PN welcomes MEPA reform
The Nationalist Party welcomed the Mepa reform approved by Parliament this morning.
The reform, it said in a statement, followed a wide-ranging consultation process with all stakeholders and the public.
The need for MEPA to be better organised, less bureaucratic, more efficient and more accountable to the public had long been felt and was further highlighted in the national conference that was held on the reform.
Over the years Mepa brought about a radical change in developments but the growing need for sustainable development required the authority to be better equipped to strike the appropriate balance between development and the environment.
The PN said Labour was now trying to downplay the significance of the reform.
More than a year ago Labour Leader Joseph Muscat had promised to set up an internal commission to analyse Mepa and make its own proposals but this promise was not delivered, it said.
Labour waited for the Parliamentary debate to commence before coming up with three proposals which had already been discussed and were being consolidated in the bill.
Mepa, the PN said, was there to serve the public and this much needed reform, the implementation of one of the most important PN electoral pledges, would strive to bring the necessary change that people rightly expected from such an important entity.
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Silv. Cutajar
Mar 21st 2010, 09:30
What reform? LOL
Pullicino in 2006 and Gonzi in 2010 should be ashamed of not acting to seriously protect the environment from further rape.
And PN used to harp that the EU Environment laws defend the environment f xi priedka tal Hadd f xi kazin tal PN. X CAJTA GOFFA DIN. VERU TAL-MISTHIJA. Anki l-EWROPA BHAL PILATU GHAMLET. GRAZZI EU.
Why are certain policies as the ODZ and FAR issues still awaiting ministerial approval since 2002 and 2006 respectively? A real reform is long overdue and we still have to wait many more years for it.
MEPA is just a cover up!!!!!!!!!!
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 21st 2010, 08:42
@ M. Brincat
.....u fil-MEPA ma nemnux.
D. Farrugia
Mar 21st 2010, 00:08
The trouble with Mepa is that ever since joining EU top priority has been EU Directives (which, sadly, are still being poorly implemented) at the expense of equally relevant national-level designations that do not feature within EU’s legislature. One classical example is the designation of a Special Area of Conservation through the EU's Habitats Directive which was used to circumvent local legislation. How? By permitting development within the highest level of protection (Bahrija valley), which was protected as an area of ecological importance way before we joined EU! The last permit was withdrawn, but since the rest were issued before the area was declared SAC they were allowed to wreck havoc nonetheless, which does not make sense. Such attitude is definitely not in the interest of the general public, not least to our environment! A successful reform will be that which sees national-level conservation legislation as complementary to EU Directives, and one which addresses the many problems emanating from the decision-level of the organisation. If not, past atrocities will continue unabated.
E. Azzopardi
Mar 20th 2010, 21:37
The Reform looks very nice on paper but then will it be turned into the real action which is promised on the said paper? Of course one is sceptical. With good reason.
We "hope" that this is IT. But then "hope" is eternal and the last thing to do die!!!
We shall see.
m. calleja
Mar 20th 2010, 20:31
These are our leaders? Pointing fingers at different parties trying to dilute their delayed promises... Just get on with it!
Every day that passes, the open door of mepa allows for so much more irreparable damage to continue within our country. We are already facing so many odds right now, with rising bills, taxes... and all we get in return is the a government that does not focus on the voices of the great amounts of people but on where to get more money from. Lets hope this is does not recure in the mepa reform.
We need something done once and right, for the greater good, preserve our country...consider what the people need in the future and lets try sustain an identity and not turn our gem of an island to one tainted by concrete jungles!
Malta is so tiny why do we need more buildings?
Create restrictions and consider the essential needs of our communities. More green areas within towns, underground car parks, public sports parks and take it easy with the excessive abuse of building flats just for an investment!
We need change before its too late.
Brendan King
Mar 20th 2010, 18:53
Nothing to worry about then, is there? As long as the PN approves the Government's doings everything must be tops - nothing could be better. Pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse as somebody aptly said, lead by a Government tal-Mickey Mouse!
Joe Grech
Mar 20th 2010, 17:47
''Mepa, the PN said, was there to serve the public and this much needed reform, the implementation of one of the most important PN electoral pledges, would strive to bring the necessary change that people rightly expected from such an important entity.''
Readers should note the word ''strive''. Striving to bring the necessary change certainly does not mean that the necessry change WILL BE REALISED....
May Mepa Reform truly stop the sheer sacrileges being wrought on our environment - as our leaders just look on open-mouthed. The abuse continues to happen even today.
Can anyone blame people for getting to think that this abuse is institutionalised? How else can we build a residence in the Bahrija Valley, construct a restaurant at Dwejra, continue to ruin Village Cores, turning Town and Village Gardens into Garage Complexes or Blocks of Flats.....
Mepa Reform requires Institutional Will to succeed. Sadly that WILL seems to be nonexistent at present. Hopefully there will be a real change in this attitude.....
G Bugeja
Mar 20th 2010, 17:33
Cool, so now PN had a change of heart - at one point they say no proposals and now they say they are being consolidated.
Weak reply confirming opposition is alive and kicking with criticising and proposing.
Thanks PN.
Joseph Grech
Mar 20th 2010, 17:11
I bought the Malta Independent today and there is a loooooooooong list of New Applications for Development Permission which Mepa now needs to decide upon. Believe it or not there are Eight (8) newspaper pages each crammed with an average of 45 applications - a total of about 360 new applications. This is just a week's list of applications - imagine how hard the Mepa Case Officers must be working just now!
A considerable number of the applications are ODZ (Outside Development Zone) applications.
It certainly looks like people are rushing to get their applications granted. The administrations is certainly giving everybody the time to do this as Mepa Reform is taking years to materialise.
No wonder people are fast losing faith in this administration!
Charles debono
Mar 20th 2010, 17:10
Jien meta nara kummenti ta kulhadd irrid jipretendi li jifhem f kollox u irrid immaqdar kollox. Jien ma nafx kif nies bhal dawn ma jikkontestawx ghal xi elezjoni. Kulhadd sar espert f' kollox. Darba kien hawn wiehed li kien jahseb li kien jaf hafna imma mil-ewwel rega gie sfiducjat, u mid-derha jekk ser jerga jigri ghax Issa ghadna hero iehor u l-istess jerga jigrina mit-tagen ghal gon-nar. L-ahwa min issa kullhadd irid jifhem qabel na jkun fard wisq.
J.Tonna
Mar 20th 2010, 16:20
Yes maria curmi, just have a look at those who did not offer proposals in "Mepa reform will not change much" and you will confirm that.
j camilleri
Mar 20th 2010, 16:36
I counted 3 proposals in the article you mentioned
Mario Bonnici
Mar 20th 2010, 17:06
Who told you the PL didn't offer proposals?
Why don't you read the other article on The Times of Malta website about Labour's proposals.
J.Tonna
Mar 20th 2010, 19:29
I read the whole article and in it there is "Labour waited for the Parliamentary debate to commence before coming up with three proposals which had already been discussed and were being consolidated in the bill".
Now what??????????
j camilleri
Mar 21st 2010, 07:27
And arent you aware that ironically this is always the PN's excuse? after folowing politics for some years now I know what is true and not.
Unfortunately the PN media is a very good one and they make look credible what is pure crap.
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 20th 2010, 16:16
Dwejra durella qasba u zagarella.....
M.Brincat
Mar 20th 2010, 16:30
Coff tal-bellus . .
maria curmi
Mar 20th 2010, 15:55
And the circus continue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! forever