The Alternattive Demokratika want a restructuring of the building industry, Deputy Chairman of the AD Carmel Cacopardo said this morning on Manoel Island.

“When over 70,000 residential units are vacant and approximately 2,500 families are registered with the Housing Authority we should not be building more places of residence,” he explained. “Chris Said, when he was Minister for Housing had himself said that we should make use of the 70,000 housing units available”.

Carmel Cacopardo has argued three main points the first of which being the Rationalisation Scheme, which allowed people to build in areas where they previously couldn’t. "This should be reversed", he explained. “In addition, areas which had their height limits increased should be brought back to what they were. Obviously in both cases, where people have already built or have received the permits nothing will be done, but at least we will stop new developments”.

The AD Deputy Charman spoke on the importance of coastal defences against the ever rising sea level. “We need more people capable of building as well as up keeping our coastal defences”. Lastly, he explained that allowing people to build penthouses from three stories up rather than from four stories up was a mistake, as people who had solar panels were now put at a disadvantage due to being overshadowed.

General Secretary of the AD Ralph Cassar said that they specifically picked Manoel Island due to the unnecessary development which has been made. When asked about the current accusation of corruption regarding Frank Sammut, AD Chairman Michael Briguglio said that an investigation must take place however the Police should not have waited until the Prime Minister gave the order.