Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar feels obliged to bring to the public’s attention the alarming developments that were reported in the press recently revealing MEPA’s attempt to terminate the employment of the Investigating Officer at MEPA Audit office.

The public now has it from the Ombudsman that the Audit Officer is “a tool to ensure a transparent and fair administration in the way the Authority conducts its business”. Recent events have however now shown that he is not free to act without risking retribution from MEPA. Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) therefore questions the wisdom, indeed the ethics, of MEPA’s direct involvement in the Audit Office. Would it not benefit us, the public, to establish the Audit Office independently of MEPA while retaining its current responsibilities?

Already it is felt that MEPA’s Appeals Board has lost credibility and impartiality. The MEPA Audit Officer is the public’s last stand, the last recourse where it can seek redress. FAA points out that the MEPA Audit Officials’ appointments are due for renewal this spring. Failure to renew the present incumbents’ appointments will further confirm the Authorities’ reluctance to ensure that the public’s interests are safeguarded.

MEPA’s track record to date is alarming, in spite of official recommendations and ensuing public protests. Foremost among the questionable actions is that of the deputy chairperson herself, who on the one hand states there is a need for more enforcement action, and on the other hand represents the developer with the largest number of defaults on the island. Worse still, she submitted an application on this developer’s behalf for a supermarket to be built Outside Development Zone.

Civil society is at a turning point and citizens need to publicly support officials who safeguard the public’s interests and rights. As a land use and environmental regulator, MEPA must be seen to be acting in a transparent and fair manner. To do this it must heed the MEPA Auditor’s advice and respect his independence. Within this context we wish to highlight the MEPA Audit Officer’s insistence on releasing his reports to the public. MEPA’s attempts to block public access to the Audit Officer’s reports have now been definitely overruled and condemned by the Ombudsman. We expect that MEPA will now heed the Ombudsman’s report and desist from further opposition to this basic right in a democratic society.

The government acted properly when it appointed an independent MEPA Audit Officer. It is now up to the government to make sure that the officer’s findings and comments are heeded, otherwise the whole exercise would have been a whitewash. The public hopes it will not be further disillusioned.