The Partit Demokratiku has shown that it would like to participate in the Waste Management Committee, and went as far as nominating Godfrey Farrugia as its representative, however there could be a problem.

Environment Minister Jose Herrera told the PD that the invitation was sent to the Opposition Leader, and that the Opposition Leader can, if he so chooses, appoint a member of PD to represent the Opposition.

The Nationalist Party, to some controversy, has so far refused to participate in the committee,

PD, in its earlier statement, said, "In a small island nation with limited land space, waste management requires careful planning as well as supervised, exact implementation of any such plan. Needless to say, any such plan would require a long-term vision but with defined short- and medium- term solutions which put the environment as its main objective."

Partit Demokratiku had said that the Opposition is duty bound to actively represent all those who entrusted it with the responsibility of scrutinising the government's operations, while coming up with alternative solutions.

It added, "In parliamentary democracies abstaining from participating in committees, such as this one, only encourages the government to further alienate the people from the decision-making process. Lack of consultation with those representing the people on both sides of the house, can only lead to one-sided plans that benefit a segment rather than the entirety of the Maltese population."

 

The minister however, said that government had invited the leader of the Opposition to nominate a person to the committee. "I understand that this invite was not accepted, but government is willing to accept a nomination by the Opposition Leader if he reverses his decision."

The minister said that the Opposition Leader is at liberty to nominate whoever he likes, "including one of you as members of the Opposition."

The minister made reference to a Constitutional Court decision regarding orange party candidates being elected on the PN party list. "If the court decision was different, the final composition of Parliament this legislature would be different. That is why government will move in the spirit of the court decision."