Momentum submits FOI request on planning bills, questions influence of developers

Momentum has just filed a Freedom of Information request to demand full transparency regarding the drafting of the two controversial bills set to overhaul Malta’s planning system. The request seeks to uncover the extent of involvement by major developers and their lobbyists in the formulation of Bill 143 and Bill 144, legislation that would profoundly impact Malta’s environment and communities for years to come.

The FOI request specifically asks for details of all meetings held between government officials and key figures in the development industry. Momentum is seeking minutes and records of consultations with representatives of the Malta Development Association, as well as prominent developers.

“The public has a right to know who is writing our laws,” Arnold Cassola stated. “For too long, the planning process has been skewed in favour of a select group of powerful developers, at the great expense of our environment and quality of life. These bills are the blueprint for Malta’s concrete future. Were they drafted in the public interest, or in backroom meetings to serve private profits?”

In addition to meeting records, Momentum is demanding to know the identity of all consultants and advisors who contributed to the bills. We are requesting their terms of reference and a full breakdown of the public funds used for their remuneration.

The requested information includes:

• The date, time, duration, and minutes of all meetings with development industry stakeholders concerning the drafting of Bill 143 and Bill 144.
• The full identity of any consultants or advisors engaged for the preparatory work on these bills.
• The terms of reference under which these consultants were hired.
• The total remuneration paid or payable to these external advisors.

“Transparency is the bedrock of a functioning democracy,” Cassola continued. “If the government has nothing to hide, it should have no problem providing this information promptly. The Maltese people deserve to know if the laws meant to regulate development were, in fact, shaped by the very people they are supposed to regulate. We will not stand by while the future of our country is decided behind closed doors.”

Full text of the FOI is attached to this email

Momentum iressaq talba għall-FOI dwar abbozzi tal-ippjanar, u jistaqsi dwar l-influwenza tal-iżviluppaturi

Momentum għadu kemm ressaq talba għall-Informazzjoni Pubblika (FOI)  biex jitlob trasparenza sħiħa dwar it-tfassil taż-żewġ abbozzi ta’ liġi kontroversjali li se jirrevedu s-sistema tal-ippjanar f’Malta. It-talba tfittex li tikxef kemm kien hemm involviment ta’ żviluppaturi ewlenin u l-lobbyists tagħhom fil-formulazzjoni tal-Abbozz ta’ Liġi 143 u l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi 144, leġiżlazzjoni li se taffettwa b’mod profond l-ambjent u l-komunitajiet ta’ Malta għas-snin li ġejjin.

It-talba għall-FOI titlob speċifikament dettalji tal-laqgħat kollha li saru bejn uffiċjali tal-gvern u persuni ewlenin fl-industrija tal-iżvilupp. Momentum qed titlob minuti u rekords ta’ konsultazzjonijiet ma’ rappreżentanti tal-Malta Development Association, kif ukoll żviluppaturi prominenti.

“Il-pubbliku għandu dritt ikun jaf min qed jikteb il-liġijiet tagħna,” stqarr Arnold Cassola. “Għal żmien twil wisq, il-proċess tal-ippjanar kien indawwar favur grupp magħżul ta’ żviluppaturi b’saħħithom, għad-detriment kbir tal-ambjent tagħna u l-kwalità tal-ħajja. Dawn l-abbozzi ta’ liġi huma l-pjan għall-futur tal-konkos ta’ Malta. Dawn tfasslu fl-interess pubbliku, jew f’laqgħat sigrieti biex iservu profitti privati?”

Minbarra r-rekords tal-laqgħat, Momentum qed titlob li tkun taf l-identità tal-konsulenti u l-konsulenti kollha li kkontribwixxu għall-abbozzi ta’ liġi. Qed nitolbu t-termini ta’ referenza tagħhom u analiżi sħiħa tal-fondi pubbliċi użati għar-remunerazzjoni tagħhom.

L-informazzjoni mitluba tinkludi:

• Id-data, il-ħin, id-durata, u l-minuti tal-laqgħat kollha mal-partijiet interessati tal-industrija tal-iżvilupp dwar it-tfassil tal-Abbozz ta’ Liġi 143 u l-Abbozz ta’ Liġi 144.
• L-identità sħiħa ta’ kwalunkwe konsulent jew konsulent impjegat għax-xogħol preparatorju fuq dawn l-abbozzi ta’ liġi.
• It-termini ta’ referenza li taħthom ġew impjegati dawn il-konsulenti.
• Ir-remunerazzjoni totali mħallsa jew pagabbli lil dawn il-konsulenti esterni.

“It-trasparenza hija l-pedament ta’ demokrazija li tiffunzjona,” kompla Cassola. “Jekk il-gvern m’għandu xejn x’jaħbi, m’għandu jkollu l-ebda problema li jipprovdi din l-informazzjoni fil-pront. Il-poplu Malti jixraqlu jkun jaf jekk il-liġijiet maħsuba biex jirregolaw l-iżvilupp kinux, fil-fatt, iffurmati mill-istess nies li suppost jirregolaw. M’aħniex se noqogħdu bilqiegħda waqt li l-futur ta’ pajjiżna jiġi deċiż minn wara bibien magħluqa.”

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