PL discusses Mepa reform

The Labour Party’s position on the proposed Mepa reform was that of the citizen, party leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.

Speaking during a special meeting of the party’s parliamentary group, the Labout leader said the people’s position was that the country should not become a concrete jungle but those proposing development should not be treated as criminals.

The meeting was discussing an independent report on the reform commissioned by the party some months ago.

The commission, Dr Muscat said, held a number of meetings with stakeholders and prepared the ground for a discussion on which the party’s final position would be based. It worked independently.

The PL, Dr Muscat said, agreed that decisions should be transparent and that one should shoulder responsibilities.

The party believed a complete change was needed in the sector for the tax payers, and not just the experts, to understand the procedures with which decisions were taken.

Decisions had to be open to scrutiny and objectors should know what was happening.

Even the system of how appointments were given should be changed. There had to be a change in mentality and not just in administration.

The PL was agreeing and insisting that there should be certainty that people applying for development in the same zone were treated in the same manner. What was good for the goose should be good for the gander, he said.

The PL also believed in practicality and with reducing bureaucracy, which did not have anything to do with accountability.

He and his party did not agree that a reform should mean an increase in fees making them prohibitive.

The party agreed on the need for enforcement.

Dr Muscat said the PL believed in the need for a strategic long term change rather than in the operative changes being proposed by the government.

The discussion within the party, he said, was continuing and should lead to the establishment of guidelines which should help the government implement the reform.