What happened to Jason Silvio, the Mayor of Paola, who was hit with a garnishee order by developer Johann Montfort, is the latest act of vindictive bullying by developers against those who defend the rights of residents, the environment and our quality of life.
The Mayor of Paola had his bank accounts frozen after the Paola Local Council appealed a decision by the Planning Authority (PA) to approve a multi-storey apartment development in the locality’s Urban Conservation Area (UCA).
It must be underlined that planning appeals, such as the one filed by the Paola Local Council, are a right enshrined in law, and no one should be penalised for exercising their legal rights. Thus, this garnishee order, filed by the developer, is a procedural manoeuvre that should soon have to be dropped.
However, the fact that the developer resorted to such a blatant bullying tactic sends a chilling message to all those who seek to challenge harmful development projects and their approval by subservient authorities such as the PA. We believe that the Government should put an end to this abuse of garnishee orders.
While expressing solidarity with the Mayor of Paola, the NGOs urge everyone to resist this bullying by developers and to continue defending their quality of life and the environment. We stand ready to fight alongside all those whom developers seek to bully into submission.
Organisations
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust Malta
Ramblers Association Malta
Wirt Għawdex
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Il-bullying mill-iżviluppaturi mhux se jaħdem
Dak li ġara lil Jason Silvio, is-Sindku ta’ Raħal Ġdid, li kontrih inħareġ mandat ta’ sekwestru mill-iżviluppatur Johann Montfort, huwa l-aktar każ riċenti ta’ intimidazzjoni vendikattiva min-naħa tal-iżviluppaturi fil-konfront ta’ dawk li jiddefendu d-drittijiet tar-residenti, l-ambjent u l-kwalità tal-ħajja tagħna.
Is-Sindku ta’ Raħal Ġdid spiċċa bil-kontijiet bankarji tiegħu ffriżati wara li l-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Raħal Ġdid appella deċiżjoni tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar li approvat żvilupp ta’ blokka appartamenti b’diversi sulari fiż-Żona ta’ Konservazzjoni Urbana (UCA) tal-lokalità.
Jeħtieġ li jiġi enfasizzat li l-appelli fil-qasam tal-ippjanar, bħal dak imressaq mill-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Raħal Ġdid, huma dritt stabbilit bil-liġi, u ħadd m’għandu jiġi ppenalizzat talli jeżerċita d-drittijiet legali tiegħu. Għaldaqstant, dan il-mandat ta’ sekwestru, ippreżentat mill-iżviluppatur, huwa manuvra proċedurali li daqt se jkollha tiġi rtirata.
Madankollu, il-fatt li l-iżviluppatur irrikorra għal tattika ta’ intimidazzjoni daqshekk sfaċċata jibgħat messaġġ tat-tkexkix lil dawk kollha li jippruvaw jissieltu kontra proġetti ta’ żvilupp li jagħmlu l-ħsara, u kontra l-approvazzjoni tagħhom minn awtoritajiet servili bħall-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar. Nemmnu li l-Gvern għandu jwaqqaf dan l-abbuż tal-mandati tas-sekwestru.
Filwaqt li jesprimu s-solidarjetà tagħhom mas-Sindku ta’ Raħal Ġdid, l-għaqdiet mhux governattivi jħeġġu lil kulħadd biex nirreżistu dan il-bullying mill-iżviluppaturi u nkomplu niddefendu l-kwalità tal-ħajja u l-ambjent. Aħna lesti li niġġieldu spalla ma’ spalla ma’ dawk kollha li l-iżviluppaturi jippruvaw jintimidaw biex iġegħluhom ibaxxu rashom għar-rieda tagħhom.
Għaqdiet
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth Malta
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust Malta
Ramblers Association Malta
Wirt Għawdex
