Denials and public rights

WasteServ doggedly persists in denying wherever Alternattiva Demokratika has raised the flag. Despite WasteServ's claims to the contrary, AD has every right and duty to point out that publication of the Scott Wilson report was delayed for over a year in breach of international legislation on public access to information.

There is little for this government to boast about when it belatedly and shamefully admits that amendments are finally underway to bring local legislation in line with the EU directive protecting people from evasive answers on matters which affect their health. The law was not correctly transposed as should have been done in 2001 when the government ratified the Aarhus Convention on the public's right to information on emissions. Aarhus defends this right even when government-spawned entities such as WasteServ try to wriggle out of it on grounds which no longer stand up to international monitoring.

Correspondence from WasteServ and the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Environment to The Times has carefully evaded reference to a major point of concern identified by AD in the full document but which is absent from the Scott Wilson summary.

The report indicates that inhalation of dioxins, which are documented as "considerable" in the air over Maghtab, become significantly worrying when dietary intake is also taken into consideration.

Information fed to the press by the government earlier this month overlooked this important fact, turning the evaluation of dioxins on its head by classifying inhalation as an insignificant route of entry to the human body. This interpretation directly opposes what is indicated in the report.

Rather than hurling accusations at AD, the Green Party deserves better. It is only after AD intervened that the true facts about the hazardous uncontrolled waste dumps are coming to light.