The government’s plans for the environment in the budget reminded Labour MP Marlene Farrugia of the bridge built by the previous government in Valletta which led to nowhere.
Speaking during the Budget debate on the environment, she said the environment, neglected by the previous administration, was not being given the priority it deserved.
The outspoken government MP said that, in her opinion, the people were not being given a clear picture of where the government wanted to take the country environmentally.
What was going to become of the remaining unbuilt zones, the shoreline and air quality, she asked. Although it was true that the air would become much cleaner once the power station was transformed to gas, the deadline, she criticised, had already been changed twice.
The country, Dr Farrugia said, lacked an agricultural policy and a national water plan. A certain amount of seriousness and responsibility had to be shown in this particular sector.
She asked what would happen if all the policies issues lately were exploited by people who wanted to make use of them. Would the resulting development be sustainable health and resources wise?
Dr Farrugia asked if Malta was willing to sell the little clean air it had left for development and mass tourism.
The minister she said, was doing all he could in the parameters he had. She praised his afforestation plans but asked where would such afforestation take place. Although there was a will, where were the plans, she asked.
She appealed for focus on the sector for a plan to be drawn up to safeguard what remained for future generations to enjoy.
SOME ANIMALS MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS
Nationalist MP Michael Gonzi this evening accused the government of literally implementing George Orwell’s quotation "all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".
For the government, he said, only gave rights to certain animals. The only right birds had under this government was to be caught.
Dr Gonzi asked if it was true that 500 out of 700 birds smuggled into the country and placed under quarantine died and why.
He asked if an autopsy had been held on those that died and if those that remained alive had been ringed.
He also asked where were they released.
Dr Gonzi asked what controls were in place regarding exotic and dangerous animals and whether antidotes existed in case such animals escaped.
Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said that the smuggled finches died because they had arrived in Malta in a bad state having been greatly stressed during the trip.
The government, he said, had to obey the court order that had been issued. He also said that those that survived were released in Comino.