Construction trade fair opens in Palma

Builders are tired of being blamed for the degradation of the landscape, according to Joan Matamalas, president of the Balearic Promoters Association and head of the organising committee of the Habitat 2001 construction trade fair. He was speaking at the opening of the fair in the precinct in the Poligono de Levante. In his opening speech, Matemalas blamed the image offered by the building sector on the administration, because “the duty and right of the constructor should be to build where legislation allows.” He said it was unfair for the sector to be blamed for degradation of the landscape. Aiming his comments at deputy leader Pere Sampol, who was also at the opening, Matemalas expressed the sector's concern at “circumstances and clouds which threaten our economic sector and the future of thousands of workers and companies in the islands.” He called for “reasonable regulations for planned growth,” and called on the government “to respect legality and right to ownership and to find a balance between protecting the environment and construction.” Matemalas described the fair as representative of the importance of the construction sector in the Balearic economy. More than 220 firms, 69 of them from abroad, are taking part in the fair which has an exhibition area of 2'600 square metres.