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.

Msida council objects to flats on farmland overlooking Valley Road
Townscapes
The Msida local council is objecting to residential development on an...
Free no more: A price tag on groundwater
Townscapes
For the first time ever, the state intends to impose a tariff on ground water...
Graffitti tells PA: ‘Remove illegal parking before considering Wied Babu villas’
Townscapes
Moviment Graffitti demands reinstatement of a 4,900 sq.m illegal parking to its...
Towering trees along Valley Road to get a shaving
Townscapes
No trees will be uprooted but canopies will be reduced by six metres in...
Maltese companies most likely in EU to import workers from outside the bloc
National
Maltese companies are the most likely in the European Union to resort to labour...
[ANALYSIS] Is Bernard Grech opening the floodgates for Norman Lowell?
National
With MEP elections looming on the horizon, Bernard Grech tries to milk the...
Five-storey development proposed along Mosta’s Wied il-Ghasel
Townscapes
Development height aligned to that of the opposite Casa Arkati • Proposed...
Government scrapes pass mark again, but outlook remains gloomy
Data & Surveys
In the aftermath of the budget, government scores 2.6 marks out of five on...
Lands Authority to discuss transfer of its land in Qajjenza after PA decision
Townscapes
The Lands Authority will wait for the Planning Authority’s verdict on a...
‘Eye-candy’ photomontages can fool planners
Townscapes
Photomontages showing how a development will look like to any person standing...
Maltese public broadcaster among least trusted in Europe
National
Maltese citizens are the third least likely in the European Union to trust...
ODZ shopping mall and hotel proposed next to Marsaskala petrol station
Townscapes
Development which includes a supermarket is being proposed next to petrol...
Portelli bid for 200-unit Msida block has flood evacuation plan
Townscapes
Eight-storey block on Msida warehouse land beneath Regional Road suggests...
[WATCH] Getting things done in the United Nations
Interview
After the Security Council’s approval of a resolution proposed by Malta...
Five terraced houses proposed in L-Andrijiet rural hamlet
Townscapes
Five terraced houses are being proposed on a 771sq.m plot of land in the rural...
Birzebbuga council objects to real estate on Enemalta’s land in Qajjenza
National
The Labour-led Birżebbuġa council has objected to real estate development on...
Patron saints and football stadia: Malta’s predilection for house names
National
Sociological study finds house names associated with the religious or the...
PA approves 10-storey hotel and 75 more apartments in Townsquare project
Townscapes
Project approved by all seven board members present despite chorus of...
PA postpones decision on Labour councillor’s ODZ permit for three-storey elderly home
Townscapes
Application proposes the demolition of a one-storey abandoned farm building...
Abstention increases by 10-points among PN voters
National
As was the case in October non-voters still account for 31.5% of the...