Alternattiva Demokratika's spokesman for sustainable development, Carmel Cacopardo, yesterday "invited" the Prime Minister to prove his latest commitment towards reforming the Malta Environment and Planning Authority by publishing the auditor's report on the controversial Sant'Antnin waste recycling plant within 48 hours - after which time, he warned, he would do it himself on AD's website.
More of a challenge than an invitation, Mr Cacopardo, holding the unpublished 120-page report, could hardly wait for the two-day deadline he set to Dr Gonzi, offering a sneak preview of the document, which, this time last year, Mepa insisted would not be published.
Mr Cacopardo said it explained the way the plant permit was issued and who "got involved in the process without needing to".
The report shows "Marsascala residents were taken for a ride throughout the entire process," he said.
The report highlighted the lack of a number of necessary studies on the plant, including its health impact on residents, he said, adding that AD wanted these to be carried out as soon as poss-ible. Regarding Dr Gonzi's comment at a press conference earlier in the day that if Mr Cacopardo had any evidence that he (Dr Gonzi) was not transparent, he should have passed it on to the Police Commissioner, the architect and former PN president retorted that the Police Commissioner did not deal with issues of transparency.
Little was it known, Mr Cacopardo continued, that when Mepa's deputy chairman, Catherine Galea, who resigned over Mellieħa's Santa Marija Estate issue, was chairman of the Development Control Commission, the audit-or had issued six censorship reports, one of which was made only 15 days before the Prime Minister appointed her deputy chairman.
Mr Cacopardo insisted that the Environment Minister was aware of the reports. He said he would have expected these people to resign, adding that, in the case of Ms Galea, steps should have immediately been taken when the first report was made.
Mr Cacopardo was speaking with the backdrop of AD's nine candidates, who are contesting the 13 districts: chairman Harry Vassallo on the eighth and 10th; Mr Cacopardo on the third and 11th; accountant Edward Fenech on the first and sixth; educator Mario Mallia on the second and eighth; technician Christian Mizzi on the fourth; engineer Patrick Attard on the fifth and 12th; chemist Ralph Cassar on the seventh and 11th; Arnold Cassola on the ninth and 12th and educator Victor Galea on the 13th.