Pictured above: Sandro Chetcuti, Euchar Vella, Michael Stivala, Alfred Camilleri and Anton Camilleri 

The Malta Developers Association (MDA) and Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) held a cordial meeting this afternoon at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.

The MDA was represented by President Sandro Chetcuti, Vice-President Euchar Vella, Secretary-General Michael Stivala, and Council members Alfred Camilleri and Anton Camilleri . AD was represented by Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola, Deputy Chairperson Perit Carmel Cacopardo and Secretary-General Ralph Cassar (pictured below).

In his introductory remarks Prof. Cassola said AD’s main priority is the environmental deficit in the country. The party has two main preoccupations: the attack by government on what lies Outside Development Zones (ODZs), both on land and in the sea, since it is government that is proposing these projects; and the excessive amount of vacant property – around 30 per cent of all property.
“We hope that you as an association of developers will concentrate also on the need for more rehabilitation of these properties, (which) is much more preferable than touching any virgin land. This I think also creates work for you, for the Maltese economy and the country as a whole without having to touch ODZ,” he said.
Perit Cacopardo praised the MDA for bringing together various sectors of the industry, including property developers, those in construction, allied trades and estate agents, because it was a way of putting pressure on the various players to follow rules, primarily the code of ethics, that they themselves had created.
It was harder to redress the effects of environmental deficit than of financial environmental deficit. Among the impacts he mentioned were the effects on the water table and the decline in the large area of cultivated arable land. “Lessening the environmental deficit is necessary not because we believe in it ourselves but because it has an impact on the quality of life. We are always available to exchange ideas and discuss, as we are today for the first time since you were set up,” Perit Cacopardo said.
Mr Chetcuti paid tribute to AD for putting the issue of the environment on a high level on the national agenda. “We have the environment to heart and we also know that without development the country will suffer badly. We know that the construction industry, development, property and its upkeep are the main motor that generates every other business in the country,” he said.
“I feel that today this is a moment of opportunity for us to meet you in which we can discuss in a civil way how we can marry the environment and development. We have managed to demonstrate in a short period of time the importance of this industry, like you did,” he added, stressing that the lifestyle of the Maltese had changed over the past 60 or 70 years, with living standards rising considerably.
Mr Chetcuti said: “The MDA was a pioneer in stressing the importance of doing proper regeneration. We also gave solutions and opinions on schemes to the Government to take them on board so that the entrepreneur will be more motivated on concentrating on regeneration.”
He concluded by stating that the MDA was open to listen to suggestions on how better planning can be conducted that would benefit everyone in the long term and was sustainable.