The green whistle blower : above the law

Abstract

The 6,000 pending MEPA enforcement cases are characteristic of the toothless enforcement in these islands. Going through each case, however, is even more irking. Among the slew of poker-faced enforcement notices, one finds the one concerning La Grotta Discotheque, the flight of steps at Golden Bay, the hunters' hide at Mgiebah and Hola Beach at Marfa. The La Grotta case should certainly take the biscuit for the most protracted planning case in our islands since enforcement notices have been issued against it since 1994! The site was first referred to Direct Action in 1997, action which has always been eluded, it seems. Last summer, I criticised the deferring of the current (since previous enforcement notices have been archived) enforcement notice (00893/99) to September this year, since it conveniently warded off any action during the lucrative summer season. Surprise, surprise ... the case has again been adjourned to February, after the festive end-of-year season! Although we are now in the European Union, it seems we cannot help some good old wheeling and dealing every now and then.