was a tragedy and the Maltese courts are in the process of seek- ing justice for her and her family, but it is becoming clear- er every day that it is not this justice that the EPP seek. If this was the case, then this resolution would never have come to be, allowing the Maltese courts the space to operate but the true aim is to build a narrative against Malta. Every single day, I seek to push forward legislation and ideas that will benefit the Maltese, seek op- portunities for those individuals and com- panies which need EU help, such as Malta's sustainable milk producers. Yet our efforts need to be split with the need to defend Malta's reputation and this is because of Metsola and Casa who should be on the side of Malta, but their aim is to always push their own agen- da forward. The pledge I made at the start of my jour- ney as an MEP will hold true, even if alone, even if I am a minority, I will always seek to stand up for Malta and its people. Alex Agius Saliba is a Labour MEP (S&D) Alex Agius Saliba Reforms are ongoing and although there is more to be done, those who are not biased against Malta can recognise that this is a reformist government and that is more than you can say for other governments in Europe who have serious allegations against them