Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1379276
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 JUNE 2021 NEWS THE Nationalist Party has reversed its decision to with- drawn the Lands Authority board and appointed Kristy Debono as its representative. By law, the Opposition has a right to nominate its representative to the board but in November 2019, its appointee, Ryan Callus, resigned. At the time, Callus cited lack of trust in then the Lands Authority CEO James Piscopo and claimed the authority was "captured by the state". The PN had also lamented that the board had its powers transferred to the CEO. Piscopo has since re- signed from the authority. In a statement on Tuesday, the PN said it had voted "with caution" in favour of John Vassallo's appoint- ment as authority chair when his nomination came before parliament's public appointments committee. "The Opposition voted in favour of the nomination to give government the opportunity to improve things at the authority… the Opposition's new representative on the board will be the voice to ensure that the CEO is divested of his powers and these are transferred back to the board," the PN said. The party added that given the authority has new people at its helm and board meetings are held behind closed doors, it felt it wise to be active again on the board. MP Kristy Debono, who shadows the economy and lands, will be taking up her seat on the board. PN reverses decision to withdraw from Lands Authority board, nominates Kristy Debono Kirsty Debono Prime Minister says little can be done to reverse development zones NICOLE MEILAK DESPITE holding reservations on the 2006 Local Plans, Prime Minister Robert Abela says that his government's hands are tied by these plans, and in turn cannot designate areas as outside-devel- opment zones (ODZ) at will. "We are in a situation where the government's hands are tied by the preceding government. If you were to ask me if I agree com- pletely with the Local Plans as they were designed in 2006, I would tell you no, I have many reservations," he said on Tuesday. Abela explained that the local plans established certain rights for land and property owners. If government were to change the local plan as it pleases, those rights already enjoyed by property own- ers would have to change from the bottom up. "The reality is that things don't work like that," he said. The Prime Minister's response was prompted by a question on the Qala mayor's recent appeal to designate Ħondoq ir-Rummien as an ODZ area. Paul Buttigieg, the mayor in question, noted how the Ħondoq's area status was changed in 2006 as a result of the local plans. It went from being an ODZ to a zone where tourist and marine-re- lated developments may be permitted. Adding insult to injury, a planning application submit- ted in 2002 would see part of the area turned into a luxury village, with a yacht marina and casinos. In an interview with The Malta Independent, Buttigieg revealed how the Prime Minister told him that he could put his mind at rest on the Ħon- doq issue, "but I will only put my mind at rest when it is turned back into an ODZ". Buttigieg added that while it was the Nationalist Party that changed the area's status, the Labour Party has meanwhile been in government for eight years, and has not changed its status back. Another issue worrying Qala and Nadur residents is that brought on by a business group registering vast swathes of land they claim is part of an ancient fief. When asked about this, Abela said that legal amendments will be adopted soon in order to address this issue. The Stagno Navarra family and their business associates regis- tered over 27,500 square metres of land in Gozo in the name of the Benefice of Sant' Antonio delli Navarra. Qala mayor Paul Buttigieg (inset) wants Hondoq ir-Rummien designated an ODZ area • Above: A 2002 application wanted to turn part of the area turned into a luxury village, with a yacht marina and casinos