‘Vote Owen, get George’ – NGO questions Nigret mega development

Imagine this: You cast your vote for Owen Bonnici in the upcoming local council elections, expecting him to represent your interests as a councillor. But what if, instead, you got George Vella, the Prime Minister, making decisions for your community? Sounds like a joke, right? Not quite, according to an NGO that’s raising eyebrows over a proposed mega development in Nigret.

What’s the Nigret mega development all about?

The Nigret mega development, a brainchild of Owen Bonnici, the current Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, plans to transform the rural area into a bustling hub of residential and commercial properties. The project, valued at over €100 million, includes plans for a hotel, retail outlets, and over 600 apartments.

But here’s where it gets interesting. The development is set to be built on land owned by the government, which means it’s not subject to local council planning permission. Instead, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Planning Authority, where Owen Bonnici, as the Minister responsible, holds significant influence.

NGO raises concerns over ‘Vote Owen, get George’ scenario

This is where the NGO, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), comes into the picture. They’ve raised concerns that, with Bonnici’s influence over the Planning Authority, voting for him in the local council elections could effectively give Prime Minister George Vella a say in Nigret’s future.

“It’s like voting for a local councillor and ending up with the Prime Minister making decisions for your community,” said Dr. Inigo Abela, the chairperson of FAA. “This is not how local democracy is supposed to work.”

Bonnici responds: ‘No conflict of interest’

Owen Bonnici has dismissed the NGO’s concerns, insisting there’s no conflict of interest. “The Planning Authority operates independently,” he said. “As a Minister, I have no influence over its decisions.”

However, FAA argues that Bonnici’s position as Minister gives him significant indirect influence. “He might not be making the decisions directly, but he’s the one who appointed the members of the Planning Authority,” Dr. Abela pointed out.

the NGO questions why the government is pushing for such a large-scale development in Nigret, a rural area with limited infrastructure. “This is not about progress,” Dr. Abela said. “This is about profit.”

What’s next for the Nigret mega development?

The Planning Authority is currently reviewing the project, with a decision expected in the coming months. Meanwhile, the local council elections are scheduled for June, with Bonnici running as a candidate for the Labour Party in the 1st District.

As the debate over the Nigret mega development continues, one thing is clear: the future of this rural area is on the line, and with it, the very definition of local democracy.