Thursday, 9th July 2009 - 19:22CET
MEPA reform 'not courageous enough' - PL
The entrance to the MEPA offices in Floriana.
The Labour Party said today that the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), announced by the Prime Minister earlier today, was not courageous enough.
The party, however, appeared to agree with the decision to transfer policy-making decisions away from the Authority, saying it was the PL which first made this proposal, and it was criticized for it by the PN.
"Still, one hopes that Lawrence Gonzi will not consider making MEPA an extension of his office, and will instead involve experts, and not politicians," party spokesman Roderick Galdes said.
He said the reform did not place enough emphasis on transparency and accountability.
The reform document was vague on the composition of the Development Control Boards, and it was important that the issues of conflict of interest were resolved, Mr Galdes said.
The reform appeared to be excessively focused on the planning aspect, without enough attention being given to environmental issues.
Mr Galdes welcomed plans to strengthen law enforcement and said it was also good that applicants for development permits were being given a definite period within which they were to be given an answer for their application. But similar promises were made in the past and not kept.
It was also good that the appeals board would take on a judicial function through the creation of a tribunal.
Mr Galdes said it was not clear how the NGOs' representative on the MEPA board would be nominated, and who he/she would report to.
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Comments
A formal presentation? Is that consultation?
Can the PL enlighten us as to what reform would have been done if the PL was in Government that would be described as "very courageous" ?
Concrete suggestions ONLY please?
The PL will never change - they are still ONLY armchair critics and nothing else.
@ Mario Mercieca
Same question - Can you tell us what and how, in your opinion, could have been be more forceful on this reform?
Concrete suggestions ONLY please.
u tal-Jalisse, kienu rebhu Sanremo "Fiumi di Parole"
Imma ghalissa l-PL ma jistghux jikkumentaw wisq. L-ewwel, kif qal Leo Brincat, jaghmlu survey tal-opinjoni pubblika. Skont is-survey x jghid, jiehdu l-pozizzjoni!
"The opposition has turned down the Prime Minister's offer to attend for a formal presentation on Mepa reform because, it said, it should not have to make an official request"
Prosit Sur Galdes .... very consistent. first you refuse to go to meetings then you complain. Shame on you. YOUR constituents expect you to attend these meetings for the good of ALL the Maltese. The country needs a good opposition and unfortunately earthquake or not PL has remained exactly the same.
Just hot air, as usual!
As for courage....how courageous is that political party which refuses to give its views and suggestions from beforehand?
@Mario Mercieca-
What were you expecting? Mintoff style arrogance?? The government has tackled the issue the right way...by way of good reason and judgment!
It is a pity that a party with no vision (oh sorry "moviment progessit" lol) will be in government simply because the other party has been in government for too long (for obvious reasons). A party with no visions results in idiotic taxes ("drainage tax" anyone) or stuff like "CET" (remember that one lol!).
Please PL. Offer or say something concrete that has something to do with a vision for this damned country. Please.
As for those who are taking the opportunity to criticize PL - well gents, don't expect the party in opposition to take the lead and do the work the party in government is supposed to do. The people elected PN to take decsions and implement them. The role of the party in opposition is to criticize where there are shortcomings.
Of course in due time, when PL will be in government, its leaders shall and WILL be able to take desicions where all maltese citizens will benefit and not the selected few. It will be only natural then that the PN in opposition will only criticize.
kemm smajna paroli paroli paroli f'dawn l-ahhar 22 sena! Kieku Mina kellha tikteb dwarhom zgur mhux it-3 minuti tal-kanzunetta kienet timla!
A S U S U A L. Per lennesima volta NEGATIVE.
Nooooooo Nooooooooooooo Nooooooooooooooooo
It seems that everything the government does, they automatically and predictably claim that they can do it better, bigger, cheaper and faster!
Same as the roads they built on soil?
I tried everywhere, papers, pl website, joseph muscat's website...nothing. The PL did not come up with one suggestion. And then they come and tell us that is not courageous enough...where was the labour party during consultation ? where was Joseph Muscat in past months ?
Times goes by and everyone is noticing what is labour party good at...It makes me remember in a famous italian song by mina...parole parole parole.
Biex ikomplu jikkonfermaw kemm ma jimpurthomx milli r-riforma tkun success ghal pajjizna, irrifjutaw li ssirilhom prezentazzjoni mit-teknici dwar ir-riforma qabel thabbret. Dawn qas biss accettaw li jmorru. Qishom qalu lill-Gvern ma rridux nafu.
U issa l-Onor. Galdes, qam mir-raqda u gie jghid illi mhux kuragguza bizejjed...u halluna !!!
Fejn huma l-proposti Joseph Muscat ? issoltu bla bla bla fil-gallarija !!
Critical on certain aspects and positive where it matters. Certainly not the usual scaremongers, dreambreakers.
Mepa reform is good, but not good enough. As a PN supporter I was expecting Lawrence Gonzi to be more forceful on this reform. Still early. I am sure consultation will help.