There would seem to be a lot of befuddled thinking over the Baħrija Valley development controversy.

The opposition raises doubts as to whether everything was in order, given that the property in question belongs to Nationalist Party president Victor Scerri and the area happens to be outside a development zone.

The pro-environment lobby decries the damage that would be caused to the pristine area.

Dr Scerri reacted insisting that everything was above board and that he is in possession of valid permits. He even asked both the Commissioner of Police and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to look into the matter.

But, of course, this is not mainly a matter of criminal responsibility or abuse. It has more to do with correct behaviour and sensitivity, of the political and environmental kind.

What really matters is that a new building in Baħrija would destroy the beauty of the valley and a person who represents a political party that puts the safeguarding of the environment as one of its top priorities should have known better than to want to build a house there.

A key question is: Do the political leaders want to protect the very little that is left of the island's natural heritage or not? Or are they only interested in paying lip-service to the protection of the environment? Leaving Mepa aside for a moment, the country's politicians have to constantly act as a vanguard of the drive to protect the environment.

Much has been lost already, mainly through greed of a number of developers and the incompetence of successive administrations in checking the aggressive onslaught of development that has disfigured so many idyllic places. Development there had to be but the island did not care much of its natural patrimony or of the fact that greater attention had to be paid to ensure a balanced development.

Much hope for greater protection had been stored in Mepa but faith in it was seriously dented over the years over developments many feel should have never been allowed. It is almost unbelievable that such a tiny country has been unable to find an effective way to stop further ruin of what is left. In a way, the anger over the Baħrija property story is encouraging in that it proves the existence of a very strong lobby in favour of the environment.

Dr Scerri, who has now stopped the development pending the conclusion of the investigations he has demanded, has been reported saying he had never asked for preferential treatment but neither did he want to be discriminated against. Such an argument may exacerbate the situation for it can mean that if the investigation confirms, as expected, that everything is above board, the development in the valley would go ahead.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who has been dragging his feet over the Mepa reform for far too long now, should have been among the first to publicly come out unequivocally against the proposed development at Baħrija. He fails to admit that building in the valley goes against the grain of environmental protection and he should not hide behind the pending investigations because, as pointed out, that is practically irrelevant to the real point at issue.

What is relevant is that this controversy has greatly added to the frustration of the growing legion of people who wish to see the state - and both political parties - advocating and exercising much greater protection of the environment than is being done now. The people's cry today is: Enough is enough.