The decision by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) not to re-appoint Carmel Cacopardo as the investigator in its audit office shows that the board is trying to muzzle its watchdog, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said.

Having a fully functional auditor's office is essential if Mepa is to be accountable for its decisions, he said.

"Mr Cacopardo is known for his unwavering incorruptibility, scrupulous work ethic, technical capability and the meticulousness with which he performs his investigations.

"Therefore, Mepa's failure to re-appoint him is even more suspicious.

"It is very evident that some of the reports issued by the auditor's office recently have exposed too much raw flesh, and so it has decided to do away with an investigator whose working was proving to be damning for Mepa.

"Rather than putting its act together, Mepa has elected to silence one of its harshest internal critics. "Furthermore, the explanations given by Mepa's chairman are totally unacceptable," Dr Vassallo said.

Dr Vassallo said AD is formulating its policy on reform at Mepa.

In a coalition with any one of the other two parties, it will ensure that the auditor's office is fully functional and totally independent of Mepa and its board. This will be done by attaching the audit office to the Ombudsman's Office. The Ombudsman will also be responsible for nominating the audit officer and the investigator, he said.