MEPA 'accomplice in environmental rape of Malta' - Labour MP Leo Brincat

Brincat said the investigation was necessary to tie up ‘various loose ends and conflicting statements’ but that MEPA “could not be trusted to carry out is own investigations as it had become a political tool.”

Brincat is addressing parliament on the Budget vote for the Office of the Prime Minister, which is responsible for environmental policy and MEPA.

Brincat said the Dwejra incident was a symptom of the state of environment in Malta and MEPA’s lack of credibility.

Environmentalists voiced concern that the extensive damage caused to Dwejra’s rock surface during the filming of ‘Game of Thrones’ – a fantasy TV series currently being shot in several locations in Malta and Gozo – may also seep into the surrounding sea, a designated marina conservation zone.

Production company Fire and Blood Productions apologised for the incident, explaining that the damage had been caused by its subcontractor who “did not adhere to certain conditions of the clean-up procedure”, as detailed by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The substance used to create the effect of a sandy beach was in fact con construction waste lifted from hardstone quarries: known from previous experience to be extremely hazardous to marine environments. Also known as ‘ramel’ (sand) in Maltese, crushed hardstone aggregate is rich in lime, a natural disinfectant which sterilises water and kills micro-organisms, with disastrous effects on sea life.

Previously, six environmentalist NGOs had expressed shock and dismay that MEPA had agreed to grant a filming permit at Dwejra – a national park of immense ecological importance, as well as a Natura 2000 site.

“The silence of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Gozo and tourism ministries is shocking. It confirms the lack of synergy between various ministries on sensitive environmental issues,” Brincat said.

Brincat also raised the issue of a lack of IPPC permit (pollution control permit) for waste oil polluters, as in the case of the Hexagon House smells that were due to discharged waste. “Malta urgently needs an environmental policy implementation plan that is cost-effective, with realistic targets and time-frames,” Brincat said.

“It is shameful that the PM recently refused to inform parliament what legal action was taken by MEPA inspectors every year since 2002 on pollution, illegal scrapyards, and waste in breach of standing rules,” Brincat said in his missive.

“MEPA is not only incompetent but an accomplice in the environmental rape of the island.”

Brincat said MEPA was still planning-driven and it was a fallacy to claim it leans too much towards the environment. “The perception of MEPA corruption is still high among Maltese.”