Public Domain Bill proposals 'part of integrated maritime policy', Herrera says

Video is unavailable at this time.

Shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi had "pre-empted" proposals launched today by parliamentary secretary for economy Jose Herrera, the latter has told MaltaToday.

Azzopardi in April had proposed a revolutionary public domain bill in a bid to protect Malta’s coastline and seabed, and sites of historical and ecological importance, by preventing their commercialisation.  

Herrera said that a law focusing on the issue of public domain was among the 50 initiatives proposed in the new Integrated Maritime Policy.

“Aside from protecting and safeguarding the environment, the new law would give the government rights over the foreshore and seabed, which is essential for the development of a healthy maritime policy,” he said.

Herrera said that the move had been part of his 50 initiatives and that Azzopardi had in a way “jumped the gun” in proposing the public domain bill given his enthusiasm for the project he had been a part of from the offset.

Herrera also explained that he had a good relationship with Azzopardi and that, following his explanation of why the draft hadn’t yet been announced, Azzopardi had understood and both parties had agreed to come to a mutual agreement.

“I will be presenting some amendments to the bill, and I am sure we will be in a position to present the law together, as this shouldn’t be a polarised issue,” he said.

Addressing the reason why the bill hadn’t been presented earlier on, Herrera explained that given the new maritime policy, a number of clusters would be created by the private sector to oversee specific sectors, but that he wanted to leave all choices up to them.

“I will present my suggestions, but ultimately I will let these clusters form by themselves,” he explained.

Herrera pointed out that he had only disagreed with Azzopardi in so far as the modality of procedures went, and that both parties would continue to work towards an agreement for the better of the industry.