Labour candidate challenges government

Steve Borg, Labour Party candidate for the forthcoming European Parliament elections, has challenged Dr Gonzi's administration to consult with international environmental organisations that are long established as experts in this field, namely Greenpeace International, Friends of the Earth (FoE) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This, he said, would clearly demonstrate that the administration respects people's opinion against incineration.

Mr Borg said that he is making this claim in reaction to the Maltese government's intention to start incinerating waste at the Marsaxlokk power station.

If the government consults with independent organisations, the public will rest assured that government itself is paying attention to the scientific advice and experience that these organisations have, Mr Borg added. He said that he is making his appeal in the light of the government's commitment to transparency and public accountability.

Mr Borg stated that it is painful to watch a Nationalist MEP candidate who is declaring himself to be an environmentalist to simultaneously assert that waste incineration is acceptable in a country as small as Malta.

As a prospective MEP and as one who will place such environmental issues among his uppermost priorities, Mr Borg said that he is expecting Dr Gonzi's administration to give the public a guarantee that waste incineration in Marsaxlokk is neither going to increase the incidence of disease nor have a negative impact on the health of the residents in the south of Malta.