Call for clear moral stand on migrants

Alternattiva Demokratika has reiterated its call for the transfer of irregular migrants from the Safi detention centre and urged the government to stop its moral juggling on this issue and make clear choices which respect to human rights.

AD said it will be presenting a memorandum on its visit to detention centres to the United Nations High Commission of Refugees, the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the Home Affairs Ministry.

On a separate issue, AD's Sliema local councillor Michael Briguglio said the last time residents were consulted on the Qui-Si-Sana development brief was way back in 1999.

The 2002 development brief included various commercial developments that were not mentioned in the 1999 brief. This was done without any prior consultation with the Qui-Si-Sana residents, Mr Briguglio said.

He insisted that no development should be approved or take place before the residents and civil society are properly consulted.

"As a signatory of the Aarhus Convention, Malta is obliged to carry out such consultation," he said.

AD also wants a proper environment impact assessment to be carried out on the proposed development.