Update with letter from Mr Polidano to the Prime Minister – The Legal Office of the Polidano Group has issued a copy of a letter sent this afternoon by Mr Polidano to the Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat, in which he says, “kindly be advised that it was not our intention to escalate any situation and confirm our willingness to fully cooperate with the competent authorities in this matter.”

Mr Polidano added, “I hereby also confirm that my intention to give a day off to my employees today was for the simple reason to calm things down after the incidents of yesterday.”

“In the meantime I confirm that no works will be undertaken on the site in question and apologise for any inconvenience that might have been caused which was however unintended,” Mr Polidano concluded in the letter.

AD Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said earlier, “we support MEPA in its enforcement action at Montecristo Estate. With an average area of 64,000 square metres owned by Polidano Bros being subject to enforcement notices, it is about time that MEPA woke up from its slumber. Malta cannot be run by arrogant bullies, who flaunt the laws continuously because of their political connections.”

Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairman and AD Spokesman on Sustainable Development and Home Affairs, said that MEPA’s action yesterday is welcome even if it took MEPA seven years after the Joe Falzon Inquiry into the Xemxija incidents in 2006 had revealed that Polidano Brothers had well over 83 pending enforcement orders on sites under their control.

“Whilst the MEPA timing on the eve of a public demonstration by environmental NGOs is suspect,” Cacopardo concluded, “that its better late than never.”

Photograph by MEPA

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