The role of the Green party in environmental issues

Regarding Victor Galea's comments (July 11) I have to tell him that I certainly have a lot more respect for Alternattiva Demokratika than for the two major parties as far as environmental issues are concerned. The Greens certainly do not bear any blame for the environmental messy state that Malta and Gozo are rapidly evolving into.

How can one forget the debacle of Mistra Valley where the MP concerned has not even been censured? Does ethical behaviour mean anything in Maltese politics? Does the word malfeasance exist in the Maltese vocabulary?

Yes, indeed, the Green party should not be lumped with the big boys on the block because only the Greens have been constantly in the forefront with their campaign of raising public awareness on the problem of over-development and certainly have not rolled over and played for dead like the two major parties regarding the ineffectiveness of Mepa.

However, in my opinion, the Green party has a major roadblock in trying to make a dent in the two-party system currently dominating Maltese politics. This was really brought to light in the last general election.

The PN gained a slight majority of votes and was assigned three additional Parliamentary seats to have a one-seat majority in Parliament because it had won a majority of the votes. Using the same logic, the Green party should have been awarded three seats so that the voice of its voters could also be heard in Parliament. Or, at least, considered for the Speaker's office.

Unfortunately, before this anomaly in the electoral system is remedied, the Green party will always face a formidable task winning parliamentary seats. And, undoubtedly, the two parties will not be going out of their way soon to help them out. But the Greens should not hang their heads low because it is indeed noble to have principles and ideals and then stick by them.