The eNGOs Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Din l-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth (Malta) and Ramblers Association Malta have filed a judicial letter in court against Dr Deborah Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, in respect of the recent building amnesty.

The NGOs who share a remit to protect Malta's built and natural heritage, said that they are very concerned about the fact that unlike previous pardons, this amnesty also applies to abuse in Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs) and scheduled heritage buildings.

"Furthermore unlike previous amnesties, this latest one is not limited to minor but also covers major, more damaging construction infringements which may undermine neighbours' quality of life."

For this reason the eNGOs said, they are particularly objecting to the fact "the legal notice sets out a process of regularisation by stealth, ditching any pretence of full transparency and public scrutiny which has been the claim of Malta's planning authority over the last 24 years."

"Within the first week, 43 requests for regularisation had already been submitted without the public having any means to access information about these cases."

The eNGOs said that they hold Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri responsible for "this violation of universally-accepted principles of transparency, justice and good governance, and call on her to take all the necessary measures to remedy the situation."

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