The President of the Ramblers Association, Ingram Bondin, has published a scathing statement criticising Prime Minister Robert Abela and his surprise proposal for construction and planning reform. Bondin stated that the Prime Minister has refused to engage with the NGO in any meaningful consultation regarding the current planning reforms. He noted that the organisation met with the Prime Minister only once, back in 2023, during a meeting in which no common ground was found. Bondin added that the government offered environmentalists just one concession: a reform requiring construction to be paused while a development permit is being appealed before the Planning Tribunal.
Ingram Bondin described the Prime Minister’s behaviour as that of a “backstabbing socialist” and said that the reforms will destroy what is left of Malta.
In a surprise move at the end of last week, the Labour government proposed two bills in parliament to overhaul the planning and permits system for new construction projects. The reforms give the Planning Authority, its executive and its board, to ignore environmental concerns and the Local Plans when approving a development permit. The reforms will open the door for new and widespread construction in the Outside Development Zones areas (ODZ).
The Labour government has used the ongoing PN leadership campaign to present a flurry of controversial laws in parliament without consultation enabling it to present very controversial reforms without much opposition.
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