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Backbencher with guts, environmentalist… but is Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando inexorably tied down by the Nationalists?
Over the years Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has earned a reputation for standing up to be counted whenever projects harmful to the environment were proposed. He was at the forefront in the successful campaign against the development of a cement plant in Siggiewi. He worked hand in hand with environmentalists against the development of an engineered landfill just a few metres away from the Hagar Qim temples.
 Yet last Wednesday, he was one of the 33 government members who defied protests by environmentalists by voting for an extension of development boundaries. Has the outspoken Nationalist backbencher betrayed the environmentalist cause?
Pullicino Orlando insists that even when voting in favour of including more land for development he had a future environmental menace in mind. By saying yes to the government’s plans he claims he has clipped the wings of a future Labour government. “The main reason I voted for the new development schemes is to ensure that Alfred Sant will never have a chance to decide on a case-by-case basis when addressing anomalies in development boundaries.”
The Leader of the Opposition has proposed the appointment of a commission which would decide on the inclusion of new lands in the scheme on a case-by-case basis. The Nationalist backbencher acknowledges that it was not an easy decision for him to vote for the scheme extension. He even says that he would have preferred if some lands were not included in the new scheme. But he feels a sense of urgency to ensure that the chapter opened by the 1988 temporary schemes is closed before someone else makes a mess of it by opening the floodgates of development.
“I cannot risk leaving this sensitive task to a future Labour government. I hope that the PN will win the next election but I cannot afford to take any risks. Had we left this chapter open, in the remote eventuality of a Labour victory, Alfred Sant would have had a free hand to adjust the boundaries on a case-by-case basis.”
But is this simply partisan scaremongering to cover up for the present government’s shortcomings? Pullicino Orlando alleges that Labour candidates are already promising their constituents assistance in getting their development applications approved. He also lambastes MLP-led councils for practicing political favouritism when deciding where projects should take place.
He also resorts to comparisons with what Labour did in the 1970s and 1980s. “Representatives of the Labour Party are now shedding crocodile’s tears on the destruction of an area the size of Siggiewi. When they were in government, agricultural land the size of two Siggiewis was sacrificed every year.”
But there is no need to go that far to expose Labour’s dubious environmentalist credentials. He refers to the proposals made by a commission appointed by Alfred Sant in 1997 to identify government land for social housing purpose. One of the areas identified by the commission was an enormous area in Tal-Papa in Birzebbugia. “Labour is now opposing development on a far smaller piece of land in the same area. This is nothing but hypocrisy.”
But can one justify the government decision to extend development zones simply by referring to the MLP’s sins? Can’t anyone let the scapegoat off for once? Finally Pullicino Orlando proceeds to justify the government’s decision on its own merits. “We were living in a ridiculous situation in which the 1988 temporary provisions were still in place. It made no sense to have what had been intended as a temporary measure, remaining intact for nearly 20 years.”
The Nationalist backbencher also cites injustices suffered by “working class” people who owned plots left out of the 1988 schemes. He does not refrain from putting the blame on previous Nationalist administrations for leaving this problem under the carpet. “I point my finger towards previous Nationalist governments who had not addressed these problems.”
Pullicino Orlando acknowledges that it was not just these common mortals who had benefited from the scheme extension. “But we had to close those pockets left out in 1988, otherwise we would have left this task to someone else. We had to do this irrespective of who owned the lands.”
He also defends government interference in the process citing inconsistencies between the different local plans being drafted by MEPA. “How can one justify to someone in the north that had his site not included despite being in the same position as someone living in the south who had his site included? Had the government not issued uniform criteria we would have ended up in a rebus.”
According to Pullicino Orlando, MEPA was asked to implement the government’s criteria. “It was MEPA which had drawn the maps. This was not a case of the Cabinet deciding on a case-by-case basis as Sant is proposing.”
Some have accused the government of embarking on a vote catching exercise. But Pullicino Orlando rebuts claiming that the PN is bound to lose rather than gain votes. “I have been inundated by people disappointed that their lands have not been included. Very few complained because of the impact on the environment. Apart from risking losing the votes of some environmentalists we risk losing thousands of people whose plots were not included for environmental reasons.”
While agreeing in principle with the government’s decision to extend the development boundaries, Pullicino Orlando criticises the government’s communication strategy. “The government’s public relations skills left a lot to be desired. We cannot embark on something so radical without explaining it well to the people and we failed in doing so.”
He also criticises government officials and party organs for singling out environmentalists for attack. “I feel very hurt when government officials write letters denouncing environmental NGOs. I never expected environmental NGOs to congratulate the government for extending the boundaries. Unfortunately instead of trying to bridge the gap by approaching genuine individuals in these organizations, the reaction of some government officials was characterised by a siege mentality pitting us (the government) against them (the environmentalists).”
While critical of the government’s knee jerk reaction to criticism by NGOs he lambastes Labour party’s spokesperson for the environment for being an opportunist.
“How can Roderick Galdes participate in a protest attended by genuine environmental groups when Labour MPs participating in parliament’s development committee proposed the inclusion of more lands in the new scheme? Through his presence in the environmentalist march he was making a mockery of genuine environmentalists.”
While distancing himself from personal attacks directed against environmentalists, Pullicino Orlando criticises some of the statements made by the green lobby during the past weeks. “I do not expect an environmental NGO to give their approval to more building development and they have every right to protest. But I was disappointed by a number of incorrect statements they made.”
He argues that the claim made by Alternattiva Demokratika that the process was hurried up to avoid submitting the rationalisation to a strategic environment assessment turned out to be a hollow one. “In fact the vote in parliament was taken after 21 July.”
