PD leader Godfrey Farrugia has written to the Chairman of the Petitions committee in parliament Chris Agius, questioning why he has not yet placed a petition signed by over 1,800 people regarding sea slime on the agenda for a final decision to be taken, and hitting out at the length of time this is taking. The author of the petition also wrote to MPs about the situation.

The petition in question objects to the increase in tuna pens in the temporary location which is in the North East of Malta. “This tuna farm is located outside St.Pauls Bay, Qawra and Ghallis and the operators are requesting to double the number of pens from 12 to 24 to the detriment of the residents, swimmers and causing damage to the marine environment through oil slicks, fish residue and waste products from the tuna confined to these pens. I object fully to this extension.”

The petition goes on to highlight the sea slime problem that Malta has faced over the recent years.

Last week, a hearing at the Planning Authority on whether to approve the application to double the number of fish farm cages to 24 off Sikka l-Bajda in St. Paul’s Bay was  postponed, with this newsroom being informed that the reason for the postponement is the current scandal involving fisheries director Andreina Fenech Farrugia.

The petition closed for signatures last May – when it was presented, but Farrugia highlights that the Petitions committee has not yet decided on it.

Farrugia said that he had spoken about the sea slime issue in Parliament and had even filed a number of Parliamentary Questions on the topic in the past. He reminded the chairman that this particular committee was set up in 2016 as part of an electoral pledge, to create a mechanism so that the public would have access to an established method by which petitions can be moved before the highest institution – Parliament. He said that the aim was always for the citizen’s voice to be heard.

Farrugia said that he recently filed a Parliamentary Question to the Speaker of the House, highlighting that while the matter was discussed twice in the committee in June and July 2018, there has been no conclusion, highlighting that people have been calling for one. The Speaker responded by informing Farrugia that the President of the committee is taking note of ongoing discussion on this subject and will be calling a committee meeting at the opportune time.

Farrugia asked the president of the committee, Chris Agius to justify his position as to why he is not placing this item on the agenda for a final decision within the committee.

Farrugia said that three excuses as to why no decision has yet been taken were made thus far, and questions what is stopping them.

He said that waiting nine months for this Parliamentary process shows that the committee is dragging its feet, when the process is a simplified one.

The author of the petition, Nikolai Abela, wrote to MPs later in the day.

"There is absolutely no reason why you and your committee are delaying the process of your first ever online petition in favour of clean coastal waters and protecting the marine environment," Abela said.

"This last excuse relating to the 'present scenario' whether political, administrative or criminal has nothing to do with your due process and in fact should run autonomous and impartial to any outside influences. May I remind you that that this petition was presented on 4 May 2018 and this is the third excuse I have been given on why the process has been stalled/frozen."

Abela quoted the latest reason he was given as being "..before the Committee meets to reach a conclusion it will be taking note of the current situation."

"May I remind you that the European Parliament has always considered petitions as a key element of participatory democracy and this is one of the fundamental rights of European citizens: 'Any citizen, acting individually or jointly with others, may at any time exercise his right of petition to the European Parliament under Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.' It is your duty to respect this right by executing the process timely and effectively"

Following the Petitions Committee meeting on 11th June we have not been advised of any further course of action, he said, adding that further action should have followed, he said.

"Therefore your continued failure to commit to any concrete course of action will leave me no choice but to take this petition to the highest levels locally and with the European Parliament where I have been informed that such delays without reason are unheard of in a properly functioning democratic Europe State country."