The MEPA Development Control Commission has resigned en masse following a report issued by auditor Joe Falzon which said that its approval of a supermarket in Safi was a “gross irregularity.”

The controversial supermarket development is a Polidano Brothers project and the members of the commission had unanimously voted in favour of the development despite a recommendation for refusal by the Planning Directorate.

The resignations followed Alternattiva Demokratika announcing the auditor’s findings, saying that the establishment was being built on agricultural land outside development parameters, and called for the commission to resign.

AD has also called for the Environment Minister, George Pullicino, to assume political responsibility and take steps to withdraw the permit.

MEPA has issued a statement saying; “Following the conclusion and publication of the final audit report 2008/010 by the Auditor for PA 554/06, yesterday afternoon at 17.00hrs, the Development Control Commission (DCC) Division ‘A’ suspended the meeting they were carrying out in public and immediately called a meeting with the MEPA chairman Mr Andrew Calleja to inform him of their decision to resign en block.

In spite of having submitted the Auditor with clarifications and valid justifications to conclusions in his Preliminary Report, the DCC ‘A’ feel aggravated that the Auditor proceeded to censor their unanimous decision. The DCC feels that this leaves them with no alternative but to resign after always having undertaken their responsibilities with diligence, without any personal interests and with a clear conscience in the best of their abilities.

Following their decision to terminate their services as DCC board members, at around 17.30hrs, the Chairman of the Commission informed the public present for the public hearing that the meeting of the Commission was being adjourned.”