Three environment non-governmental organisations said they endorsed declarations made by Environment Commissioner David Pace and former planning authority chairmen Stephen Farrugia and Christopher Falzon that “the proposed amendments to environment and planning law are a major step backward” in development planning, heritage and environment protection in Malta.
In a statement, Ramblers’ Association, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, and Friends of the Earth said they believed that measures announced under the guise of reducing bureaucracy revealed a calculated resolve to do away with all internal checks and balances.
“What with the reform of sanitary laws, the proposed removal of both panels of the Heritage Advisory committee, the extension of the DNO application system, and the tightening of political control over appointments?
“The recent development decisions taken by the authority, like the ODZ land in Zonqor and the shameless three-storey commercial building replacing the agricultural winery in Burmarrad, betray the style of autocratic rule favoured by this administration,” they said.
The NGOs said this was also a parallel resolve to neutralise public scrutiny. Recent public participation was purely cosmetic as public consultation took place only after decisions were taken, secret contracts signed and laws enacted.
“The disdain for public consultation was proven on the recent ODZ Policy, when none of the NGOs’ suggestions were accepted,” they said.
The NGOs agreed that what was being proposed was “a structure which concentrates power to a few people and widened ministerial power.
They said it appeared that the sole purpose of all these manoeuvres was to reinforce the minister’s and CEO’s unhindered freedom to favour particular interests, the Gaffarena sanctioning at Qormi being a case in point.
“Who can blame the public for suspecting foul play,” they asked.
The NGOs called for new solutions before the damaging Bills were enacted.
“The NGOs are therefore calling for a round-table conference, including all stakeholders, in order to identify the best way forward.”