The Labour Party said it appreciates that, in spite of the many empty vaunts by the government about the environment, it has at last felt the need for a national environment policy for the country.

Labour MP Leo Brincat, party spokesman for the environment, said the PL augured that the policy, apart from being a tool for all stakeholders, would also serve for the government to have one voice and one position on environmental issues, not as had been the case recently about the extinguishing of the Marsa power station precipitators, with Enemalta and Mepa blaming each other for switching them off.

The announcement by the government confirms that though the government has not yet expressed itself publicly, it was appreciating the merits of what the Labour Party is proposing, that protection of the environment cannot remain linked with the land planning sector. The government should give an example of its commitment to integrate principles of environmental management in the main economic sectors of the country, including health, tourism, transport and agriculture.

Everyone hoped that the government’s track record on the environment would not negatively affect all that was positive which might ensue from the political idea, if brought into effect, Mr Brincat said.