Environmental crimes

While the government's initiative to clean up and rehabilitate the area from Wied il-Għasel to Wied Għajn Riħana is commendable, the government must assure the people that the polluter pays principle is applied in this regard.

The Project Description Statement regarding this scheme shows that the major negative impact on these valleys is caused by construction industry operations adjacent to the valleys. Indeed, the same government report confirms that for these last few years, construction material from the operating plants was ending up in the valley.

Therefore, while ensuring that work to be done respects the characteristics and biodiversity of the valley, the government and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority must take action against the operators who are the main culprits for polluting these valleys and make them pay for the damage caused.

It's not fair that people are asked to pay for the damage caused to a valley by a private entity when the same valleys should be protected by law in the first place.

The ecological justice we believe in must ensure that whoever caused damage to the environment must pay. The public must not bear the financial burden of crimes against the environment.