Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/313770
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 18 MAY 2014 8 News JAMES DEBONO EXTENSIVE excavation works taking place right beneath the St Ju- lian's primary school during the past weeks were required because of a safety emergency, invoked by the de- veloper after the start of works. MaltaToday has confirmed that the developer of the new apartment complex being built in St Julian's, has taken a commitment to reinstate the school grounds affected by the excavations at his own expense. No works in this area immediately next to the school were envisioned in the original permit granted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority last year for the construc- tion of 25 apartments, a car park and a supermarket in the area be- tween the school and the St Julian's church. MEPA has yet to approve a Con- struction Management Plan that has been amended to include the exten- sive emergency works. Parents of children attending the school have complained to this newspaper about noise from the ongoing works during school hours. The works resulted in the closure of a parking area previously used by the school. The architect responsible for this project is also in direct commu- nication with the Foundation for Tomorrow Schools and the Lands Department, to ensure that no dam- age is done to the school during the works. A MEPA spokesperson described the extensive works next to the pri- mary school as "emergency works" which had to be carried out for safety reasons. The works were highlighted in an amendment to the Construction Management Plan recently pre- sented by the architect to MEPA, after being directed to do so by its enforcement directorate. The excavations below the school have resulted in the removal of a number of trees from the area. A MEPA spokesperson confirmed that no permit has been issued to the developer under the tree protection regulations to remove trees from the afforested area between the school playground and the main road. This is because the original per- mit only indicated the trees which where present within the application site. In fact, one of the conditions imposed on the developers was the compensatory planting of 75 trees to replace those uprooted on the appli- cation site. MEPA also had no prior knowl- edge that excavations had to take place outside the area covered by the permit. In fact works in the area be- tween the site and the school was not included in the original Construc- tion Management Plan. "Since these are emergency works, they are now forming part of the amended CMP, which has been referred to MEPA for approval," a MEPA spokesperson told MaltaTo- day. The project also envisions a "plan- ning gain" for the school. In fact one of the permit conditions stipulates that the developers will create a ver- tical pedestrian connection linking the school with lower Triq Mikielang Borg. Plans for this link have already been approved by MEPA. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt THE Nationalist Party is challeng- ing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to explain why his Justice Minister "lied" about an alleged ban on the publication of the Henley & Partners contract. The issue arose on Wednesday when government MPs objected to a request by the Opposition to have the parlia- mentary Public Accounts Committee discuss the contract between Individu- al Investor Programme concessionaires Henley & Partners and the govern- ment. Minister for Justice Owen Bonnici said there was a court decree banning the publication of the contract to pro- tect its commercially sensitive informa- tion. On Friday, the PN said it was not true that the court ordered a ban on the publication of the contract. "Both the Prime Minister and the Jus- tice Minister have remained silent after they have been caught out lying. If it has nothing to hide, the government must publish the contract immediately and stop trying to win time and wait until the elections are over," the PN said. It added that similarly, the govern- ment was trying to delay the publica- tion of the new power station agree- ment. "The Prime Minister's silence simply raises more questions and one should ask why he is protecting Henley & Part- ners. What is he trying to hide?" Henley were granted an exclusive con- cession to promote Malta's €650,000 passport sale, before the scheme was opened to various other financial and legal services practitioners. The Nationalist Party reiterated Henley will be making €200 million killing on passport sale. Objecting to the PN's request to pub- lish the contract during Wednesday's PAC sitting, Bonnici cited an ongo- ing court case by Arton Capital, which were rival bidders to Henley for the concession back in August 2013. Pushing for the publication of the con- tract, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi told the PAC the House of Representa- tives was sovereign and that MPs were not bound by a decree of the court. PAC chairman Tonio Fenech (PN) said that in the past the committee had also discussed sensitive contracts such as that with BWSC, the Danish supplier of the controversial diesel engine tur- bines for the Delimara power plant. But Bonnici insisted that the govern- ment, as party in the Arton Capital case, was bound by the court's ban on publication. While Azzopardi insisted that the government was adopting delaying tac- tics, Labour whip Carmelo Abela said the debate would be held "in due time" but the courts' decree could not be ig- nored. Fenech demanded that a ruling be sought from the Speaker of the House, but the justice minister insisted that the request be made only when the agenda items comes up. JURGEN BALZAN AND DANIEL MIZZI A week away from the European elections, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat once again made an em- phatic plea for Labour voters not to abstain from voting the Euro- pean elections. MaltaToday surveys (centre pages) show a higher rate of in- decision among Labour voters. Angling at undecided Labour vot- ers, Muscat yesterday said that PN leader Simon Busuttil and the Nationalist Party were a "good enough reason for the electorate to bring the vote to the Labour Party". "The only reason to vote is Si- mon Busuttil. Do you want to tell Simon Busuttil that he is right? By not voting, you would be convey- ing the message that Opposition is right, and that even though the PN hurt you in the past, it still warrants your support," Muscat told supporters in Gozo yesterday evening. Likewise, earlier yesterday morning PN leader Simon Busut- til called on voters to send Mus- cat's government a message on its first year in government. "Labour is in a panic," he said. "When I see government's ob- scene attacks and lies on the Opposition and my- self it means that the PN's message is getting through and our criti- cism is hitting home," Busuttil said in a lengthy interview on the party's radio station. Earlier this week, Bu- suttil filed a libel suit against Labour over the television ads claiming he benefit- ted from €1.5 million in direct or- ders because he was close to the Nationalist Party. The Opposition leader said that despite being elected on a platform of meritocracy and ac- countability, political and ethical standards had suffered an un- precedented dip since Labour was elected to office. "That's why we need to send a message that we're getting stronger because this country de- serves a government that upholds standards." Joseph Muscat yesterday said in Sannat that his government should be judged on merit and on its "achievements" during its first year – namely reductions in ener- gy tariffs, fuel prices, income tax, the introduction of free childcare, and the minimum wage top-up. "Labour will rewrite history again because it will be the first governing party to gain the ma- jority of votes in the European elections," Muscat said. In a clear jibe at Simon Busut- til, Muscat said the PN should understand citizens who have benefitted from energy tariff re- ductions and fuel price cuts, "not those who gained €1.5 million in contracts". On his part, Busuttil said that next week's European elections would decide which candidates "will defend the country's best interests in the European Parlia- ment". He also said that in the past year, the PN had been "a con- structive and effective opposition which influenced government's decisions," listing initiatives such as the parliamentary motion to block development beside the scheduled temples at Ta' Hagrat in Mgarr, and the Constitutional amendment to make any dis- crimination on the basis of sexual orientation unlawful. Safety invoked to justify excavations near St Julian's school 'Courts never ordered ban on publication of Henley contract' - PN Muscat warns voters against abstention, Busuttil says government needs 'yellow card' The developer of the new apartment complex in St Julian's has taken a commitment to reinstate the school grounds affected by the excavations at his own expense