Government shifting blame for Marsa fumes off private company - PL

In a statement, the Labour Party said that although Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco worked out of Hexagon House for roughly two months, “it is clear that he has not found the source of the inconvenience that has been dragging on for years.”

Labour spokesperson for the environment Leo Brincat said on Monday that from de Marco’s recent comments, “it is clear that he seemed more interested in indirectly throwing blame on a parastatal company than a private company that was taken to Court only days earlier on the PL’s insistence.”

Brincat omitted referring to Falzon Waste Oil Ltd directly by name, whom Labour had made a formal police report against, which led to the police taking steps against it.

The action followed the publication of reports that pointed to illegal dumping practices by Falzon Waste Oil Ltd as the reason for the toxic fumes that plague the area and MEPA's Hexagon House.

In his statement, Brincat added that de Marco had insulted workers who have repeatedly called for action on the toxic fumes that blanket the area causing health repercussions, by saying that he felt “comfortable” working in Hexagon House.

“At no time did De Marco confirm whether any intensive and professional monitoring of the IPPC environmental permit held by the oil processing company that was taken up to court, and whether the company conforms with regulations,” he added.

“He did not comment in any way regarding how there were days during which the fumes’ effect increases substantially, despite how during those periods there was no fuel or transportation of fuel, as de Marco maintained,” Brincat said.

Brincat also drew attention to how MEPA is considering formal requests for the expansion of existing projects in the industrial area, when “according to propaganda material sent to homes by Minister Austin Gatt on the eve of the general election that pledged the rejuvenation of the area thanks to a yacht marina.”

Brincat also questioned whether de Marco is expecting MEPA workers to now return to Hexagon House and “despite how nothing was solved”, adding that the ongoing work on the building’s ventilation systems is weeks away from completion.

The Labour MP slammed de Marco’s relocation to Hexagon House as a “publicity exercise that threw no light on the problem, or led to specific plans to grab the bull by the horns.”