The Nationalist government is failing to safeguard the Maltese environment, the Malta Labour Party said in a statement yesterday.

Labour spokespersons for environment and national heritage Joe Brincat and Roderick Galdes said that several environmental groups had claimed that Malta’s environment is undergoing a serious crisis.

The statement pointed out that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said the social aspect was taken into consideration while drawing up the new boundaries of the development zones.

“However, this claim does not make sense and further confirms the ulterior motives behind the decisions taken by the Nationalist Party.”

Keeping in mind Malta’s size, it is not feasible to stake out more land for further development.

Although it is possible that certain tracts of land should included in the development zones, it does not justify the fast rate this extension is taking place, it added.

Under the Aarhus Convention, the Labour Party is urging the government to publish all the information which will reveal the depth of the social aspect taken into consideration by the Nationalist’s party.