He was also incensed by claims that the process was contaminated by political favouritism. “Mudslinging does not help the cause one single bit. Certain environment NGOs have let their enthusiasm run wild. Unfortunately this undermines their credibility.”
Still both MEPA and Environment Minister George Pullicino have declared that there is enough space within existing schemes to cater for existing demand. While recognising this reality Minister George Pullicino insists that anomalies and injustices had to be resolved. Why has the government not shown the same resolve in addressing the injustices suffered by landowners of properties whose rents are still frozen by the 1939 rent law regime?
Pullicino Orlando does not mince his words on this controversial topic. “When I was speaking in Parliament on Monday I did not refrain from criticising my own government for delays in addressing this problem. It’s about time we take the bull by the horns and address the problem. I have no problem criticising my party,” says the frank MP.
Pullicino Orlando’s pragmatic proposal to get the ball rolling on rent reform is for those presently living in rent-controlled properties to continue doing so until they die. “We cannot have landlords evicting people from their homes.”
He justifies this stand by citing many social cases living in these properties. “It is really shameful that some very rich people pay a pittance for living in such properties and expect landlords to carry out any repairs. This is disgusting. But still there are many social cases who cannot be simply thrown in to the streets.”
But Pullicino Orlando insists that the injustice to landlords should not be perpetuated by allowing the present tenants children to inherit these properties. “We should say that this is the last generation to benefit from the 1939 laws. As soon as these people die, these properties should revert to their owners. We need the courage to embark on this reform”
Once again the MP attacks Labour for creating uncertainty among landlords and undermining the rent market. Back in 1995 the MLP had voted against minor adjustments to rent laws which freed properties sold after that date from the archaic 1939 regime.
“Many property owners refrain from renting out their properties out of fear that Labour would revert to old practices.”
Pullicino Orlando is also wary of Alfred Sant’s reference to the large vacant properties. He points out that a large number of vacant properties are sub-standard dwellings. “One cannot expect a family to move in to a one-bedroom flat in Bugibba”.
He also notes that many dwellings are also left vacant by parents who instead of saving their money in a bank invest their money in a property to ensure that their son or daughter will find a home ready upon marriage. “Will the MLP start requisitioning empty properties left right and centre?”
Despite criticising the government for not embarking on rent reform, Pullicino Orlando lauds the government for not refraining from taking a number of hard decisions. “While Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has not refrained from taking hard decisions like pension reform, the Leader of the Opposition is defying expert opinion, by saying that the pension problem will only effect us in 2025. If anything we should have been more adventurous in addressing this problem.”
Since his successful campaign to stop the controversial landfill in Qrendi, Pullicino Orlando has been less vocal in his criticism of government’s decisions. “Whenever an issue on which I feel strongly about crops up I do not refrain from speaking. I have recently signed a petition against the development of a golf course at Ta’ Cenc.”
He also agrees with calls by environmentalists that Ta’ Cenc should be awarded Natura 2000 status. He also expresses his complete disagreement with the Xaghra l-Hamra golf course which was proposed by the government last year.
Yet Pullicino Orlando would only resort to public campaigns if other methods of persuasion fail. “I do not have to organise a campaign like the one against the cement plant if my concerns are listened to. If I can pass on the message in a more discrete way and if it is coming across, why should I make a campaign?”
Pullicino Orlando insists that he has not been as vociferous as before simply because nobody has proposed anything as outrageous as a cement plant or a landfill next to the oldest standing building in the world. Unlike most environmentalists who consider the extension of development boundaries as the biggest environmental issue in recent times, Pullicino Orlando insists that the extension of development zones cannot be compared to these two issues.
“If developers had their way on the cement plant the health of most Maltese people would have been affected. Had we developed a landfill next to Mnajdra we would have committed an act of disrespect against our ancestors as well as against future generations. Just imagine toilet paper blown by the wind on the face of the Neolithic megaliths.”
The Nationalist backbencher considers the campaign against the cement plant as a highlight of his political career as his intervention was effective. Pullicino Orlando had proposed a private member’s bill against the plant. Just a day later MEPA declared that a cement plant should not be developed.
Whenever Pullicino Orlando embarks on a campaign he is determined to succeed. “I do not want to expose the cause to ridicule by setting unrealistic targets like promising to collect an amount of signatures and than fail to deliver.”
Over the past months the PN has faced a wave of disenchantment and apathy. Pullicino Orlando is aware that people do not feel the same political enthusiasm felt in 1980s when democracy itself was at stake. But why should people continue voting for a party which has been in power for nearly two decades?
The answer is simple: the MLP cannot be trusted yet. “If the MLP was a serious alternative, I would have welcomed the prospect of my party going back to opposition to regroup and reorganise itself.”
But according to Pullicino Orlando the MLP is proving to be the same party it was prior to the 1996 election; by making a lot of hollow promises which it will be unable to fulfil when elected in government. He also attacks the MLP leader for not being trustworthy. “Alfred Sant was President of the MLP when an area the size of two towns like Siggiewi was built up every year.”
So is your only hope that of winning by default? “In the next election the Maltese should vote for the PN to send a message to the MLP that there is no room left for mickey mouse politics. Like Humpty Dumpty, they sit on a wall trying to please everyone. Hopefully after another great fall, a new leader will pick up the pieces and put them together again to ensure that the country has an alternative government.”
Save the MLP by voting PN: curious advice from a Nationalist MP who turns out to be the grandson of Guze Orlando, one of the founders of the MLP.
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