Maltese MP Quits Lands Authority: ‘I Don’t Want To Partake In Erosion Of Our Institutions’
Opposition MP Ryan Callus has resigned from the Lands Authority’s board of governors in protest at how most of its executive powers were recently transferred to the institution’s CEO.
“The Opposition is disappointed with the ministerial order for the board of governors to delegate a substantial part of its powers to the Authority’s government-appointed CEO [James Piscopo],” Callus wrote in a letter to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Ian Borg.
“Such a decision would be unacceptable if the Board of Governors was truly independent of the government of the day because the Board has now been stripped off its proper functions. The Lands Authority has become a department once more, where decisions are taken by the few, in darkness and in a non-transparent manner, a perfect recipe for scandals such as Australia Hall, Cafe Premier and Old Mint Street.”
Callus said he discussed his position on the board with PN leader Adrian Delia and that the two of them agreed that the Opposition shouldn’t “partake in the erosion of our institutions”.
The regulator has been captured by the state. We won’t be part of this. Nationalist MP Ryan Callus resigned from Lands Authority board with my approval. https://t.co/XBtOSOzTey
— Adrian Delia (@adriandeliapn) November 5, 2019
“The regulator has been captured by the state. We won’t be part of this,” Delia tweeted. “Nationalist MP Ryan Callus resigned from Lands Authority board with my approval.”
Ian Borg lashed out at the Opposition, accusing it of abdicating its responsibilities for the sake of playing political games.
“Why is he resigning now? Did he disagree with certain decisions? If so, why didn’t he resign when they were taken?” he asked.
“The PN isn’t credible and, by running away from the decision-making table, it has ensured it won’t be part of positive reforms planned for the Lands and Planning Authorities in the coming weeks, months and years.”
“How can anyone take them seriously as an alternative government if they themselves choose to sit on the wall and play the role of spectators?”
Callus’ resignation comes a few days after Opposition MP Marthese Portelli resigned from the planning board in the wake of its decision to allow a developer to convert an abandoned building in the Qala countryside into a luxurious villa.
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