31st August 2001

Tuna farm decision shows that environment is not taken seriously by government

Yesterday’s decision to grant a permit for an extension of a tuna farm in St. Paul’s Bay is yet another clear indication that the government is not taking its environment responsibilities seriously. Both the representative of the government, MP Michael Bonnici, and the representative of the Environment Ministry, Louis Vella, voted in favour of the environmentally damaging tuna project.

What happened at Mgarr ix-Xini pales into insignificance when compared to many of the decisions taken by the PA Board. The Board is made up of people who have be chosen with a mandate to follow the Structure Plan and protect the environment. All too often this is not being done. Those Board members that voted in favour of the project should resign.

The Minister for the Environment, Francis Zammit Dimech, should also shoulder his responsibilities and explain why his representative on the PA has continually voted for projects that are damaging to the environment. It is about time that the Minister starts to speak in favour of the environment and to take decisions so that Malta can start making some environment improvements. If he is not prepared to do this, given his abysmal track record, he too should resign.

Friends of the Earth (Malta) has no faith in most of the members of the PA Board and believe that all those that voted for the Tuna penning project should resign or be removed from office. Keeping the same or similar people, on the Board can only mean more disasters when our environmental situation is fast reaching disaster point. At least one environmentalist should be appointed to the Board.