Labour says it has been vindicated by audit report

Labour yesterday reacted strongly to the findings of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's audit report into the Mistra case, stressing that the investigation had vindicated its claims made during the election campaign.

The report was made public on Monday evening by the Prime Minister, who had asked for the inquiry along with ongoing police investigations, shortly after outgoing Labour leader Alfred Sant revealed the case.

Mepa auditor Joe Falzon has called for the permit to be withdrawn on the basis that the approval of an outline development permit for a discotheque on ecologically-sensitive land in Mistra, which belongs to Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, was illegal.

The Nationalist Party ought to give an explanation as to why, up till two weeks ago, it was fully supporting Dr Pullicino Orlando, who was elected from two districts, the MLP said, recalling the stand-off between Dr Pullicino Orlando and Dr Sant before a press conference that was due to be televised as part of the Broadcasting Authority's election schedule but which was postponed after the outgoing Labour leader objected to Dr Pullicino Orlando's presence.

The PN reacted to Labour's statement, saying the manner in which the two parties tackled the Mistra case highlighted the difference between them. Soon after learning about the matter, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had referred the case to the competent authorities while, on the other hand, on learning about the case, Dr Sant kept the information to himself and tried to build up expectations by claiming he had a story to reveal. Dr Sant only asked the authorities to look into the allegations after Dr Gonzi did so, the PN insisted.

Nonetheless, the MLP stressed that the Prime Minister's announcement of implementing the recommendations of the Mepa auditor was merely an act of political hypocrisy and opportunism.

The truth is, it added, that the PN desperately needed the votes of Dr Pullicino Orlando and, even when the party knew about the scandal, it chose to defend him till the end. Now, Labour continued, Dr Gonzi had made a U-turn and was confirming that the MLP was right about the scandal from the start.

In a similarly critical but less accusatory vein, Alternattiva Demokratika's spokesman on sustainable development, Carmel Cacopardo, described as "positive and encouraging" the fact that the Prime Minister had immediately made the audit report public and had backed it.

Had the former minister responsible for Mepa, George Pullicino, acted in the same manner in the past, the situation at Mepa would now be much better, Mr Cacopardo said. AD said the time had come for Dr Pullicino Orlando to resign. "Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has no choice but to resign from his post as MP... (he) misled the public when he was aware of the facts and well involved in the matter," AD argued.

Nature Trust (Malta) welcomed the report saying this case again showed how the Development Control Commission boards had taken a decision that went against environmental protection, granting development in a Natura 2000 site which should deserve the topmost level of protection.

Nature Trust said it hoped that the long-awaited Mepa reform would be carried without further delay in order to guarantee environmental protection and equal weighting in future decisions. The NGO also noted that Mepa boards should have more environmentalists appointed on them.