“Balluta is a symbol of all that is wrong with planning and development in our country”-
Independent Candidate Arnold Cassola
“Balluta is a symbol of all that is wrong with planning and development in
our country” stated Cassola in today’s Press conference at Balluta Bay.
“Let’s make history in favour of the environment and residents’ rights,” said Cassola
“Balluta is a quintessential symbol of all that is wrong with planning, development, and the protection of our environment in this country.” Arnold Cassola, an Independent candidate for the tenth and eleventh District, was speaking in front of the former Barracuda building in Balluta, St Julians. “This
the building is a visible symbol of how the Planning Authority has lost all sense of dignity and authority.”
Arnold Cassola explained how, in this case, the developer was allowed to mutilate traditional Maltese balconies and old vernacular tiles in one of the most iconic buildings in the area. This was done before a permit was issued, with the developer barely getting a slap on the wrist for this blatant disregard of planning laws.
Cassola stated that the Malta Developers’ Association has now started repeating the same mantra to politicians calling on them to “let us work”. He said that the Barracuda mutilation lays bare the ugly truth about what the words “let us work” mean.
To such developers, these words mean doing what they like with complete disregard of planning laws, the rights of residents, and the protection of the environment. “With the excuse of reducing bureaucracy, development in Malta has become a free-for-all where powerful developers call the shots and the main political parties scramble to their table for their regular donations,” Cassola said.
Arnold Cassola pointed out that across the bay from the Barracuda building, another major project is being planned: 3200 square meters of land reclamation to build two water polo pitches, a lido, and restaurants in the middle of the bay.
“This is another monstrous project which will be the final death knell of Balluta Bay and St Julian’s Bay as we know them,” Cassola said. The Environmental Impact Assessment for this project indicates that this project is completely unsustainable and should be a non-starter.
However, time and time again, our politicians have shown that their fine words in favour of the environment are rarely matched by consistency on the ground and even such unsustainable projects eventually see the light of day.
“It should be clear to one and all, that the only way to protect the little remaining environment in our country and to safeguard the rights of residents is for people to vote for this. Voting for independent and third-party candidates who have consistently worked in favour of the environment and residents’ rights over the years is the only way to stop history from repeating itself once again.
Next Saturday’s elections are an important opportunity for all persons of goodwill to make history, this time in favour of the environment and residents’ rights,” Arnold Cassola concluded.
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