MEPA board concludes that allegations on CEO are ‘unfounded’

MEPA says reports that CEO Johann Buttigieg has business interests are unfounded

MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg
MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) board today said that claims that CEO Johann Buttigieg had business interests in the construction industry are unfounded.

The board condemned The Malta Independent and NGOs for “creating serious allegations against Buttigieg and his family.”

The MEPA board today met to investigate allegations made by The Malta Independent that Buttigieg had interests in the construction industry and concluded that “there are no shortcomings in his conduct.”

On Sunday, Buttigieg denied any involvement in unsanctioned development at San Blas in Gozo, saying he was unaware of the case flagged by the newspaper.

He also denied any connections with the Gozitan entrepreneur, Joseph Portelli who according to the Malta Independent owns a company with Adrian Buttigieg, who in turn was reported to have business connections with the MEPA CEO’s wife.

Buttigieg’s statement was a reaction to a Malta Independent report claiming that the CEO was this week seen at the bay with a Gozitan entrepreneur overseeing works on a cleared site in San Blas, allegedly not covered by a permit.

On Monday, MaltaToday revealed that former MEPA CEO Ian Stafrace was in Gozo two weekends ago, raising suspicion of mistaken identity. After speaking with both Stafrace and Portelli, this newspaper confirmed that Portelli and Stafrace were at the bay at the same time on Sunday of last week.

MEPA said that environment NGO Din L-Art Helwa made “false allegations” when it claimed that Buttigieg had a conflict of interest with in his role as CEO and his personal involvement in the illegal development in San Blas.

On Monday, MEPA stopped “all illegal works” at San Blas in Gozo and issued an enforcement notice.

The authority’s board said that Buttigieg confirmed that the two mentioned companies; Żebbiegħ Development Ltd and Ta’ Pinu Developments Ltd were closed or sold off quite some time ago before his appointment.

Furthermore, the third company, in which Buttigieg’s wife holds a share, hasn’t acquired any property since 2008.

MEPA also pointed out that the report that Buttigieg had been seen at San Blas with developer Joseph Portelli “was truly unfounded.”

The board concluded that the information published in The Malta Independent “have been wrongly interpreted and reported.”