Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1490819
TRUTH IS OF NO COLOUR WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY • 22 JANUARY 2023 • ISSUE 1212 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday → direct discretionary portfolio management and receive a top-up of up to €200* Apply now PAGE 3 PAGE 3 Ten years on, no justice has been served on the Enemalta oil scandal PAGES 14-15 ENEMALTA OIL SCANDAL €1.95 Superboss capture is historic for Italy, but not the end of the Mafia... PAGES 8-9 End of an era? DARREN CARABOTT MATTHEW VELLA A parliamentary group meeting of the National- ist Party in Pietà saw party heavyweights and shadow ministers openly question Bernard Grech's dimin- ished presence as a leader. The air inside the PN just a year off the 2024 European and local coun- cil elections is yet again that of resignation, as the party seems to be inactive on various fronts, save for the unity it has garnered on opposition to Labour's amendments to the Crim- inal Code on Malta's abor- tion ban. On Tuesday last week, Bernard Grech's request to his leading MPs and shad- ow ministers to present him with working plans for the issues they will be following up in 2023, was met with questions from the parliamentary group about his role in shaping the political agenda. Voices such as those of Beppe Fenech Adami, the new heavyweight Joe Giglio, and newcomer Darren Carabott, asked Grech that it was not enough for them to have a plan of action. "He was told, 'we need sound and determined leadership'," one PN source told Malt- aToday about the meeting. Bernard Grech quizzed by PN heavyweights over 'weak leadership' MATTHEW VELLA GOZO'S association of tour- ism operators has reiterated its stand in favour of the extension of the helipad at Ta' Lambert into an airstrip, and likened the project to tax-funded projects delivering public services such as the Gozo Channel, the fast ferry or even basic roadworks. The GTA was reacting to a statement from former La- bour prime minister and MEP Alfred Sant, who poured cold water over the government's plans to extend the airstrip for a fixed-wing service to the is- land. 'Unprofitable' Gozo air service could be tax- funded - GTA Lingering cough and cold? Higher amounts of respiratory virus cases when compared to pre-COVID years BACK PAGE GTA takes exception at strong statement from former Labour PM Alfred Sant on 'bound-to-fail' service PN's young MP PAC chair is a straight-talker INTERVIEW MT2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 JANUARY 2023 COMMENT The big fish and the small fry JOSANNE CASSAR PAGE 6 The Skinny Malta, shrunk down MICHAEL FALZON Bedknobs and broomsticks PAGE 7 SAVIOUR BALZAN We can do something about our leniency on excess PAGE 5 EDITORIAL The wheels of justice turn too slowly PAGE 2 RAPHAEL VASSALLO It's not just the Gozo airport that's 'destined to fail'… PAGE 6 Each time we hear of another life being snatched away, more broken- hearted, inconsolable relatives, followed by stream of RIPs. What are we skinning? The Hili Group insisting on going forward with its Comino hotel and bunga- lows proposal, despite vociferous objections by both a former La- bour grandee and current MEP, as well as thousands of objectors from among the public at large. Why are we skinning it? Because it's further proof of the impunity that reigns within the construction and development sector. It's not really impunity though, is it? They haven't committed any crimes... I would come close to calling this something resembling a pre-meditated clear intention to commit said crime, actually. But there was a hotel on Comino up until not too long ago... and Hili and co. have now promised they will take up even less land than what that structure took up. That all sounds fine and dandy on paper, but we know the footprint is the least of it. How do you mean? Will nothing at all satisfy you? My chronic dissatisfaction is a topic for my therapist, but I do appreciate your concern. As to your first question... like a perverse take on criminal law, crony-capitalist land use in Malta is all about setting a precedent. Ergo? The hotel's footprint may be ostensibly 'reduced', but once you allow that kind of development on Comino, it's difficult to put prospect of yet another looming economic crisis. Resistance has to count for something, though. Look at how Hili have already been cowed into reducing the foot- print... Unless that was the plan all along... Very cynical of you. Can you blame me for being cynical, though? This is what the regime has led to: an utter distrust in the system, and an inculcated belief that the construction lobby will always have the upper hand. Maybe when the Tourism Minis- ter said the deckchairs issue would be resolved by next sum- mer, this is what he meant. Fair assumption, though somehow I can't bring myself to credit Clay- ton Bartolo with the necessary dollop of Machiavellian brain power required to set such an ingenious plan in motion. Here's to building up our energies for the 'no apartments on Filfla' battle. That'll be a fun one. Or at least, an inevitable one, at this rate. Do say: "No amount of suppos- edly 'sustainable' development on sensitive natural sites can be taken in good faith, at this point. The construction and development industry has a lot of explaining to do, and it needs to start with reparations sooner rather than later." Don't say: "Why would any killjoys oppose such a project? I make minimum wage, but my happens to be observing make money their No. 175 - Coming for Comino maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 JANUARY 2023 CLASSIFIEDS & COMMERCIALS ARTS • TV • WHAT'S ON Lupu/Nagħġa cast on Simone Spiteri's latest show PHOTO JAMES BIANCHI maltatoday Get the critical perspective on politics, culture and society Be the first to enjoy our print newspaper with a subscription When you need to decode what politicians are saying, when you want to understand why Malta's crazy construction industry is impacting upon your life, when you need to step out of the social media and understand the world from a different perspective, our journalists and columnists will provide you with expert reporting, analysis and commentary. Order now at maltatoday.uberflip.com