Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/644193
6 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2016 News Proposed Ghar Lapsi bar platform set for refusal JAMES DEBONO THE Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Planning Directorate is objecting to plans by Carmen's bar in Ghar Lapsi to cover a hole created by wave action on the Ghar Lapsi shore- line with a removable timber and steel platform to be erected in the summer months. The platform is being pro- posed by the bar owners to cre- ate a 65 square metre tables- and-chairs area on public land at Ghar Lapsi. According to the case officer, part of the area (25 square me- tres) has already been covered by a concrete platform: the case officer has insisted that this would amount to the "covering of a public open space" and take up part of a public beach. But despite objections by the Environment Protection Di- rectorate, the case officer has deemed acceptable plans for the change of use of the existing es- tablishment, where no cooking is allowed, to a full blown res- taurant and the sanctioning of works which included digging into the rocks near the bar. "The sanctioning of the inter- ventions in the rocks is not ac- ceptable. It is dubious whether the extent of development in the rocks is covered by the neces- sary permits," the EPD said. The EPD also expressed doubts on whether the bar itself is covered by a permit. Referring to the proposed sanctioning of facilities, the case officer report acknowledges that "sanctioning of a fait accompli would reward illegal develop- ment" but concludes that the site has already been "commit- ted for catering use instead of a boat house." The case officer was also fa- vourable to the placing of chairs and tables on a concrete plat- form adjacent to the establish- ment. The establishment operates legally through a police permit dating back to 1989. A trad- ing licence was issued in 2015. An enforcement order issued against unauthorised digging in the rocks issued in 1999 was "withdrawn" a year later. A per- mit for an underground cesspit was approved a year later despite a case officer report objecting to the permit. The establishment is described as a "shop" in the application for a cesspit. The bar owners want to erect a platform to cover a hole created by the elements and create space for their clients Busuttil won't give opinion on gay conversion therapy 'so as not to sway' his MPs TIM DIACONO OPPOSITION leader Simon Bu- suttil has refused to give his per- sonal opinion on a proposed law to criminalise gay conversion 'therapy', arguing that doing so would risk in- fluencing his parliamentary group's final stance. "While I have strong personal opinions on the topic, it would be unwise to go public with them be- fore the parliamentary group has discussed it," he told the press dur- ing a visit to the University. "I will not be like the Prime Minister and go public with my personal opinions on topics before the parliamentary group has had time to discuss them." He confirmed that the parliamen- tary group will meet today to discuss the Bill – that proposes fines up to €10,000 and a maximum year's im- prisonment for people carrying out conversion 'therapy', regardless of whether it is voluntary or otherwise. "The issue only arose two days ago and I'm not noticing much public anticipation for the PN's position," he said. "As is expected of a demo- cratic party, we will first discuss this topic internally and then make our stance public, perhaps even as early as tomorrow (this) evening." He also noted that the Bill hasn't even been tabled in Parliament, questioning how he is "expected to have an opinion on a Bill that has yet to be tabled". "When the issue arose, I indirect- ly obtained a copy of the Bill, but I would have expected the govern- ment to have first published the Bill and then awaited the Opposition's reaction." In a reaction, the Labour Party said Busuttil had shown his lack of lead- ership credentials by not answering on where he stands on gay conver- sion therapy. "His answer should be that these therapies are a no-brainer, but Bu- suttil cannot take a decision on one single issue, let alone on decisions that affect government," the PL said. "On the front of civil liberties, Bu- suttil has no credibility – even civil unions would not be legal were it for him. He has kept his mouth shut on gay conversion therapies for 10 weeks since the law was tabled and he is still running away from taking a position." The Church issued a position pa- per on Saturday, claiming that the proposed law would "affirm the su- perior status of homosexuals" and "make it a crime to assist paedo- philes whose condition is manifest- ed in same-sex behaviour". Prime Minister Joseph Muscat later hit out at the position paper, arguing that the belief that homo- sexuality is a curable illness betrays a "mentality from the dark ages".