James
Debono

James Debono is MaltaToday's chief reporter on environment, planning and land use issues, and one of the newspaper's main political analysts. Apart from blogging regularly on politics, James Debono won the IGM national press awards' environmental reporter of the year in 2011 for his report showing how a beverage company that extracted over 51,000 of cubic metres of water every year from the national water table for free, was awarded an environmental award by the University of Malta. Debono also heads Mediatoday's survey unit, which has conducted polls on all electoral appointments since 2008, correctly predicting the outcome of all elections and the 2011 divorce referendum.

He read history and obtained his Masters' degree from the University of Malta, and in the past worked for TV production house Where's Everybody before joining MaltaToday in 2005. A co-founder of Moviment Graffitti and active in Moviment ghall-Ambjent, he served as a media officer for Alternattiva Demokratika - the Green Party. James is married and has a son. His interests include listening to music and reading.

Birkirkara hotel back to the drawing board
Townscapes
SCH says that it is awaiting new plans which are more appropriate to...
Ħondoq loophole could open backdoor for new development
National
Ħondoq plan from PA is to be split and regulated by two different policies,...
PA refuses to limit cremation facilities to one government-owned site
National
Planning Authority further reduces the ODZ area where standalone cremation...
Roberta Metsola: Designate leader or prop?
National
By addressing the independence mass meeting Roberta Metsola has raised the...
Solar farm approved on 10,000sq.m infilled Siggiewi quarry
Townscapes
In 2018 the PA had ruled out a similar development on the same site because the...
PA set to approve 13 villas in Maghtab ODZ
Townscapes
ERA had objected to development, but Case officer is recommending approval in...
Quarter of Maltese companies employ non-EU workers
National
A quarter of Maltese businesses employ workers from outside the EU, a recent...
Road access to Smart City to be determined in Traffic Impact Assessment
Townscapes
Smart City has been told to assess the impact on traffic of various changes...
Calypso Cave to get interpretation centre, cliff to be stabilised
Townscapes
Calypso’s Cave overlooks the red sands of Ramla l-Hamra. It is often...
Development in Ħondoq to be limited to afforestation
National
Planning Authority is also proposing splitting Ħondoq in two areas one where...
Cancelling black and brown faces: Identità’s disservice to an inclusive Malta
Blogs
‘Everyone has a story to tell… we make it official’ the...
University to introduce degree in Social Impact Assessments
National
Can these studies become another box to tick without meaningful consequences...
Ursula's SOTEU: Leading in Testing Times or Eurobubble Trap?
National
In her State of the Union (SOTEU) address Ursula von der Leyen was sober,...
ERA stops deposit of silt in Zonqor
National
Public Works Department says works were aimed at clearing storm water tunnel...
PA shoots down attempt to greenwash petrol station extension
Townscapes
A ruse by the owners of an ODZ pertrol station in Burmarrad to get an extension...
Maltese still stand behind Ukraine
National
​Two-thirds of the Maltese believe that the European Union should continue to...
Superintendence okays Savoy hotel’s ‘contemporary’ design
Townscapes
Contemporary design will make historical part more visible, says heritage...
ERA set to object to St Albert’s ODZ application
Townscapes
​The relocation of the St Albert College from Valletta to ODZ farmland in...
Census shows that 70,000 people live alone, but who are they?
National
Gender disparities in solo living: Middle-aged Maltese-born men and elderly...
Pama proposes ODZ garden with underlying shopping mall
Townscapes
Pama gets inventive in bid to develop adjacent ODZ land by proposing a...