Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/713415
4 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2016 News Golden Bay water park will take up 'negligible' space, Transport Malta insists TIM DIACONO TR ANSPORT Malta has played down environmental concerns about its proposed water fun park at Golden Bay, arguing that it will take up "negligible" sur- face area and will not spoil the view. "It's not like we're going to in- stall another Splash and Fun at Golden Bay," Transport Malta spokeperson Stanley Agius told MaltaToday. "It will be an in- f latable structure, perhaps with slides and trampolines, possi- bly even smaller than the one at Ghadira." The transport authority in May issued a tender for inf lat- able water parks at Golden Bay, the Bugibba perched beach, Paradise Bay, and Pretty Bay. TM said that its intention was to "regularise the operation of water parks, which so far were unregulated ". Offers were only received for the former two beaches, and TM confirmed that the tender was awarded to an English couple who it wasn't immediately able to identif y. The decision has been criti- cised harshly by the Heritage Parks Federation – a group of environmental NGOs that man- age the nearby Majjistral Nature and History Park. "The proposal is totally incom- patible with policies for marine protected areas and causes dam- age with anchorages to the sea- bed," the NGOs Nature Trust, Gaia Foundation and Din l-Art Helwa said in a statement. "It will take up almost 300 square metres of a restricted swimmers' zone and bring additional traffic to an already busy bay. "We augur that good sense will prevail to keep the rowdy and visually intrusive activity of a water fun park away from Gold- en Bay so as to permit high qual- ity enjoyment of the area and al- low nature to regenerate for its long term protection." Stanley Agius said that Trans- port Malta will discuss the is- sue with the eNGOs and when asked, said there was a chance that the entire water fun park project could be scrapped. However, he noted that no ob- jections were raised during the open tender period and insisted that such parks will not damage the environment. "The parks leave no permanent structures and can be easily dis- mantled. The park in Golden Bay would be sited at the fur- thest part from the beach, with- in the swimmer zone and would take up negligible surface area. A similar setup applies for all water parks." He added that Transport Malta has no plans to construct land- based structures on the popular beach. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Transport Malta played down environmental concerns of the proposed inflatable park at Golden Bay, but pledged to discuss issue with green NGOs PN demands Ronnie Pellegrini's head after controversial Facebook post MATTHEW AGIUS THE PN workers section has de- manded the dismissal of Ronnie Pellegrini, chief of staff to Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli, after Pellegrini posted a comment on Facebook in which he advocated preferential treat- ment for Labour Party support- ers at the workplace. Pellegrini, a former Lorry Sant acolyte, had reacted to a story published on inews.com report- ing that workers who were PL supporters were enjoying prefer- ential treatment at St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly. When he posted the story on Facebook, Pellegrini wrote "Hekk ghandu jkun" (That's how it should be). Yesterday afternoon the presi- dent of the PN workers section, Ivan Castillo, handed in a letter addressed to Dalli at her minis- try's offices in Valletta, calling for Pellegrini's removal from the position. "This comment is not one be- fitting a person occupying an office within the ministry re- sponsible for equality," the letter reads, going on to describe that Pellegrini's position as chief of staff was no longer tenable. However, in her reply to the PN, Dalli said her chief of staff 's comment was made in reference to the investigations initiated by the family affairs ministry over the alleged abuse. Pellegrini's appointment to the role had been mired in contro- versy from the start, with the minister initially saying that he was an official at the secretariat, before his appointment as chief of staff was confirmed through a Freedom of Information request. "I remind you that Mr Pel- legrini was a person of trust that you chose to fulfill the role and therefore is a person who re- f lects your own opinions," reads Castillo's letter, arguing that his dismissal was the only way for the minister to disassociate herself from the comments and condemn them. "If our demand is not met, we will have no choice but to as- sume that the minister who should be promoting equal- ity and unity, is instead sowing discrimination and disunity," Castillo told reporters. "Work- ers should support our call for equality." The PN workers section meets weekly with several sectors, he said. "They all say the same thing: that discrimination is alive and well." Soon after Labour's election to power in 2013, the PN took the government to task for appoint- ing Pellegrini as a director of the Malta Freeport Corporation. The opposition had com- plained that the appointment f lew in the face of promises that appointments would be made on the basis of merit. Ronnie Pellegrini Burglars return firearms stolen from Malta Enterprise chairman's home MIRIAM DALLI AN unknown robber, or rob- bers, had a change of heart after they burgled the private residence of Malta Enterprise non-executive chairman Wil- liam Wait – and surprised him by returning the stolen fire- arms. Police sources told Malta- Today that the burglary took place on Sunday, July 31 at Wait's private residence in Fgura. The burglars are believed to have ransacked two safes, making off with a number of firearms only to return them a few days later, leaving them outside the house. "I do confirm that my family was the victim of a recent burglary," Wait told MaltaToday when con- tacted. Asked to state the amount of valuables sto- len, Wait said the robbery was being investigated by the police. "This crime is the subject of an active police investiga- tion. As such, I believe it is not appropriate that I provide you with specific details since this could jeopardize the in- vestigation," he said. Asked whether the firearms had been registered, Wait replied: "You may wish to note that fire- arms, for which I hold valid li- cences, were stolen in the rob- bery and left outside our home some days later." Wait, who is the executive chairman of Projects Malta, was recently promoted to non- executive chairman of Malta Enterprise, having served as deputy chairman for the past three years. He currently holds the post of deputy chairman of ARMS Ltd as well, and served as chairperson of the Water Ser- vices Corporation. William Wait