29th October 2002

Much wrong with MLP document – important environmental areas left out

Friends of the Earth (Malta) welcome the Malta Labour Party’s position paper on the environment but point out that several of its suggestions would do more harm than good and should be removed.

The PN would do well to present its own position paper on the environment so that the public would be able to compare the intentions of all the political parties.

The MLP paper includes several sensible suggestions, but does not tackle Malta’s largest problem properly. Friends of the Earth would like to see targets and timeframes included in such position papers.

Malta needs an integrated plan to deal with construction, land-use and waste so that we build sustainably and do not create excessive waste. The MLP is proposing: high-rise buildings, land reclamation, the dumping of waste at sea and the mining of stone from the seabed. All of these suggestions would have deleterious impacts on the environment and should be avoided if we build sustainably. The MLP should indicate clearly how it intends to manage our land vis-a-vis building development, empty buildings and the rent laws.

It remains unclear how planning decisions will be taken and what structure an environment department will take. The MLP is also confusing matters by stating that it wants a golf course and a yacht marina in Gozo when it is very dubious that these are desirables.

Friends of the Earth (Malta) calls on the MLP to state their intentions on three environmental areas of great importance that were left out of the position paper: transport; agriculture including the idea of organic farming and GMOs and trade.