A group of local environmental NGOs have teamed up together to call on MEPA to provide a clear explanation on the amnesty proposal, which was announced a few weeks ago, arguing that such sanctioning would only lead to more abuse.
MEPA is in the final stages of proposing an amnesty to sanction long-standing illegal developments - meant to wipe out up to 10,000 of the authority’s pending enforcement cases and to rake in more than €20 million. The scheme will apply to all infringements that took place before 2013 and those outside development zones that took place before the full establishment of the planning authority in 1994. The proposal is yet to be approved by the MEPA board as well as the cabinet. Boathouses in Armier will not be included.
The group of NGOs, which include Flimkien għal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA),Friends of the Earth Malta, Ramblers Association, Din il-Helwa, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement (MOAM), Zminietna ,Nature Trust Malta and Noise Abatement Society of Malta (NASoM), said the plan will provide amnesty to those who have 'stolen from the public' and who failed to shoulder responsibility. In addition, MEPA will be opening doors to abuse, rather than abiding by its role to safeguard the environment.
The organisations are asking the authority to provide a detailed explanation about the scheme and to publish a report on why official pardon should be provided, and what its impact will be. They have also asked MEPA to publish a scientific study on the economic and environmental impact which irregularities set to be sanctioned have posed, and not to include outside development zones and coastal developments in the plan.
Addressing a press conference this morning, representatives of different NGOs said that such amnesty represents a threat to democracy, social justice and sustainable ecology. “This is not simply about economics. Sanctioning those who have done wrong sends the wrong message to society.”
The NGOs claimed that although MEPA's role is clearly defined, something along the years has gone severely wrong, and it is the authority’s own responsibility to fix its own problems.
In addition, they argued that the 10,000 figure is misleading, because it does not include cases which were reported, but which never had an enforcement notice issued upon. Such cases date back to 1993.
‘MEPA has shifted role from regulator to facilitator or abuse’
Describing the proposal as a ‘mockery of MEPA’s regulations’, the NGOs claimed that MEPA has failed to properly enforce its regulations, and is now using amnesty to straighten things out. Representatives argued that despite the authority’s role being clearly defined, something along the years has gone severely wrong, and it is the authority’s own responsibility to fix its malfunctions.
“We will not stand by and watch, as MEPA shifts its role from regulator to facilitator of abuse, despite the announcement of this amnesty being timed to catch the NGOs at a point when they are already swamped by the hunting referendum” FAA’s coordinator Astrid Vella said. “MEPA is relinquishing all pretence of its role as a regulatory authority, and putting into question its very reason for existence. Over-development is reaching new heights, as this government seeks to stimulate growth in an industry that has already stifled urban areas.”
“Such amnesties foster a culture of abuse, encouraging others to break the law in the almost surety that one day they too will be granted an amnesty,” the coordinator continued. In Italy, research showed that development abuse increased by 30% when a similar amnesty was implemented.
“Instead of strengthening its enforcement directives, MEPA is trying to do away with not carrying its job.”