New planning ombudsman to publish reports directly in the media

New planning ombudsman David Pace plans to commence planning investigations on his own initiative, even in the absence of written complaints from the public and will be also publishing the results of these investigations in the media.

Pace's plan to divulge his own reports was revealed in the ombudsplan, an annual document presented to parliament by parliamentary ombudsman Joe Said Pullicino which spells out the plans of his office for 2013.

"At the end of each investigation the next step would be that of publishing the reports in the local media with the aim of creating more awareness on these reports."

In this way Pace plans to address environmental issues in a "more effective" and "immediate way" and be able to identify himself with situations which create "concern and anxiety" to citizens.

By publishing the reports he conducts himself directly in the media, Pace will bypass the obstacle faced by his predecessor Joe Falzon who was not allowed to divulge his own reports directly to the media.

Like Pace intends to do now, Falzon also used to commence investigations on his own initiative but could only make reference to his own investigations in MEPA's annual report which always included a chapter written by its auditor. 

The only reports which made it to the press with immediate effect where those handed over to the media by complainants after receiving the report from the Auditor.

David Pace was directly chosen by Joe Said Pullicino to occupy the new post of Commissioner for Environment and Planning, which effectively replaced that of MEPA auditor - a post occupied for the past eight years by the outspoken Joe Falzon.

The publication of reports in the media was always a bone of contention between Falzon and MEPA. Initially MEPA tried to stop Falzon from sending reports to complainants in a bid to prevent their leakage to the press. Former MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja opposed sending reports to the public, arguing that instead of a whole report, only a brief note prepared by MEPA should be sent to those presenting the complaint. In the face of the chairman's opposition, Falzon sought the advice of the parliamentary Ombudsman, who was also of the opinion that reports should be made available to those making a compliant.

But Falzon could only write about his own investigations in the MEPA annual report where he often provided details about cases, which never made it to the media.

Ironically, his last contribution as auditor remains unpublished because MEPA has yet to present its annual report for 2011. Falzon had confirmed that he presented his report way before the end of 2011.