News 01/09/2002

Cpt Morgan’s storm (s) in a teacup...

After the storm raised by Mr Michael Zammit Tabona of Captain Morgan over the dismantling of some landing platforms in Comino, Maltatoday discovered that ironically, the Hotel Fortina, which is owned by the same proprietors of Captain Morgan was served with a stop and enforcement order. ECF 176/02 order was issued last February when development works commenced before all plans were submitted as per stipulated conditions.

Recently Captain Morgan were in the spotlight over the issue of landing platforms at Comino. Some landing platforms which do not belong to Captain Morgan were dismantled. The proprietor, Mr Michael Zammit Tabona, reacted to this by saying that if the Captain Morgan’s landing platforms in Comino were removed, then the company would have to lay off workers. When contacted by Maltoday, MEPA referred to a recent press release which explained their position about the matter. It called Captain Morgan’s reactions alarmist and unnecessary. It was pointed out that Comino is a Nature reserve of great importance.

Further to this, a committee had been set up recently to manage the environment on this island. A MEPA official said that MEPA’s sole responsibility lay in enforcing and carrying out whatever the committee recommended. The MEPA official reminded the concerned parties that up to the present no enforcement orders had been issued against Captain Morgan’s platforms.

Consequently no action could be taken at this stage. The spokesman went on to say that all enforcement notices could be viewed on its web-site. He added that illegal structures were not automatically removed, but there was a whole process to go through.

"Illegal structures were only forcibly removed if the owners did not co-operate with the authorities," he ended.