An internal call could be issued to fill the posts of two officials who tendered their resignation from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, according to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The resignations of Petra Caruana Dingli and Ian Stafrace are still being considered

However, Dr Muscat did not commit to making an internal call, saying the resignations of Petra Caruana Dingli (nee Bianchi) and Ian Stafrace from their “positions of trust” were still being considered, indicating that they might not be accepted as final.

Dr Caruana Dingli, Mepa’s environment protection director, offered her resignation yesterday, a day after Dr Stafrace stepped down as Mepa CEO.

Neither provided reasons although a Mepa spokesman said Dr Stafrace’s resignation was “voluntary” and he had not been asked to leave.

Speaking to the press yesterday morning during a visit to St Aloysius’ College, Dr Muscat said he would be reviewing their offers of resignation “in the coming hours”. If the resignations are accepted, the Government would then decide whether to replace them directly or issue an internal call, he said.

When it was pointed out that his party had criticised the direct appointments in Mepa in the past, Dr Muscat said that was why he was considering issuing a call.

Dr Stafrace was appointed to his post two years ago after having previously served as Mepa’s legal adviser.

Dr Caruana Dingli, former executive president of Din l-Art Ħelwa, was appointed in February 2011. Then Mepa audit officer Joe Falzon had declared her direct appointment as irregular and the Labour Party had called on the Government to shoulder its responsibilities.

The appointment had been justified by the Mepa chairman at the time, Austin Walker, who said it was a faster process than a public call for applications. Mr Walker resigned after the change in government.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party in a statement said the resignations of Dr Stafrace and Dr Caruana Dingli did not augur well for the government’s environment credentials.

It said certain government decisions, such as the project for land reclamation, could pose environmental risks. It could affect the diving industry and threaten the marine environment.

The party also criticised the way the new Mepa board members were chosen and the slack enforcement of spring hunting restrictions, saying this could jeopardise the derogation.