Parliament is currently debating the separation of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The Opposition acknowledges that this was promised in the government’s electoral manifesto; however, the buck does not stop there. It is not about the demerger per se, but how the changes are being implemented. As Parliament debates and votes on each and every one of the 250-plus articles of the three laws establishing the planning and environment authorities, and the tribunal, our country’s future is being recrafted.
As Opposition MPs, we have already put forward a number of amendments, and will be proposing a number of others during forthcoming debates – aimed at creating a better environment, safeguarding our natural environment and heritage, leaving a positive impact on our lives and on our children’s future. We have acknowledged our past mistakes and the amendments that we are putting forward reflect our determination not to repeat them.
It is no secret that since its inception, Mepa has been criticised for its lack of proper independence from the government of the day. There is little doubt, however, that the authority’s independence has been completely wiped out over the past two years. We have had undue pressure being exerted by the Prime Minister himself.
Do you recall the letter sent in and signed by the Prime Minister that was read out at the start of a public hearing and an expedited, almost fait accompli permit being issued for the Electrogas power station? Do you recall Mepa’s biased exercise in preparing Żonqor’s site selection report? Anyone who reads the report immediately notes that Mepa was not acting as an authority, neither was it acting as a watchdog in the interest of the general public. Mepa became one with the government and the Jordanian developer. Mepa’s independence and authoritative role has vanished into thin air.
Over the past week, during the debates on the Environment Authority Act, we put forward a number of amendments specifically to increase transparency, to increase scrutiny and to ensure that the Environment Authority is given a true voice.
This is why one of our amendments stated that the chairman of the new Environment Authority ought to undergo a hearing before Parliament’s Environment and Planning Committee. There is no valid reason why the government decided to turn down our amendment, especially when it was the Labour Party itself that had pledged this level of scrutiny in its electoral manifesto.
Our country has lost an opportunity to regenerate itself on environmental issues
In voting against our amendment, it has shown that Joseph Muscat’s government does not walk the talk. It is even more sad to note that the minister who should be safeguarding the environment turned down our amendment without a moment’s hesitation. The environment minister has failed to stand up when the environment needed him most.
Another amendment we put forward insisted that the Mepa CEO should not be nominated by government, especially in view of the fact that the 10-man board will be entirely appointed by the minister, except for the one seat which would be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition. We insisted that the CEO should be selected through a public call.
At least this was accepted. However, as Marlene Farrugia rightly pointed out, it all boils down to who is chosen to sit on the selection board. We all remember the charade in the selection of the current Mepa CEO, who had been labelled by then Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia as a “point of reference”, prior to the selection process.
We have also proposed amendments aimed at giving eNGOs a stronger voice. A stronger presence by eNGOs during the decision-making would lead to more transparency and, in turn, more independence.
We insisted that out of the 10 members to be appointed to the Environment Board, six should come from the eNGOs sector and that at least three of these members should be directly nominated by the eNGOs themselves. This proposed amendment was shot down. The government even voted against our amendment proposing that there should be at least one eNGO representative on all other subsidiary boards and committees appointed by the minister.
As Parliament wraps up the Environment Authority law, our country has lost an opportunity to regenerate itself on environmental issues. Nonetheless, our future is worth fighting for. In the coming days, Parliament will be moving on to amending the law establishing the Planning Authority.
Once again, the Opposition will be putting forward a number of crucial amendments aimed at increasing transparency, accountability, public scrutiny, as well as safeguarding applicant and third party rights.
Politicians come and go, but our decisions and their resultant effects remain. It is our primary duty to safeguard the environment for our children and for future generations. We appeal to the government to stop turning a deaf ear to civil society. Let’s stand up and do our duty.
Marthese Portelli and Ryan Callus are Shadow Minister for Environment, Energy and Transport and PN spokesman for Environment, Lands, Planning and Infrastructure respectively.