Candidate launches campaign in a quarry

Alan Deidun, a Nationalist candidate for the European Parliament elections, launched his electoral campaign today, in a quarry in Siggiewi.

He said he chose the site because it was one of the many places around the island that showed the stark contrast between Malta’s environment and its defacing. He pledged to put the environment at the centre of his campaign and said that the fact that he was contesting under the PN flag only meant that the party was behind him.

He said that his commitment remained towards the environment and where the PN deserved to be criticised, he would do so. In fact, he said, the launch of his campaign was being carried out in front of the quarry owned by a contractor who has been linked with the PN.

Dr Deidun said the country was facing three main issues: the economy, illegal immigration and the environment.

With regard to the environment, he was proposing that local councils and non-governmental organisations should be granted the legal authority to initiate proceedings against illegalities on public land. To facilitate this he suggested drawing up a register of public land that would be accessible to the public.

Secondly, he suggested setting up an environmental legal aid system that would operate through an independent board funded by part of the fees paid by developers upon applying for projects. This would correct the current system were only people who could afford to make complaints with the relevant authorities had their voice heard. It would also help to tap into the technical recourses within the University to provide adequate advice and consultation to the public.

Finally, he suggested the introduction of a green certificate whereby projects funded by the EU or public funds would only be allocated to companies which had this green track record.

Dr Deidun said his campaign will not be limited to the environment, as he would be looking into issues such as education, youth, transparency and accountability among other things.