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Matthew Vella
The Malta Labour Party yesterday unveiled a draft environmental policy which will be discussed with NGOs in various assemblies before presenting their definite plan to the party’s general conference.
Unsurprisingly, the draft is characterised by its “pragmatic” tone: “we cannot dream of being greener than green when the use of environmental resources is vital to sustain the quality of life we have.” It is why certain proposals, not least Labour’s discourse on golf course, is harnessed by its “three-legged table” approach: environmental protection, economic development, and social progress as the recipe for a better quality of life.
Alongside their cautious approach to golf course, of which they claim that Malta “can sustain the development of no more than two course”, Labour MP Roderick Galdes who is also a MEPA official says the draft is characterised by an emphasis on sustainable development. “No such development has to occur in sensitive zones or to the detriment of agricultural land,” the draft states, whilst golf courses have to take into consideration their aesthetic impact on the natural environment.
The rest of the draft covers the myriad facets of environmental policy: from animal rights to national heritage, land use to fish farming, and the entities governing environmental and planning laws.
It contemplates “serious and effective reforms” at the heart of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, whose operations Labour says “is without doubt in need of serious evaluation.” They point fingers at MEPA’s lack of trust amongst the public, as well as the need of a serious evaluation of the “so-called” environmental impact assessment.
“Presently MEPA is acting as a smokescreen where government is finding it comfortable to blame the authority when there is a controversy… on the other hand government expected to take merit for the good done by the authority.”
Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday also said every planning policy for the island should stem from a specialised unit composed of various experts “who enjoy trust”, and who would be directly answerable to their minister.
It also proposes wider powers for the central government to review MEPA’s decisions when these conflict with established government policies, in order to increase the authority’s accountability.
mvella@mediatoday.com.mt
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