Alternattiva Demokratika said the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) was trying to muzzle the watchdog that monitored its operations.

Expressing disappointment at the way the Mepa board has dealt with the reappointment of the investigating officer within its audit office, AD chairman Harry Vassallo said: “Having a fully functional auditor’s office is essential if Mepa is to be accountable for all its decisions. The decision taken by the Mepa board not to re-appoint Perit Carmel Cacopardo as the investigator in the audit office shows that the Mepa board is trying to muzzle the functioning of its watchdog”.

Dr Vassallo pointed out: “Perit Cacopardo is known for his unwavering incorruptibility, scrupulous work ethic, technical capability and also for the meticulous way in which he carries out his investigations. There-fore, Mepa’s failure to re-appoint him is even more suspicious.

“It is very evident that some of the reports issued recently by the Auditor’s office have exposed too much raw flesh, and so it has decided to do away with an investigator whose working was proving to be damning for Mepa,” said Dr Vassallo.

He added: “All those who have had enough of Mepa’s current, scandalous way of doing things, have to make sure that AD is elected to parliament. Only in this way can we break free from a vicious cycle which threatens to put our natural heritage in jeopardy”.