Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/758493
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2016 4 News TIM DIACONO PACEVILLE several strip clubs jar with the country's efforts to give women dignity and respect, as well as with the government's attempt to brand the zone as a high-quality area, the Church's Environment Commission (KA) has claimed. "Browsing through in-flight mag- azines on flights to Malta some- times gives one the impression that Paceville is a red-light district and not an entertainment area for all," the KA said in an opinion pa- per on the controversial Paceville masterplan that is currently open to public consultation. "In view of the non-compatibility of the tar- geted branding and current use, the KA recommends that the mas- terplan revisits the current uses of commercial establishments in the area." The masterplan envisages nine high-rise developments in Pace- ville, including on the current ITS, Corinthia and Villa Rosa sites. A 40-story tower proposed on the Mercury House site in the centre of Paceville will become Malta's tallest skyscraper. However, the masterplan – draft- ed for the Planning Authority by consultants Mott MacDonald and Broadway Maylan – has attracted harsh criticism, largely due to its proposed expropriations of houses and businesses, coastside develop- ment, land reclamation by Porto- maso, and lack of impact assess- ments. 'Time to challenge model that puts profit before common good' The Church's Commission pulled no punches in lambasting the mas- terplan as one intended to boost the profits of a group of developers. "Brushing aside the buzz words, such as 'sustainable economic growth', and seeing beyond the smokescreens of colourful artis- tic impressions, one can clearly see that the masterplan's target is once again motivated by unbridled development aimed at maximising economic gain over and above the wellbeing of residents and the gen- eral population." It accused administrations past and present of "plaguing Malta with the praxis of putting econom- ic interests above all other consid- erations and guising them as pro- jects of national importance". "In reality, most of these pro- jects benefit a handful of 'patrons' while short-changing the common citizen whose voice rarely makes it to the corridors of power," the KA said. "These projects are usually proposed as fait accompli, and any public consultation is used as an attempt to 'smoothen' the negative impacts of the project rather than to seriously consider its viability. "We have an opportunity [by re- vising the Paceville masterplan] to challenge the predominant model of development and wealth that puts profit before any considera- tion of the common good and the wellbeing of communities and their surroundings." The KA warned that land recla- mation, that has been earmarked for the Dragonara coastline, will both damage the rich marine bio- diversity in the area and go against a law prohibiting coastline devel- opment that was passed in Parlia- ment earlier this year. It called on the Planning Author- ity to seriously consider the con- cerns of the communities and local councils of Paceville, St Julian's, Swieqi and Pembroke, and to reply back in detail to their submissions to the public consultation. It also called on the government to come clean on who will be fork- ing the costs of implementing the masterplan, and proposed that the developers who will benefit from it pool money into a fund that will upgrade the infrastructure and pay for any expropriations. "One expects that the develop- ments that will benefit from such a masterplan should contribute to a fund that will upgrade the infra- structure and pay for expropria- tions that will ultimately benefit such developments," it said. tdiacono@mediatoday.com.mt Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund CALL for PROPOSALS Pre-announcement for calls for project proposals under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund 2014 - 2020 As the Responsible Authority for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Funds and Programmes Division (MEAIM) would like to pre-announce the launching of the sixth call for project proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund in 1 st Quarter 2017. The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014 – 2020 promotes the efficient management of migration flows as well as the implementation, strengthening and development of a common Union approach to asylum and immigration. The calls for project proposals will target the National Objective for Asylum and Reception, which focuses on the renovation of open centres and the integration of asylum seekers. The Call will also target the National Objective for Integration, aimed at providing the necessary linguistic ability and cultural awareness to Third Country Nationals in order to ameliorate their integration in our society and will also cover Cooperation measures with third countries vis-à-vis return management as part of the National Objective for Return Measures. A total of €2,000,000.00 in EU Funds will be made available. The Responsible Authority reserves the right to revise the allocation according to the needs identified. Further information can be viewed on the website of the Funds & Programmes Division: https://eufunds.gov.mt/en/EU%20Funds%20Programmes/Migration%20Funds/Pages/News-and-Events.aspx Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Co-financing rate: 75% EU Fund; 25% Beneficiary's Funds Sustainable Mangement of Migration Flows Church takes aim at strip clubs, calls for ban in harsh critique of Paceville masterplan 'Browsing through in- flight magazines on flights to Malta gives the impression that Paceville is a red-light district' – Church's Environment Commission The Church said the existence of several gentlemen's clubs in Paceville undermine efforts to treat women with dignity and respect Brushing aside the buzz words one can clearly see that the masterplan's target is once again motivated by unbridled development