Vince Cassar appointed MEPA chairman
Government appoints Chamber of Architects Vince Cassar to MEPA top post
In the statement, the government announced that Chamber of Architects president Vince Cassar was appointed chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).
MaltaToday had broken the story that Cassar was being touted as for the MEPA top position on Monday evening. Cassar is replacing former chairman Austin Walker.
Cassar, who also served on the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE) has been critical of the 2010 MEPA reform and in a recent interview with MaltaToday, he spoke at length on the failed reform. He was permanent secretary in the Works Ministry between 2004 and 2008, when he retired.
In the statement announcing his appointment, the government said that Cassar's experience of the public and private sectors, his knowledge of sustainable development and environmental priorities, as well as the modernisation he is renowned for, "will be important elements in MEPA's change of direction."
Government added that Cassar will be involved in the process whereby the authority's planning and environmental functions will be separated as per the administration's mandate.
The government said that the authority's two chairpersons, who have a contract established by law, will proceed with their mandate.
The full list of MEPA board members is:
Chairman: Vincent Cassar
Deputy Chairman: Franco Montesin, Sandra Magro.
Members: Paul Apap Bologna (director of important company), Charlo Camilleri (from the Agriculture Department), Prof Victor Axiaq (scientist, environmentalist, University lecturer), Ray Camilleri (representing Lands Department) -Dr Veronique Dalli (Lawyer), Matthew Pace (Financial consultant), Dr Timothy Gambin (University lecturer, archeologist and environmentalist), Dr Joseph M. Sammut MP (Government representative), Alex Vella (representing environment NGOs and member of Ramblers'), Angele Zammit (director of a foreign company in Malta), and Dr Ivan Tabone (representing Transport Malta).
The government also said that the representative of the environment NGO was selected after the NGOs were invited to send a shortlist, and that the Opposition would be communicating the name of its representative following its casual elections tomorrow.
