[WATCH] Ian Borg blames unbridled construction on PN’s building zones extension

Ian Borg blames unbridled construction on PN’s building zones extension

Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg seems relieved that he will not be the only politician in the sights of environmental activists when they take to the streets of Valletta tomorrow.

Borg, bête noire for environmentalists after captaining expansive roadworks and the Planning Authority, insisted on Friday that he understood why protestors did not want PN MPs to join their protest.

Graffitti, the group organising the protest against unbridled construction, has called on all politicians to stay away from the protest but Borg was referring to a spat earlier this week, in which activists addressed PN MPs who had asked to attend. Some within the PN were miffed at having been told to stay away.

By bringing up the issue of PN MPs in quick succession after referencing what he described as government's pro-environment agenda, Borg was trying to share the blame with his predecessors. Unwittingly, his comments also served to prop up Graffitti's message that the two major parties could not be trusted with protecting the environment.

"When we talk about unbridled construction, [this] is the result of the fact that in 2006, when the PN was in government, it added wide stretches of land to development zones, so I understand why environmentalists don't want to be joined by people from the PN," Borg told MaltaToday when asked to send a message to people who will be protesting in Valletta tomorrow.

He was speaking after inaugurating the road linking Luqa with Santa Luċija, which was widened and now also includes a shared pedestrian/cycle lane.

"The protest concentrates on construction and what we have today is the result of a lack of planning in 2006. It's important to remember that the Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not extend the boundary of development zones, not even by a metre," Borg insisted.

The reference was to the 2006 rationalisation exercise when then environment minister George Pullicino extended development boundaries and changed height limitation policies in several localities.

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Borg insisted the government was achieving balance between investing €100 million in road infrastructure per year and prioritising the environment.

"I think that the government has already shown in various ways that the environment is sensitive and a priority. We do, however, need to communicate our work better... we are investing a lot in infrastructure but we are creating balance because by the end of the year we would have planted 6,700 trees to compensate for the 800 trees that we had no choice but to uproot," Borg said.

He added that he would be the minister to make sure that no more petrol stations would be relocated and moved to ODZ land. 

And in a moment of self-reflection, Borg criticised the controversial 2014 rural policy adopted by his own government.

"We admit, it could have been designed better," he said, adding that work was underway to reform the rural policy guidelines.

In 2016, MaltaToday revealed how the Environment and Resources Authority had been ignored by the PA in 69% of approved ODZ applications and a ministerial board was appointed by government to investigate the 2014 policy.

"There is a revision going on where NGOs are part of a committee designed to investigate the policy. I am of the understanding that this commitee is working to see what worked and what didn't with this policy," Borg said.

On Saturday's protest, Borg said the government would be listening to what protestors had to say and understand where it could improve.

Moviment Graffitti react: Borg twisting our words

Moviment Graffitti reacted to the Infrastructure Minister's reference to the Nationalist Party by saying that every member of parliament is not welcome at Saturday's protest, not just members from the Opposition.

"Borg is trying to twist our words to relinquish himself from his grave responsibilities of destroying the environment and our quality of life," the activists said in a statement. 

Moviment Graffitti said that it always recognised and was active against blatant decisions and policies that were threatening to the environment and that it had been at the forefront of opposing the PN's 2006 policies, policies that "were atrocious and which consequences were still being suffered to this day."

Despite this, Graffitti pulled no punches at Borg's way, claiming that whoever mentioned the mistakes of 2006 without acknowledging the irreperable damage being done today was only trying to cover up the sun with a sieve.

"Where do we start? From the ridiculous policies that allow excessive developments on ODZ land, — such as the fuel stations policy, still one year and eight months late in being reviewed — policies that allow historical buildings to be demolished, policies allowing tall buildings that don't make sense, the continuous sieges being experiences by communities due to the development of towers and patches of buildings, the insensate widening of roads, the destruction of countless trees..."

Graffitti concluded by saying that Borg was attempting to justify the present shortcomings with past mistakes. "Contrary to what he believes, we are seeing things going from bad to worse," Graffitti said.

The group facetiously told Borg not to panic in their statement, as any sabotage he was planning would not in any way undermine the wrath of many Maltese citizens that would be joining the protest on Saturday.