Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/731331
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2016 17 at such a short distance from each other." Did you have any meetings with PM Joseph Muscat and opposition leader Simon Busuttil or political parties? "Definitely not, because first of all this is not how we operate and because the site has always been earmarked for development and the project is according to the law and policies. Do you need to meet political parties when you already know that what you are proposing is within the law and policy?" Let's face it, five towers were approved and granted to the same family at the same meeting, four in Imriehel granted to the Gasan and Tumas Groups and one in Sliema… Both groups are involved in the Electrogas project and this fuels a public perception of political leverage… "This is not a project of the Gasan Group. This is a project proposed by Townsquare Sliema Limited, which is not a subsidiary of the group. I cannot speak on be- half of the Gasan Group, which is involved in the other projects you mention." Both Mark Gasan and Joseph Gasan are directors in Townsquare Sliema Limited. JAG Limited, owned by Joseph Gasan, is a major shareholder… "JAG Limited is an equal share- holder with four other parties… How can one of several sharehold- ers be singled out as a major one? Unfortunately most of the oppo- sition to the project is based on misinformation and not facts and I want to speak about facts." But Joe Gasan himself presented the application himself… "Someone has to apply in his or her personal name – an applica- tion can never be made in a com- pany name but you cannot attack a project with misinformation and the project is not part of Gasan Group… I can have a discussion based on facts but I can't have a discussion when phrases like greed and sham are used. You had the lo- cal councils, NGOs and the media spinning stories" You single out the council, media and NGOs. But in this case you had the Environment and Resources Authority, which is against and is now presenting an appeal, and even PA Chairman Vince Cassar who voted against "The ERA chairman in his memo also said very clearly that he was attacking the policy not the pro- ject and that Townsquare's studies were done according to policy and certified by ERA." Were you surprised by the vote of Opposition representative Ryan Callus who voted against, unlike Joe Sammut who represented the government? "Ryan Callus had every right to vote against the project." You constantly insist that the project is completely in line with existing policies. But strong doubts have been expressed first by Carmel Cacopardo and then by PA chairman Vince Cassar that the project is not surrounded by streets on four sides as required by policy. "This is definitely not the case. Four streets do surround the de- velopment." But these do not presently exist and are being created as part of the development… "These are projected streets. In- stead of creating streets, which are open for traffic, we are project- ing pedestrianised streets. And to be correct, the PA chairman simply said that he had doubts on whether the project is surrounded by four streets… He did not vote against the project because of this but because he felt that it was a bit too high." Do you consider making any changes to the project? "Why should we at this stage? We have a permit now but we will be waiting for the outcome of the appeal." What will you give back to Sliema? "We are giving 7,300m2, an area as big as Independence Garden, as open space, 24 hours a day in the heart of Sliema… find me another area like this which is accessible to the public 24/7, during which people can walk, shop and have a coffee…" Interview Townsquare director JOHN SOLER defends Sliema's 38-storey tower, arguing that the alternatives are 24 separate apartment blocks. But what does he have to say to residents who will have to withstand five years of excavation and construction? PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION John Soler, 36, is one of the directors of Townsquare Ltd, a company which brings together members of the Ganado, Gasan, and Trapani Galea Feroil families, to develop a 38-storey high-rise buidling in the space that formerly occupied the Union Club.