Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500237
land reclamation projects but there should be an effort to re- duce it and reuse it wisely. Mark Sultana, the CEO of BirdLife Malta said that he was emotional and angry before the protest, but thanked the protestors for filling him with hope. He critiqued the recent legal notice, that proposes the reg- ularisation of properties that are partially outside the devel- opment zones, which he said asked developers to pay a few thousands to get pardoned for their "mistake". "This is a pardon for the friends of friends of friends, that are not my friends or your friends "The main issue is that the main parties are financed by developers, who think of dona- tions as an investment," Sultana said. He did not mince his words on president of the Malta Develop- ers Association, Michael Stivala, for his accusation that environ- mental NGOs were in the pock- ets of big business. The protestors were eager to boo Stivala, as soon his name was mentioned by Sultana. "In my 50 years of life, I have never seen these crowds and NGOs so united for a common cause […] We are here to re- mind politicians that they are there to serve us," Sultana said. The Labour Mayor of Gżira Conrad Borg Manché was also impressed with the turnout and said that this showed that the Maltese were truly "fed up". He said that he attended the protest as a citizen and a father of two children, and called for political maturity that fought for the common good. "Aren't we mature enough now to correct the wrong that had been done when redesign- ing the local plans in 2006?" Borg Mache asked. Fresh from the legal battle win to block the Lands Authority's decision to relocate a petrol sta- tion in Gżira's public garden, the mayor said that the original decision had not safeguarded the common good. He called out the CEO of the Planning Authority (Oliver Ma- gro) for ignoring his message, when he asked for a follow up on this ruling. "We need a master plan for the whole country that includes all local councils. We are the ones that have the best interest of our localities at heart. I would have loved to see more mayors attending this protest, as I know they are hurting as well," Borg Manche said. 15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 MAY 2023 NEWS Thousands call for planning reforms PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI / MEDIATODAY