Gozitan property developer Mark Agius – better known as Ta’ Dirjanu after his mother’s supermarkets, and a partner/frontman of most of Joseph Portelli’s mega-projects – has now entered a new line of business as the owner of a top-notch restaurant in Xlendi.

Through a multi-million-euro deal, Agius has taken over il-Terrazzo restaurant at the end of the Xlendi promontory, giving it a facelift and hosting guests for pricey meals.

Just a few weeks after acquiring the new venture, he filed a Planning Authority application to sanction many of the restaurant’s illegalities.

The Shift is also informed that the restaurant’s former owner, who made a killing from the seven-figure deal, was recently recruited as a labourer by the Gozo Ministry and has been put on the public payroll.

According to PA04147/22 submitted by architect Emanuel Vella, Agius now wants the Planning Authority to sanction a bar on an already paved area situated on a Natura 2000 site with idyllic views of Xlendi cliffs. He is also attempting to sanction other illegal structures such as the bar’s light roofing and toilet facilities.

The PA never issued an enforcement order for the illegalities and is now considering the application, which will most likely be approved against a fine.

The restaurant, which has one of the most stunning views in Gozo, started out in a typical Maltese fashion in 1995 as a small ‘temporary’ kiosk offering sunbeds for tourists.

Over time, and under both Nationalist and Labour administrations, the kiosk morphed into a full-blown five-star restaurant with tables and chairs for al fresco dining.

Mark Agius is no stranger to controversy and – together with Joseph Portelli and another partner, Comino-sunbed licensee Daniel Refalo – he has become one of the biggest developers in the country, known for getting the PA to greenlight what are considered to be ‘impossible’ development applications.

The trio is very close to several ministers, including Prime Minister Robert Abela.

Ta’ Dirjanu’s business career is also riddled with abuse of planning laws ignored by the authorities. The most extraordinary illegality, which continues to this day, is an illegal concrete batching plant set up in a quarry owned by the Lands Authority in Kercem.

Despite the blatant illegality being carried out in broad daylight, which has been reported consistently in the media, the government, the Planning Authority, and the Lands Authority have all turned a blind eye to the glaring abuse and have refrained from taking any action. Robert Abela has never commented on the abuse despite his close links to Portelli.

Rubbing salt into the wound, the government, through the Gozo Ministry, conducts regular business with the same illegal batching plant, including procuring concrete for government projects.

A restaurant on a public area! Truly unbelievable!

Not at all. Par for the course in today’s Malta. I am sorry, you are being sarcastic of course.

Hekk sewwa u xieraq! These people are eating all the cake they can possibly eat but one hopes that at the end they WILL get indigestion.

Kulħadd jitqalleb fis-sodda maħmuġa tal-korruzzjoni.

Tajjeb restaurant iehor li se nibbojkotja, u hekk ghandu jaghmel Il poplu malti halli dawn Il korrotti ma jibqawx jistannaw

It seems that the number of eateries decently meriting patronage in Xlendi – and in quite another number of areas in Gozo – is steadily on the decline!

What is amazing is that this so called entraprenuer together with his partners in environmental crime, bought a restaurant, voting a 7 figure amount that has many illegalities. Conclusion: either he and partners are crazy – which I think not. Or, they know that a small fine will sanction this development. Goodness me, they must have some crystal ball that predicts the future!!!! SHAME to all those who have allowed this and other environmental atrocities happen.

A bank would never approve a loan to buy property which is not built legally. This means that the 7 figure comes all from own funds. How can a person at such a young age afford 7 figure illegal restaurants? 🤔

Dak mhux il-kapillan allura jista’.

Anyone smells money laundering??? FIAU still asleep?

Bojkott The shift news imissa tibda I xandar l ismijiet ta dawk li qeghdin jiksru il ligi

Tajjeb li jinkitbu miljun artiklu u li nikkumentaw( ilna ghaxar snin sejrin jekk), imma dawn in-nies kienu jaghmlu li jridu,,ghadhom jaghmlu li jridu u jibqghu jaghmlu li jridu. Ghax il-poplu(mhux jien) f’Marzu qallhom ” komplu hawdu u staghnew”.

To add to this article, rumours in Gozo are stating that they are in process to apply for the reclamation of the sea in Xlendi adjoining to this restaurant.

Tista ma tiekol imkien ghax fi tlett kwarti minnom tkun qed tpaxxi l Mafia.

Agree, laundered money in restaurants concrete or second hand cars.

Ma nafx fejn huma l FIAU. Maz zghir biss?

Some people have golden votes.

Even gozo has turned to corrupt. Shame on you ta dirjanu, not because you do business, but because you do illegal things. Gozitans must boycott ta dirjanu and j p. if they really want to stop corruption otherwise it end up mafiamata,covered in concrete.

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