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James Debono
A total of 33 members of parliament from both sides of the House responded to a MaltaToday request to declare whether they own any land which was outside the development zones and is now being included in the new proposed boundaries as outlined by cabinet and MEPA.
By the time of going to print, just half of the 65 MPs answered the question.
The 33 who answered, including the prime minister have declared that they do not own any land in the revised boundaries.
Since Members of Parliament will be voting whether to approve the boundaries, for transparency’s sake and to show accountability, MaltaToday has asked all members of parliament to state beforehand whether they own any land included in the new plans.
They were also asked to declare whether any member of their immediate family owned any land or whether they were involved as share holders in any company owning lands or property in the areas earmarked for development in the proposed rationalisation of the 1988 temporary scheme.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and ministers Giovanna Debono, Jesmond Mugliett, Censu Galea, Louis Deguara and George Pullicino have all declared that they do not own any land included in the new plans.
Parliamentary Secretaries Frans Agius and Edwin Vassallo have also declared that they do not own land in the proposed schemes.
So far 20 Nationalist MPs and 13 Labour MPs have declared their interests to MaltaToday by answering the questions submitted.
Most of the 33 MPs replied with an emphatic no but others chose to spice up their replies with comments. Labour MP Leo Brincat described the government proposal as nothing but an extreme bout of electioneering.
Environment Minister George Pullicino added that he does not own any land both within and outside the development zones.
“All that my wife and I own is a flat built in the 1960s which is within the development zone,” Pullicino said.
So far the only Member of Parliament identified as an owner of land included in the new plans is Minister Ninu Zammit. But the minister has publicly denied Maltastar allegations of being favoured by the new schemes, claiming that his house had been granted a permit way back in the 1980s. The minister has so far not answered MaltaToday’s questions.
jdebono@mediatoday.com
MPs who have declared their interest
PN
Lawrence Gonzi, Tony Abela, George Pullicino, Giovanna Debono, Jesmond Mugliette, Louis Deguara, Censu Galea, Dolores Cristina, Frans Agius, Edwin Vassallo, Frederick Azzopardi, Joseph Falzon, Jason Azzopardi, David Agius, Robert Arrigo, Michael Axiaq, Michael Gonzi, Mario Galea, Mario Demarco, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando
MLP
Charles Mangion, Michael Farrugia, Justyne Caruana, Joe Debono Grech, Joe Mizzi, Joseph Cuschieri, Evarist Bartolo, George Vella, Chris Agius, Gavin Gulia, Leo Brincat, Karl Chircop, Roderick Galdes
None of these MPs, their wives or children, or companies in which they have an interest, own land in the proposed development boundaries. |
