The Nationalist Party has accused the government of trying to stifle public discussion on waste management after the Labour MPs in the parliamentary Environment Committee yesterday voted against a PN proposal to discuss the government’s decision to build a waste-to-energy plant.

Committee chairman and Labour MP Alex Muscat had argued yesterday that it would be inappropriate for political decisions to be taken on the issue until a technical committee appointed by the government made its recommendations. The Opposition has so far refused to join the technical committee.

The PN said in a statement today that its MPs, as a compromise, had suggested that the Environment Committee should hear Environment Minister Jose Herrera and WasteServ CEO and also consider studies about the subject.

But the Labour MPs first said that the reports were already public and then when they realised that the government had refused to publish them, they simply rejected the Opposition request.

“The Opposition considers the government's position as negative and aimed solely at hiding the government’s plans in this crucial sector,“ the PN said.

It insisted that all studies should be made public so that there could be public scrutiny and discussion.

“The opposition is ready to help this government without a plan, but the government needs to stop being stubborn and start acting in the national interest,” the PN said.

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