Public domain law is new environment minister’s ‘first challenge’

An upcoming law that will prevent the commercialization of Malta’s coastline and heritage represents new environment minister Jose Herrera’s first challenge, Opposition MP Ryan Callus said.

“This is the first chance for Herrera to prove that he means business,” he said. “Hopefully the Opposition will have other chances to collaborate with him in the future as we did for this law.”

The Public Domain Bill, which was proposed by the Opposition, is set to pass into law when it is published in the Government Gazette on Friday.

Through it, the first 15 metre of coastline will automatically be recognized as part of the public domain. Other areas being proposed for public domain include valleys, forested areas, nature reserves, open countryside, public squares, forts, parks and any site of ecological or historical importance.
The law would enable the government to declassify parts of the public domain through an act of parliament, but only with the support from the majority of MPs.
NGOs will be allowed to propose land parcels that should be declared as public domain, and the government will be obliged to respond to their requests within four months.

Delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament, Herrera – who replaced Leo Brincat as environment minister during a recent Cabinet reshuffle - hailed the law as one that will safeguard the environment for future generations.

“The previous administration had issued a White Paper on the topic but it didn’t have enough time to transfer it into law,” he said. “This government has, along with the Opposition, presented a holistic law.

“In the coming weeks, I will consult with the Opposition so as to pave a way forward for the implementation of this law.”

Herrera’s speech was met with desktop-thumping from Opposition MPs, and shadow justice minister Jason Azzopardi – who spearheaded the public domain Bill along with MPs Marthese Portelli and Ryan Callus – said that meeting the new minister was a “great experience”.

“Meeting [Herrera] was a great experience, and I am not paying a compliment at the expense of the truth,” he said. “It was a true example about how things should be done. We are the guardians of future generations and I am proud to be part of an Opposition that proposed this law, but we must now put words into fact.”

He urged Herrera to “hit the ground running” and immediately establish an initial list of lands and sites that undoubtedly form part of the public domain.