Concrete action on environment leaves much to be desired – Brincat

Labour's spokesperson for the environment Leo Brincat described the launch of the Environment's Ministry four years work report as a "repetition of the 2008's propaganda".

Addressing a press conference at the PL's headquarters, Brincat said government was trying to make up for the "sins" of the past four years.

"Just before the elections in 2008, government admitted that it had an environment deficit and had made an electoral promise that environment would be its priority during this legislature," Brincat said.

However, he added, government had failed to produce concrete environmental policies in the last four years.

"While it is true government set timeframes for the implementation of its policies - based on the recommendations of the Opposition - the timeframes extend beyond the general election's date and therefore gives government the 'work-in-progress' excuse," Brincat claimed.

"If government truly wanted to set a benchmark, timeframes should be have been shorter."

The shadow minister reiterated that government was trying to make up for mistakes it carried out in the past 25 years, insisting that most damage to the environment was made when it fell under the Prime Minister's portfolio.

"The sins carried out by George Pullicino when he was the minister for the environment are nothing compared to those carried out by Gonzi when the environment was his responsibility," he said.

Brincat insisted that most policies are more meant to address the environmental harm and scandals brought about by the Nationalist government.

"It is useless for government to praise its fight against air pollution if it isn't capable of finding a solution to its workers working at Hexagon House, who up until last week were still complaining of foul smells," Brincat said.

He also criticsed MEPA for not acting as much as the watchdog it should be: "While MEPA, as the operator, issues the policies, the operator on the other hand does what it wants," he said, referring to Enemalta's mercaptan case.

He also said that government had proved the PL right when government had commissioned a SWOT analysis which found out that there wasn't enough awareness on the effects between the environment and health.

Brincat said it was worrying that in Malta existed no "environmental crimes concept". He said that while Falzon Waste Oils had been found to be the source of foul smells at Hexagon House, yet MEPA this morning granted the company an environment permit.