Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1498223
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 APRIL 2023 8 INTERVIEW Raphael Vassallo rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt I represent the principles of Labour, Last Wednesday's court rul- ing was a resounding victory for the residents of Gzira (and common sense, in general). But the reasons given by Judge Mintoff, in overturning the earlier petrol station decision, were mostly 'technical' in na- ture: namely, that there was no prior consultation with the Gzira council. This suggests that the Lands Department could still forge ahead regard- less; this time, making sure that it 'ticks all the right boxes', as it were. Are you concerned, then, that this battle might not be over yet? I'm always concerned, to be honest. Because you just never know what's going to happen next. This whole issue had, after all, started behind my back. In fact, I only actually found about the plans [to relocate the Manoel Island petrol station to Gzira's only public garden], by a com- plete coincidence. From the very beginning, I had plans of my own to enlarge and renovate that garden... but when I went to the Planning Author- ity (over a completely unrelated issue, in July 2019), I found that the owner of the petrol station, and representatives of the Land Authority, happened to be there on the same day. They were already discussing the relocation plans, back then; and the discussions were already at an advanced stage. In fact, had I not been present, at the time – by pure coincidence – I would never have found about it at all, until it was too late. Because the 30-day limit for objections would have expired; and by then, it would have become a 'fait ac- complit'. That, basically, is how this whole thing started. So yes, I wouldn't be at all surprised, if the authorities try and do things behind our backs, once again. Having said this, though: I would VERY surprised, if the Lands Authority were insane enough to actually try to reacti- vate this application, after all the public backlash. It would, let's face it, be suicidal... But this, at the end of the day, was what this ruling was all about. Because, had it been oth- erwise – i.e., had things been done properly: with all the nec- essary consultation, and trans- parency – it would have been a very different story. In fact, one of the main aspects highlighted in the judges' ruling was that the authorities have to operate in full transparency. You cannot have a local council wast- ing all its energy, fighting against something that should never have been allowed to happen, in the first place... On the subject of 'backlash', though: not all of it was direct- ed at the Lands Authority. You yourself have received your fair share of hostile reactions: mostly emanating from sup- porters of your own party. How do you respond, for instance, to criticism that your actions are 'damaging the PL'? First of all: I couldn't really have acted otherwise, in this case. It was evident to everybody, from day one, that this 'project' was absolutely unacceptable, from any perspective you care to name. And I really mean 'every- body', by the way: we conducted an Environmental Impact As- sessment, for instance... and 82% of Gzira residents were opposed to it. 82%! Come on... that's not the sort of percentage that you can easily 'ignore': either as a mayor representing the local community; or – even less, I would say – as a government calling itself 'Socialist'. So, to answer your question more directly: if there are people out there, who think that I did all this to just 'damage the party'... I can assure them all, that: for one thing, it isn't true at all; and for another, the damage would have been much, MUCH worse, had this project gone ahead as orig- inally planned. How would you describe your relations with the Labour Par- ty, right now? To be honest, I don't know. Let's just say that there have been a lot of 'manoeuvres', within the party, that I felt uncomfortable with. But I'm the type of person who can put up with a lot. I cal- culate my actions; you won't see me 'throwing any tanrtrums', or 'losing my temper', or anything like that. But at a certain point, it was all getting too much. When you have certain councillors, from your own party, conspiring with others to make life difficult for you... or constantly raising trivi- al issues, just to keep 'annoying you', or 'distracting you' from the really important issues... it becomes painstakingly clear that you no longer enjoy the backing of that party. Unfortunately, that's what pol- itics in Malta is like, at the end of the day. When others see someone who is trying to 'do the right thing'... they always try to stop him. In my case, however, it didn't work... There was more to it than just 'Labour councillors in Gzira', though. The lawyer repre- senting the Lands Authority, in this case, just happened to be Ramona Attard: the Pres- ident of the Labour Party, no less. Given that you accused her (and the PL, in general) of 'betraying the principles of So- cialism': wouldn't you say that you've burnt your last bridges with Labour, now? As regards Ramona Attard; let's just say that I never had any rap- port with her before – we never actually met, that I recall; and I only ever knew her through her public role, as PL President – and, even less, do we have any rapport today. So there was cer- tainly nothing 'personal', in what I said about her. But I felt I had to say it all the same, because... you cannot have things like this. You cannot have the President of a party which, on one level, 'evangelises' about Socialism; then, on another lev- el, practises the very opposite of what it preaches. Now: just to be clear, my issue was not with fact that Ramona Attard – or anyone else – was a 'lawyer representing the Lands Gzira mayor CONRAD BORG MANCHE has good reason to celebrate his court victory, to save the only public garden in his locality: but the battle to save the rest of Gzira, has yet to begin