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Matthew Vella
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday declared the government’s rationalisation of the development zones – the addition of new land available for development and construction – was a transparent and open process that was open to public inquiry.
Reacting to allegations of favouritism in the extension of development boundaries to favour particular speculators, Gonzi yesterday said the new zones would be debated in parliament.
“The process with which the rationalisation exercise is taking place is proof of this transparency,” Gonzi told journalists at a press conference marking the third year of the government since its re-election in 2003.
Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit was one of those whose own pocket of land outside his Hal Safi villa was included in the proposed development zones, as reported by Labour e-newspaper maltastar.com.
Asked by MaltaToday whether he intended delving into the allegations of favouritism, which include other property speculators, Gonzi reiterated that the rationalisation exercise was a transparent process “for all to see”.
Gonzi added that the Nationalist government first established the development zones to rid the island of the land development scandals under previous administrations. “I’d like to see those responsible for these planning scandals and who are still in politics to give me some sort of personal guarantee,” he said when asked by a journalist for a guarantee that no particular speculators had been favoured in the new development zones.
Gonzi also affirmed his full confidence in the work of the police force investigating the recent arson attacks on journalists Daphne Caruana Galizia and Saviour Balzan, and members of the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Jesuit Order itself.
Condemning the attacks, Gonzi said he spoke personally to the Commissioner of Police John Rizzo to ensure the resources that had been dedicated to the case investigation are kept to the highest of standards in their bid to catch the responsible criminals.
“We are considering these attacks to be among the most serious of crimes, and the police is working to bring these people to justice. I am persuaded the police force is working well,” the prime minister said.
He said the attacks had been inspired by extremism and claimed the Maltese were a people of a respect for dignity and solidarity. “God forbid we throw away these values… why are these people trying to throw away these values?”
He added that the government had stepped up its punitive measures against criminals whose acts are racially motivated, with the announcement of amendments to the Criminal Code on earlier this week on Thursday.
mvella@mediatoday.com.mt
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