Mepa should be led by persons truly committed to environmental protection and sustainable development, AD chairman Michael Briguglio said this morning.

Addressing a news conference in Sta Venera, he said that AD in Parliament would insist that Mepa board members and top officials undergo a public screening process through Parliament, and be examined in public on their experience and qualifications, and not on party affiliation.

Moreover, there should be no members of Parliament on the board and more representatives of civil society.

Spokesman Arnold Cassola said that given that both the Nationalist and Labour Parties were proposing regressive and unsustainable tax cuts, and given that funding from the EU was likely to decrease, how could they ensure an expansion of public expenditure at the same time.

“This irresponsible Father Christmas approach to politics has to stop."

AD in Parliament, he said, would only make realistic pledges which were sustainable for the Maltese economy.

Therefore, while proposing strong investment in day care centres and in renewable energy as well as a rise in minimum wage, in pensions for disability and a decent salary for decent jobs, it was also proposing progressive taxation whereby those who earned more paid more.

It was also proposing a one per thousand tax on the sale of bonds and shares to ensure that better jobs and better social measures could be funded in a sustainable way. “This is the way forward for responsible governance," he said.