[WATCH] Nationalist Party highlights conflict of interest in Paceville master plan

Nationalist MP Ryan Callus has pointed out that the fact that the consultants for the Paceville master plan, Mott MacDonald and Broadway Maylan, were also consulting the developers who will own one of the major projects proposed in the Paceville master plan was a clear conflict of interest.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Callus said that questions put to Planning Authority executive chairman Johann Buttigieg on the topic of conflict of interest had gone unanswered.

“Now we understand why our questions were not answered. Today it is clear that consultants engaged by the Planning Authority without a doubt had a clear conflict of interest,” he said.

Shadow environment minister Marthese Portelli had questioned whether Mott MacDonald and Broadway Maylan were indeed also working for developers who will stand to profit from the regeneration of Paceville. However, Parliamentary secretary for planning Deborah Schembri said that the Planning Authority had contracted foreign consulting firms specifically to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

This is reportedly the second case of conflict of interest to be revealed. In October, MaltaToday had reported that land reclamation proposed in the draft Paceville master plan was presented by Mott MacDonald, when the previous week a PA spokesperson confirmed that submissions made to the government by the owners of Portomaso, Tumas Group, for further development were passed on to Mott Macdonald, whose vision for Paceville was carried out after “analysing this information incorporated a land reclamation option in the master plan.” 

Callus urged to government to address this issue. “Government has to come clean because it is not acceptable that experts are engaged, under the premise that they are to serve general interest, but at the same time have the interests of major developers,” he said.

Marthese Portelli and Ryan Callus address a press conference

Shadow environment minister Marthese Portelli said that the Nationalist Party is in favour of a Paceville master plan, as long as it safeguards interests of everyone.

Portelli lamented over the apparent disregard for the safeguarding of interests when it comes to residents and small business operators.

“Since we are still in consultation phase, the Paceville master plan must be sent back to drawing board to take into account everyone's concerns,” she said.

Shadow environment minister Marthese Portelli outlines PN's concerns regarding Paceville master plan

Portelli questioned whether master plan was planned in a holistic way or is it just to serve the interests of big developers, asking several questions regarding compensation to be given to residents and small business operators, and how this will be valued. “As is, the current master plan will affect several residents negatively due to the fact that proposed roads pass through residential buildings while others will be used to create open spaces. Furthermore, several small business operators will have to move or close down. It is important that at this phase, the government evaluates and considers justly the investment that these people would have made. The government cannot leave them dangling about the future of their business.”

Turning her attention to the issue of high-rise buildings, Portelli said that the topic has been discussed in a parliamentary committee and that the Nationalist Party has asked for a 3D model of what is being proposed.

“The Opposition has asked to have consultants present in front of committee because a number of questions remained unanswered or answered with 'the consultants planned that'. It was clear that Planning Authority was not in a position to answer our questions,” she said.

When pressed for the Nationalist Party’s views on high-rise Portelli said that they needed to understand the brief given to consultants and stressed that the most important factor was understanding carrying capacity.