(Adds government's reply)

Joseph Muscat has lost all sense of credibility by going against promises he made during the electoral campaign, environment shadow minister Marthese Portelli told a news conference this afternoon.

“By tackling the Mepa de-merger the way he did, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has not only failed to deliver his own promises but has also betrayed those who truly care for the environment,” Ms Portelli said.

She quoted the Labour Party’s electoral programme, which said that there would be parliamentary hearings for those who would be nominated to serve on regulatory boards and committees.

“The Prime Minister had the best opportunity to show his views on the environment. Instead, he wants to exercise control over the authority.”

Ms Portelli insisted the Opposition’s amendments were immediately shot down by the government.

Environment spokesman Ryan Callus said this was all proof that government did not want to listen and was only after control. In doing so, he added, any valuable contribution by eNGOs was thrown out.

GOVERNMENT'S REPLY

In a reply, the government said the Opposition should remember that its own electoral defeat report which clearly stated that the National government had allowed Mepa to become a monster which nobody could control.

This government had been willing to take decisions in line with its electoral manifesto to change things for the better. The government took on a number of suggestions including eNGOs and amended the original draft of the Bill on the environment.