‘Diversity’ is the main reason that has been put forward by Planning Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri to justify denying environmental expert Alan Deidun a seat on the planning board.
The Sunday Times of Malta reported on April 17 that Prof. Deidun was refused a seat despite receiving the majority of nominations by environmental NGOs.
The parliamentary secretary said this was untrue, since Prof. Deidun received only two nominations – something that has been denied by the NGOs that nominated him.
Dr Schembri in fact rejected all criticism of the selection process, saying “the facts presented in the article are misleading and meant to obscure the truth in an attempt to put into question the selection process by the parliamentary secretary”.
Several NGOs criticised the selection process, including Friends of the Earth, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar and Din l-Art Ħelwa. NGOs submit nominations for their representative on the planning board, according to the Planning Authority Act implemented after the split of Mepa’s environment and planning functions.
The NGOs criticised the timing of the request to submit nominations. They received an email on Maundy Thursday instructing them to nominate a representative on the planning board within four days, over the Easter weekend.
The office believes having gender balance will lead to a wider, more holistic perspective
Apart from the timing, they also said the letter was sent to a list of addressees that included people and organisations that had never worked on planning issues – some were not even NGOs. Again, this was denied by the Planning Parliamentary Secretary.
The Sunday Times of Malta has seen the list of recipients, which includes organisations and individuals who have never uttered a word on planning issues.
Neither are they actively involved in the environmental movement.
Dr Schembri insisted Prof. Deidun should not sit on the planning board because he already has a seat on the Environment Authority board. Yet, there is no provision in the law that states an individual cannot sit on both the environment and planning boards. The law actually stipulates the opposite – that the environment board must be represented on the PA board.
The Planning Parliamentary Secretary said “diversity” was important, despite criticism of the lack of diversity in the board’s political leanings. She also referred to gender balance. “The office believes that having gender balance within [sic] board members chosen will lead to a wider and more holistic perspective in decision making,” she said.
Prof. Deidun, who is renowned for his consistent criticism of planning policies and the abuse of land, maintained his position, branding the selection process as “a well-conceived ploy” to keep “a thorn” like him away from the PA board.
The person to take the seat is Annick Bonello, a council member of Nature Trust. The organisations that spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta stressed that they were not critical of Ms Bonello but of the selection process. Nature Trust defended its representative, saying she was well versed academically and through her voluntary work on planning and conservation issues.
The organisation stressed it has always remained politically neutral, referring to its objections to the Verdala and Majjistral golf course under the previous government as well as the Żonqor project being implemented by the Labour government.