Beware 'vain promises' of development progress, warns Church Environment Commission

The “vain promises” of progress made by moguls “interested in swelling their coffers” should not be taken at face value, the Church’s Environment Commission has warned. In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the Commission expressed its disdain at the “monster” cranes which littered Malta’s skyline but struck a hopeful note in noting that the number of people and communities willing to oppose unsustainable development was on the rise. “The irony of it all is that whoever is interested in simply swelling his coffers tries to have everyone believe that Malta cannot do without such development as this is a sign of progress,” the Commission said. Its statement comes just one day after Corinthia Group chairman Alfred Pisani appeared to liken opponents to his group’s St George's Bay plans to Luddites. “People once feared the introduction of the computer,” he argued on TVAM. “You must always accept progress”. The Corinthia Group is currently renegotiating a deal it has with the government to allow it to develop two tower blocks on the St Julian’s peninsula for office and residential use. Under the initial terms set by the government, the group would pay just €17 million for that...