Leo Brincat lambasts government over Hexagon House saga, black dust committee

Addressing the media outside the Hexagon House in Marsa, Brincat stressed that despite assurances by government  the stench problem will be dealt with, the smells are back.

“In just a week I have been contacted four times about the problem which continues to return,” Brincat said, stressing that those who contacted him have no political agenda, but are “simply concerned about their health.”

He stressed the noxious smells are not a problem of yesterday: “When MEPA bought the premises from HSBC it was fully aware of the smells whilst in 2009, the Opposition started raising questions in Parliament.”

Referring to Mario DeMarco’s appearance on a discussion program on One TV, Brincat claimed the parliamentary secretary for the environment avoided answering questions on the issue.

“But now the problem is intensifying. Moreover, the management at the Hexagon House is more irritated at the fact that the employees are talking to the media rather than working to solve the problem,” Brincat said.

Brincat added that if this problem is not solved, “the union which represents the workers will consider issuing a directive ordering a temporary move from the Hexagon House back to the offices at St Francis Ravelin.”

However, the Labour MP said, I doubt how this can be done since the offices are already occupied.

Referring to a parliamentary question raised in June 2009, Brincat said the Prime Minister had promised that “an immediate action will be taken to immediately eliminate the smells.”

Believing that the smells are coming from a nearby waste oils plant, Brincat said that when the IPPC permit’s company had expired, government had granted a new permit for just six months. “Government had ordered close monitoring of the plant’s operations. However we still don’t know what the results produced,” he said.

Brincat stressed government should lead by example. "If the authority which regulates the environment is not able to tackle and solve this issue, how can other companies be expected to follow regulations?" he asked

Brincat called on to the government to once and for all solve the issue: “If government cannot be trusted to solve this problem, how can it guarantee effective monitoring of the environmental permit of the Delimara power station extension?”

Brincat also made reference to the black dust committee, appointed by government to study what is causing the black dust in Fgura and localities nearby.

“Four months have passed since the committee was set up but the speaker has not yet set up a meeting,” he said.

Brincat explained that the Opposition was skeptical of the idea to have a committee set up by the Members of Parliament, “when we feel that we do not have enough expertise on the issue.”

Brincat said that this decision was taken so the committee “would absorb the responsibility of the government.”