Police withheld Montekristo drifting competition permit on consulting MEPA

PM says MEPA, Police right in witholding Montekristo permit

The Police did not issue the permit for a drifting competition to be held at Montekristo after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) objected to the issuance of the permit.

The King of Europe Malta drifting competition was to be held this weekend, starting this evening, at Montekristo Estates, but the necessary Police permits were not issued.

According to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, MEPA was asked for its opinion on the matter by the police in view of a number of pending illegalities that Montekristo Estates has yet to sort out.

“MEPA is an independent entity and for the first time it was asked for its opinion on whether the permit should be issued or not. The facts are that there are a number of illegal activities. MEPA offered the issuance of the permit against a number of conditions,” Muscat said.

One of the conditions offered to Montekristo included the closing down of the illegal zoo, which was one of the main attractions at the Fiera l-Kbira held in July. MEPA, Muscat added, has also asked Polidano Bros to remove a number of illegalities that took place following the Fiera l-Kbira event.

“MEPA was correct in taking the steps it took. You [the media] would have been the first to question how the permit was issued if MEPA had not objected,” the Prime Minister said.

Asked why no objections had been lodged during the holding of the Fiera l-Kbira, Muscat said the Police “had not asked for MEPA’s views”.

He also suggested that the Police acted differently this time round following news reports in the media that raised questions on the holding of the Fiera l-Kbira at the Montekristo Estates, a site that is currently facing four enforcement notices.

FM Promotions accuses government of withholding police permit to 'reach certain goals'

FM Promotions is however accusing government of using the recent event as a bargaining chip.

Construction magnate Charles Polidano’s company is facing sanctions over a number of illegalities carried out on his Montekristo Estates in Safi. In August, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority halted works on the site and an area of around 64,000 square metres owned by Polidano Bros is subject to enforcement notices.

Noting that a judicial protest was filed this morning, a statement signed by FM Promotions said “we are here awaiting who is responsible for this to come and explain this stoppage to the international media that will be present here, all international drivers present, International sponsors, local sponsors and all local drivers.”

Explaining that two days ago the police had accepted the payment for the deployment of additional officers, the event’s promoters said that “in the evening we received the refusal of the permit.”

“We took this to the Police Licensing appeals board. It showed clearly that MEPA first filed a paper where they stated that they don’t get involved if the venue has the necessary licenses (which the venue has). Then all of a sudden an objection letter was filed on 30 September by MEPA.”

They noted that while MEPA said that there is an enforcement notice on the Montekristo site, “they requested a list of requests from Mr. Polidano and if these are accepted MEPA will raise back the no objection. Which will still be held on a land that according to MEPA has an enforcement notice.”

“This is totally unacceptable that this international event is used by the govenrnment to achieve its goals.

The company added that the Malta Sports Council and the Malta Tourism Authority, which are sponsoring the event, are helpless.

The race organisers, FM Promotions, asked “Why was this not done in the ‘Fiera il-Kbira’ beacuse there was a long list of business and business man? Is this only with us as we are a small and single company and a small motorsport entity?”

Insisting that “the show must go on,” the organisers said they will do their utmost to hold the event as planned.

“We don’t want any damage to be done to the local motorsport scene, motorsport entities and Malta.”

Moreover, the promoters said “there are big financial implications that need to be shouldered by who is responsible for all this.”