Democratic construction? : an exploration of stakeholder participation in construction policy, process and outcome in Malta

Abstract

The land in Malta is at a premium and the planning process for development includes an application to the Planning Authority. Part of this process includes a public board meeting with participation of the public. Using the Manoel Island Development Project as a case this study investigated the democratic deficit during the participatory process of this project. Analysis of contemporary online and print newspapers and interviews with representatives of Planning Authority, the Environment and Resources Agency, the NGO, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Inħobbu l-Gżira, the Malta Business Association and the Manoel Island Foundation resulted in substantial democratic deficit. This has been shown by a lack of proper and outdated environmental, social, health and archeological impact assessments, involvement of personnel with evident conflict of interest and the snubbing of an 8,500 strong petition. Political interference with PA decisions and uneducated public help maintain this democratic deficit. Having identified the possible origin of this democratic deficit in the participatory process in large development plans, I suggested mitigation of this deficit. These include: education of the public especially in planning and environmental issues, suggestion of impartial and independent planning authority board members, ratification of the ELC, enacting laws to protect the environment and making sure they are enforced and have a proper and sincere dialogue with stakeholders from the very beginning of the planning process. Also, it is important to give ERA some teeth, use of surveys to assess what the public wants and create a well thought consistent environment friendly long-term plans for development that would not be changed with every change of government.