New pressure group meets MPs on Mepa

Members of a newly formed pressure group, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (together for a better environment), have presented a number of MPs, including the Prime Minister, with their proposals on reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The proposals have also been submitted to the European Commission.

FAA describes itself as a non-political pressure group made up of citizens concerned about the threat to Malta's heritage and environment being caused by business speculators. The group was formed after a number of people published an open letter in the newspapers protesting against the threats facing the environment.

In a meeting with the MPs last Monday, the FAA said the main political parties in Malta erroneously viewed the present uncontrolled rate of development as essential to Malta's economy.

This resulted in serious long-term damage to Malta's environment and to tourism. Among its proposals is that practicing architects should not sit on Mepa boards, as this constitutes a conflict of interest.

FAA also questions the DCC boards' ignoring of advice given by its expert heritage boards, NGOs, local councils and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

It condemns practices like the demolition of buildings before the appeal against the demolition is heard.

The FAA also claims that contrary to EU directives, under which Malta pledged to increase the dissemination of environmental information, Mepa was actually decreasing its transparency and public access to its information.

The MPs from both political sides who were present included Franco Galea, Jeffery Pullicino Orlando, Evarist Bartolo, Leo Brincat, Joe Brincat, Tonio Borg, Justyne Caruana and Dolores Cristina.

The FAA has published all the relevant documents online, and has also uploaded an environmental reference library and online articles at www.ambjentahjar.org