The Nationalist Party has said that it understands the anger of the Maltese and Gozitans when they are seeing “massacre after massacre” of the villages and countryside across the islands, among them the recent examples on Gozo.

The Nationalist Party in a statement by Spokespersons Stanley Zammit, Alex Borg and Janice Chetcuti, said that it is not against development, but it must be sustainable development. “However, the Labour Government is saying one way, but then doing something completely different.”

Regarding the recent cases in Gozo, the Nationalist Party said that it noted how the Planning Authority, instead of acting directly and fairly with the Local Plan, acted with the interpretation of the “spirit” of the same Plan and, as some minor changes were made from the original plan, the application was then approved against any advice given.”

The Nationalist Party also recalled that how, in response to a Parliamentary Question, Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi admitted that the “number of cases where the decisions taken by the Planning Authority run counter to the recommendations and opinions of Officials of the same Authority or of other authorities is constantly increasing.”

The PN said that “this is a clear sign that the interests of some are taking precedence over the interests of the common good.”

The Nationalist Party stated that in the end, “it is the people who are suffering because of this type of governance, where transparency is blurred and accountability does not exist, with people, representatives and NGOs end up being completely ignored. This is leading to a development that is neither sustainable nor protective of the environment in which we live, work and rest.”

The PN argued that “it is useless for the Government to promise open and green spaces, if it is blatantly allowing the destruction of what we already have.”

Therefore, the Nationalist Party said that it believes that “an increase in active participation will lead to better governance. This includes greater and more effective participation of all stakeholders, not just voluntary environmental organisations and Local Councils at all decision-making levels, including the right to vote. In addition, real consultation at all levels should be made mandatory.”

The PN concluded by saying that, “without further ado, the Government should seriously address the ways in which we want to increase the competitiveness of our country with a serious and integrated policy that leads to policies and planning processes that improve and enrich the quality of life of all of us and not just some.”

Permalink: PN slams the “massacre after massacre” of villages and countryside