Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/720024
25 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST 2016 Opinion built illegally, we are suddenly told that law enforcement can only ever truly work in the realm of fantasy. What does this actually mean? To me, it means that the 'real world ' is a place where laws are only enforced when it's not too much of a hassle for the authorities concerned. So little, sporadic isolated irregularities here and there… those generally get the book thrown at them. Great big sprawling illegalities covering large portions of the island, on the other hand – 75% of all Malta's built environment, if Schembri 's example was meant literally – are routinely given the chance to 'regularise' themselves against payment… which also means the authority that is meant to stop such abuse from taking place, is actually encouraging it. That brings us to the other f ly in the 'forgiveness' ointment. When people tell you that forgiveness is beneficial… well, they are not exactly lying; but they are not telling you the whole truth either. The person who most benefits from forgiveness is clearly the one who forgives: more even than the forgiven, who generally comes away with the idea that it's Ok to do the same thing again… and again and again (wasn't it Christ himself who set a limit of 'seven times seventy' for the number of times we should be ready to forgive? Has anyone stopped to consider the possible consequences if we all actually followed that advice…?) But forgiveness can have very serious consequences for third parties. That includes all those who may fall victim to the same crime committed by the person who was so liberally forgiven… and who was therefore led to believe that his or her actions will never entail any real consequences. Who, then, are the victims of the 'real world ' scenario depicted by Deborah Schembri? For starters, they include the ones who have to put up with the consequences of this government's short- term (myopic, even) attitude towards environmental justice. The ones who actually care about the rule of law, and who argue that the greater the infringement, the more urgently the law should be enforced (in other words, the clean opposite of the present government's official planning policy… which is to simply throw in the towel at the first major obstacle). Besides: this amnesty did not come about in a vacuum. It must be viewed against the backdrop of three years' worth of erosion of all other planning laws and institutions. The same government which now offers blanket forgiveness to those who can afford it – an entirely 'Socialist' way of doing things, by the way, as I'm sure you'll all agree – has also just revised policies to permit ODZ reconstruction of 'former dwellings'… clearing the way for old countryside ruins to be converted into ODZ villas. It has also divested the Planning Authority of any responsibility towards the environment… a responsibility which now falls to an 'Environment and Resources Authority' that proved 'missing in action' at its first major engagement. If that were not enough, the government is now even considering connecting illegal boathouses in Gnejna (Armier having already been sanctioned by the previous government) to the electricity grid… which is just another way of sanctioning illegalities, even in the absence of an amnesty. What, then, is the message the present government is sending out with regard to illegal development in Malta? According to Deborah Schembri, it is that: 'nobody should plan on building illegally in the hopes of regularising under a similar scheme'. I would say it's the complete reverse, actually. 'Planning on building illegally? Well, go right ahead. Everyone else got away it in the past, why shouldn't you? Oh, and don't worry about all the conditions specified by your PA permit. That's just for show. Build whatever the heck you like… but just make sure you put a little something extra aside, in case you need to buy your way out of enforcement someday…' But not to worry, folks! We're a Christian country, remember? Everything will be forgiven and forgotten in due course, as has always been the case in the past. Which also means that the only ones who will truly benefit are the 'forgivers' and the 'forgiven'. As for the rest of us out here… the real victims of this travesty of justice… well, we don't actually count, do we? When the law is broken in sufficient numbers, hey presto! Suddenly, a law that was enforced with impunity until yesterday, is simply waived aside altogether Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti 2016 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN The Competition recognizes: Innovative Crafts Products Crafts Initiatives Organisations which increase Inclusiveness and Integration through Crafts Crafts Persons who showed Committment to Crafts Prize Fund: €47,000 More information on: www.maltacrafts.gov.mt tel: 25690310/329 Applications close on Friday 30 th September 2016 (noon) www.maltacrafts.gov.mt Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat Malti 2016