Fgura council resolves to collect black dust samples

The Fgura local council has approved a motion to collect samples of black dust that plagues the locality and hand them over to the planning authority for testing.

The motion went through with the votes of the five Labour councillors because two Nationalist councillors, Charles Bonello and Mark Lombardo, abstained, while the third Nationalist councillor, Alfred Debono, voted against.

Mayor Byron Camilleri presented the motion because he felt the council should take the initiative and be proactive to help the planning authority tackle the serious problem of black dust.

“The aim is to have these (samples) tested to find the origin and a solution to the problem for the Fgura families to enjoy a better environment,” Mr Camilleri said.

Mr Bonello decided to abstain from the vote, which was taken during a council meeting on Monday, in protest at the fact that the issue had been politicised during a news conference held in Fgura a few days ago and which was also attended by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat.

During the news conference, Dr Muscat and Mr Camilleri condemned comments made by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in Parliament that the planning authority was not doing tests on black dust because “the problem doesn’t exist”. Twenty-four hours later the government presented a motion in Parliament proposing the setting up of a select committee of the House to investigate the matter.

A government spokesman had said Dr Gonzi had first proposed setting up a parliamentary committee in November. In addition, the Prime Minister’s remark that the problem “does not exist” referred to the situation until July 12, by when the planning authority had not received any complaints for 2010.

“We wanted the discussion to remain at council level. The issue should not have been politicised through a news conference,” Mr Bonello said when contacted.

He said he had not been informed of the news conference, held last Wednesday.