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Curia's Environment Commission voices concerns
By MaltaMedia News
Mar 27, 2008 - 9:19:28 PM
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The Environment Commission within the Archbishop’s Curia has issued a statement saying it feels duty-bound to express its concern regarding recent issues relating to MEPA operations that have come under public scrutiny and the scrutiny of MEPA’s own auditor.
 Among these cases it is including the Sant’Antnin recycling plant, the Safi Supermarket and the Mistra controversy. The Commission states that the audiotr’s conclusions about these cases should worry anyone who holds close to his heart Malta’s natural heritage.
“Despite whatever the politicians have said, there is a need for a change in how MEPA operates.” said the Environment Commission “but we have to be careful and make sure that it is not merely a cosmetic change.”
The Commission’s statement is also uncompromising on those who have acted irresponsibly in the mentioned cases saying that a job change or tranfer would not be sufficient in the circumstances. Whoever is found to have acted irresponsibly should be held to answer for his responsibilities and whoever has the political responsibility to ensure that MEPA operates justly should “take corrective action right away.”
Amongst other things, the Environment Commission is also appealing for the introduction of a Whistleblower Act.
Moreover, the Commission has come up with a number of suggestions relating to the way MEPA operates.
It is calling on MEPA, for example, to change its current practice about project consultants and instead of allowing developers and contractors propose their own consultants who in turn are approved by MEPA, the Authority should appoint its own professional consultants.
The Commission stated that the auditor’s reports have clearly shown that instead of an objective analysis and appraisal of the projects, consultants are often presenting technical apologies to try and justy development projects. This merely reveals poor professional ethic and lack of social responsibility.
Another worrying point, the statement argues, is that the Malta Tourism Authority is putting economic values before values of environmental sustainability forgetting all the while that the natural heritage is part of the product the tourist is getting.
In view of all this the Commission laid down a number of suggestions including:
• Dividing MEPA in two; environment and planning.
• The way the MEPA board members are chosen and who they respond to.
• A re-examination of all the recent cases on the approval of which doubts were recently cast.
The Commission has also called for more transparency within the Authority so that it can truly serve the purpose for which it was established, namely the guardianship of the natural heritage.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
Mar 29, 2008 - 1:36:50 PM CET
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