'Black dust' committee meets for the first time since being set up four months ago

Shadow environment minister Leo Brincat said in his introduction that the responsibility of the pollution from black dust, which had been prevalent in Fgura and Tarxien, was that of the executive to solve the problem. “Past statements by the outgoing MEPA environment director that the authority had been working on a lasting solution to the problem, made it clear that the onus of the matter rests with the executive.”

The black dust committee was set up back in October after the Opposition criticised the prime minister for having said in reply to a parliamentary question that the dust, which has plagued several towns in the south, had not reappeared since August 2009.

The Speaker of the House resolved to have the committee start studying the recent tests on the black dust situation, so that MPs could then coordinate their requests for further studies and summon experts.

Leo Brincat proposed that all scientific studies pertaining to the problem and air quality of the last decade by any government entity be tabled for the committee. “It’s important that we’re also made aware of any ongoing studies by MEPA on the black dust problem.”

Brincat however said that scientific experts should only be summoned after the committee studies all the reports on the matter.

The MP also said MEPA must submit any samples of black dust it had collected, after having been technically informed that residues of samples collected are always kept by the authority.

“We also insist on an appropriate budget in order to be able to finance in-depth studies, tests and analyses both in Malta and overseas, including lab tests,” Brincat said.

The Opposition intends presenting a list of experts who will testify in front of the committee only once all the studies have been presented and analysed. “Later on we reserve the right to call third parties, including local councils, for committee hearings,” Brincat said.

Opposition whip Joe Mizzi said the committee would have to carry out its own analysis of the facts, and tabled specific questions that the committee would have to deal with.

These included establishing all sources of large dust particles; the number of inspections of these sources in the last five years; how many samples had been taken; the number of non-compliance cases reported and what disciplinary procedures were taken; how many heavy vehicles and seafaring vessels had been reported over excess exhaust and smoke in the last five years; and what sort of tests had been carried out.

Nationalist MP Jesmond Mugliett said the black dust committee was historic for the Maltese parliament. “It’s the first time this parliament is scrutinising the technical operation of government authorities, and it raises the status of our parliament in pushing for greater accountability.”

Nationalist MP Franco Debono said this committee was a healthy medium for Maltese democracy to investigate such problems.

Speaker Michael Frendo, who chaired the committee, asked MPs to prepare the eventual list of experts who would be summoned to the committee at a later stage.