The PN will not nominate another representative to replace Marthese Portelli on the Planning Authority Board, a spokesperson for the party told The Malta Independent.
The reason for this, the PN spokesperson said, was that “the PA has become an entity which does not respect the people. It is clear that the PA, like other institutions, has been taken over by forces and people who completely ignore the common good, work for personal interests and care only for their political conveniences, obligations and personal friendships. We are here facing a systematic institutional breakdown, and the PN shall not be part of it -this is a matter of principle, because people matter.”
Last week, Portelli resigned from the board, from which members are paid a monthly fixed remuneration, making the argument that “there is a systemised institutional breakdown within the Planning Authority.”
In her resignation letter Portelli, said that she is not willing to participate in an entity that does not show respect to the people. The resignation, which was endorsed by party leader Adrian Delia, came after the PA board approved a controversial permit for a disused rural room in Qala to be turned into a sprawling villa. Marthese Portelli, along with the Board Chairman, ERA and eNGO representative voted against. The developer has since said he is withdrawing the application but NGOs have pointed out the permit is, in the meantime, still valid.
The MP has recently also highlighted certain issues she has with MPs sitting on boards in general.
Speaking with this newsroom, she said: “I do not believe that MPs should sit on boards. Our role is to legislate and to ensure proper governance which also includes the pushing for the revision of outdated policies and the introduction of new policies in the interest of the common good. Some may point out that one’s vote on the Planning Board will show clearly the party’s position – true, but that can also be conveyed through one’s role in Parliament. I would prefer having a system where MPs are free to say what they believe in through their parliamentary seat, rather than to be shackled by sitting on the Board, especially in view of a recent court judgment which implies that voicing one’s opinion prior to the hearing should lead to a recusal of such member. Whether I agree with that judgment or not is another matter for discussion, but ultimately that is what it is saying.”
“On the basis of this court judgement, I was not free to criticise a permit before it appeared before the Planning Board. If I were to voice my opinion publicly prior to the actual hearing, it could well be the case that I would be giving ammunition to whoever wants to appeal on the basis that, because I spoke about the case publicly before it was decided, I could have preconditioned or influenced the other board members prematurely.”
“Furthermore, what should one do when one is faced with a permit which is fully in line with policy, but that policy is in dire need of review? Should the vote be in favour of those who have a legitimate interest being given by the policy or should one take into consideration that it needs review? The role of the MP should be push for a better Malta, and not to be caught between these conflicting situations.”
Regarding her actual reason for her resignation, she said that the Planning Authority is made up of many people all of whom have a bearing on a permit, from case officers, to their superiors, to the voting board members. “It is all about having people with integrity in place, who have good morals and a strong conscience, while also understanding and knowing the subject.”
Asked if she believes there needs to be any regulation changes, through her experience within the board, Portelli said that “ultimately one could have the best good governance procedures in the world, and the best laws in place, but if there are forces and people who completely ignore the common good, work for personal interests and care only for their political conveniences, obligations and personal friendships, if the people who need to implement those policies and laws have no idea what they say, have no moral conscience,aren’t of good character and easily succumb to pressure, then it is useless having the good governance procedures and laws. So ultimately it boils down to the people themselves. I resigned to send a clear message. I am not willing to form part of a board that is part of a systematic institutional breakdown.“
Ryan Callus resigns from Lands Authority board
Portelli is not the only PN MP who resigned from a board recently. Just yesterday, Ryan Callus resigned from the Lands Authority Board. The decision was taken in agreement with the Opposition Leader, Adrian Delia, a PN statement said.
Callus resigned “because of unprecedented interference by the government in the board’s functions and that of the authority, and after the government shifted the taking of decisions from being under the board’s responsibility and gave them to Land Authority chairman James Piscopo,” the PN said.
The PN said that Piscopo is very close to the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri. In these circumstances, the PN felt it could not be an accomplice in manoeuvres intended solely for the benefit of the few to the detriment of the rest of the population. Malta belongs to the people, not to Muscat and Schembri, the PN said.
Government’s reaction
The government has reacted to these resignations. “The Nationalist Party is playing a dangerous political game that is aimed at undermining the country’s institutions,” the Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ministry said. The ministry said the Opposition lacks credibility in its claims.
“On 29 October, Callus had shown his disagreement to what a PN colleague had previously stated in Parliament – that parties should no longer be represented on the Planning Authority and Lands Authority. Callus had justified this by saying that the opposition should be there to ensure transparency. Callus had resigned because of changes to the functions of the Lands Authority CEO, which were made three months ago. But his statement defending his right to be on the authority board came after the changes to the CEO’s functions,” the ministry pointed out.
The ministry said it welcomed constructive criticism and hoped that the Opposition was coherent in its position
