Updated 11am with Axiak s reply
Nine NGOs have written to Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia, asking him to sack Victor Axiak from his role as chair of the Environmental Resources Authority.
Axiak, a biology professor who was appointed chair of the environmental regulator in 2016, has come under fire from environmental groups for what they described as a “spate of abysmal decisions.”
In an open letter to the minister (see below), the NGOs listed a series of ERA decisions that they said ran counter to its mandate of protecting Malta’s environment, and accused Axiak of aligning himself with the interests of developers and roadbuilders.
Trees, ERA and the law – Michelle Piccinino timesofmalta.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesofmalta.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tribunal slashes fines: €42,000 discount for Gaffarena, no mercy for Polidano
Planning tribunal slashes €169,000 in 25 different daily fines imposed by Planning Authority, denying petitions by construction company Polidano Bros
15 April 2021, 7:33am
by James Debono
Mark Gaffarena had secured the Handaq land occupied by the Cavett lido in a €1.65 million property-and-cash deal in 2015 – the Old Mint Street scandal – in exchange for his half-share of a Valletta property that housed a government agency’s offices. In 2018, Gaffarena presented new plans for an agritourism complex on the Handaq field but the application was later withdrawn
A tribunal that slashes the Planning Authority’s daily fines and penalties on rule-breakers waived a total of €169,458 in fines on 25 planning infractions – either on humanitarian grounds, or because the fines were disproportionate.
A yard off Durumblat Street in Mosta that was supposed to be used as agricultural land has instead been used to deposit inert construction waste and as a parking lot for heavy machinery.
In spite of a pending appeal on a refusal to grant the operation a permit as well as a suspended enforcement notice, the authorities are yet to decide on the case, six years down the line.
The yard, which jars with surrounding open spaces and agricultural land, can be clearly seen from the street.
An application for sanction was originally submitted on behalf of John Vella in 2007.
Graffitti activists resume protest in Dingli as IM pushes ahead with controversial road maltatoday.com.mt - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from maltatoday.com.mt Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.