Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/859132
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2017 News MaltaToday report on Adrian Delia's business interests provokes livid reaction MATTHEW VELLA A candidate for the PN's leadership election, Adrian Delia, has taken umbrage at a report in MaltaToday which attempted to list his busi- ness interests – as yet undeclared. In a statement that took to task the journalist personally, Delia reacted to a report of his business relationship with Simon Busuttil's former brother-in-law by claiming it was a 'malicious attack' on Bu- suttil and him. Delia confused a news report on the police intervention into the public altercation between Eucha- rist and Diane Bajada, Busuttil's sister, into an "attack" on Busuttil's family. A simple search on Malta's companies register shows that De- lia is a company shareholder with Eucharist Bajada, a detail that was not given any importance so far in the campaign. Delia has so far insisted he has been "through a process of due diligence" by both Maltese and Austrian banks, and has set much store by the fact that his nomina- tion was green-lit by the PN's elec- toral commission. But he has only committed him- self to make a full declaration of assets and businesses if he is "given the privilege of being elected lead- er". Instead of taking the opportunity to make a transparent declaration of business interests, Delia – who is assisted in his campaign by the Malta Independent's director of content Pierre Portelli – spun the report and accused MaltaToday managing editor Saviour Balzan of "favouring other candidates". Delia's statement goes a bit fur- ther in fluffing up the aggravation at the report: "Our adversaries will keep using public funds to influ- ence our party agenda. We can- not allow this and who attacks or sullies the PN without reason will have to answer for his actions," De- lia said. MaltaToday report DELIA appears as a minority share- holder with PN leader Simon Busut- til's former brother-in-law, Eucharist Bajada Jnr in the company Frankef Limited, and as director with him in the company Chris, Nicholas & Asso- ciates Company Limited. Delia is also a shareholder with Bajada senior in Patience Developments Limited. Bajada Jnr was formerly the husband of Busuttil's sister Diane, the fractious couple having made the headlines last year in a public altercation. Bajada had called the police after alleging his ex-wife had broken into his house, to- gether with her father, beating up his 60-year-old maid and stealing files and computers, before attacking him and a lady friend of his as they arrived home. Her parting shot was throwing a large potted plant on his Mercedes. Later in court, the two sides agreed to bury the hatchet. Adrian Delia is also involved with Mgarr Developments Ltd as a share- holder and director together with Aequitas Legal partner Georg Sapi- ano, and the Gozitan company Island Developments Ltd, also involved in construction. Delia has admitted on TVM's Xtra Sajf that he was involved as a 9% share- holder in a company that was limited to a redevelopment project. Delia is also involved with his wife Nicole and Tonio Debono in Carnaby Limited, a company dealing with the importation of high quality wines. Adrian Delia has so far committed to make a declaration of assets only if he is elected leader. A partner in the legal firm Aequitas with former PN candidate Georg Sapiano, the pre- decessor firm Sapiano & Associates had received some €890,000 in legal contracts by successive PN adminis- trations according to parliamentary answers. One of the major awards by direct order was linked to a new proposed route system for the then public bus company Arriva – the contract was worth €333,000. PA asked to regularise 'enclosure' for pumas and monkeys JAMES DEBONO AN application to regularise ille- gally developed animal enclosures, hosting two monkeys, two pumas and a number dog kennels has been presented to the Planning Author- ity. The animals are being kept on a site in Sqaq Haz-Zebbug off Wied Incita in Attard. Aerial photos taken by the Plan- ning Authority in 2012 show that the site in question was completely free of any development. But the situation had completely changed by the time that new aerial photos were taken in 2016. Despite the illegalities, which in- clude cages, kennels and a medicine room, the PA has not yet issued an enforcement order. Instead the owners have applied to regularise the animal enclosures and other works on site. The 1,333 square metre site in- cludes various cages, a medicine room, boundary walls and hard surfacing. The Environmental Re- sources Authority has described the attempt to sanction the illegali- ties as a "flagrant example where no environmental considerations whatsoever have been regarded, which has resulted in illegal com- mitments and associated excessive land uptake at the expense of the countryside." The ERA has once again de- nounced the "malpractice of first developing a site irrespective of its ODZ status and then requesting the sanctioning of a fait accompli." According to the ERA the devel- opment has already led to the loss of agricultural land and the removal of a number of trees. The ERA has also warned that the fact that animals are already kept on site should not automatically justify the proposal. Moreover according to the ERA no permit has been issued for the keeping of animals on site. Landowner Charlton Zammit pre- sented the application in February. The application does not refer to the use of the place as a public zoo but simply seeks the regularisation of the animal enclosures. Other places hosting wild animals awaiting a full planning permit include the Arka ta' Noe zoo and the one in Montekristo. Aerial photos of the site in 2012 and 2016 – the site before and after the 'animal enclosures' were set up Cages hosting the pumas Adrian Delia (pictured) is contesting the PN leadership election with Chris Said, Alex Perici Calascione and Frank Portelli