The Malta Indipendent on line
12 March 2010
by Scott Grech
Two spokespersons on behalf of NGOs taking part in tomorrow’s pro-environment rally in Valletta are confident that the public will understand the reasoning and purpose behind the event.
Eight NGOs, together with a number of local councils and resident groups, are gathering at 10am tomorrow and will march along Republic Street in an attempt to highlight what they say is the continuous damage being caused to Malta’s landscape and environment.
Astrid Vella, on behalf of Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), and Alex Vella, president of the Ramblers Association, said that feedback with regard to expected attendees has been encouraging, before stating that Wednesday’s launch of the National Environment Policy, by parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco, is a step in the right direction.
“The setting up of this policy is one of the ways to go about addressing pending issues which are leaving a negative bearing on the Maltese and the country’s landscape. A case in point is the black dust issue, which is harming the health of many people on the island.
“However, one hopes that the new policy does not fall in the way of the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, where certain applications are turned down at the first count, but later on given approval by other members within the Mepa board to the detriment of Malta’s environment. This is one of the country’s most pressing issues, as a reform rests not only on new regulations but on political commitment too,” commented Mrs Vella.
Alex Vella was also quick to dispel the idea that Din l-Art Helwa, one of the most prominent NGOs in Malta, was expected to join in the rally, since it never attended any meetings.
“Hence Din l-Art Helwa could not opt out of the rally because it never formed part of it in the first place,” said Mr Vella.
While wary of the weather on Saturday, with forecasters predicting showers, Mr Vella said that it is not the number of people on the day which counts, but the message behind the protest.
“Setting up a National Environment Policy is all well and good, but promises to eradicate abuse within Mepa, first by Minister Pullicino, then by the PM and now by Dr de Marco have still failed to leave the desired results.
“It is unfair on taxpayers’ money that a number of experts arrive from abroad to give a series of consultations on a number of applications, but as soon as they depart, their final decisions are cast aside in favour of opinions of a few part-timers on the DCC board. It is unacceptable that, for example, case officers recommend a refusal which is then overturned later by officials behind closed doors.
“This abuse of power has been allowed to continue well into this year. There is still an ‘I scratch your back and you scratch mine’ mentality within Maltese society, and unless people realise that short-term decisions will leave a negative effect in the long-run, things will not only continue to remain the way they are now, but will get worse,” said Mr Vella
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=102928
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