PN Adviser’s Ġgantija Heights Role Raises Eyebrows
In an unexpected twist, a high-ranking official from the Nationalist Party (PN) has been revealed to be involved in the Ġgantija Heights project, a development that the same party had previously slammed as ‘scandalous’. The revelation has through Malta’s political scene, raising questions about the party’s stance on the contentious project.
From Opposition to Involvement
Ġgantija Heights, a luxury apartment complex in Xemxija, has been a thorny issue for Malta’s political scene. When the project was first proposed, the PN was vocal in its opposition, with then Opposition Leader Bernard Grech describing it as ‘yet another scandal’ in a Facebook post. However, it has now emerged that PN’s parliamentary secretary, Alex Muscat, has been involved in the project, acting as a consultant for the developers.
Muscat, who is also the PN’s deputy leader, confirmed his involvement in a statement, stating that he had been providing ‘professional advice’ to the developers since 2019. He maintained that his role was limited to planning and architectural matters, and that he had not been involved in any political decision-making processes related to the project.
PN’s Response: ‘No Conflict of Interest’
The PN has been quick to defend Muscat’s involvement, with party secretary General Clyde Puli stating that there was ‘no conflict of interest’ in the matter. He argued that Muscat’s role was purely technical and did not involve any political decision-making. However, critics have pointed out that the project has been a political hot potato, with decisions on it being made at the highest levels of government.
the revelation comes at a time when the PN is under scrutiny for its handling of other controversial projects, such as the db Group’s developments in the north of Malta. The party has been accused of being too close to big business, a charge that it has consistently denied.
Ġgantija Heights: A Contentious Project
Ġgantija Heights has been a contentious project from the start. The luxury apartments, which are being built on a hill overlooking Xemxija Bay, have been criticized for their impact on the environment and their alleged contravention of planning regulations. The project has been the subject of numerous protests and legal challenges, with environmental groups arguing that it will destroy a unique ecosystem.
The project has also been embroiled in political controversy. In 2019, then Environment Minister José Herrera was forced to resign after it was revealed that he had met with the developers of the project, despite having recused himself from decision-making on the project due to a potential conflict of interest.
In the wake of Muscat’s revelation, environmental groups have renewed their calls for the project to be scrapped. They argue that the involvement of a high-ranking PN official in the project undermines the party’s credibility on environmental issues.
