Political parties should make their positions known on major projects regularly put forward for approval in each legislature, seven NGOs said yesterday in a joint statement.

“Some of these projects are now being dangled as electoral bait, while silence from both sides has suddenly fallen on others,” the NGOs said. These projects included proposed developments at Ta’ Ċenċ, Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Ramla and Manoel Island.

They also pointed to illegal boat houses at Armier, inshore tuna penning and fish farming, the proposed conference centre at Ta’ Qali and the Gozo airstrip and tunnel.

“These will have a huge negative impact on the environment, go totally against the principle of nature protection, and cannot be classified as sustainable development,” the NGOs said. “Most have no support of neighbouring communities,” they added.

The press release was signed by Nature Trust, Flimkien għall-Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers’ Association, Din L-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth, Birdlife and Greenhouse.