The government does not want to investigate the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, especially now that the election is close, Alternattiva Demokratika said yesterday.

AD noted in a statement that Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino, who is responsible for Mepa, is now backing out from saying that the reason for not reappointing Carmel Cacopardo is because he had chaired a meeting between AD and environmental NGOs with regard to reform in Mepa.

Instead, Minister Pullicino and Mepa are now saying that the reason is one of conflict of interest. Party leader Harry Vassallo said that “this latest excuse given by Mepa and the minister is just a cover-up to justify the decision regarding Mr Cacopardo, since as is now public knowledge, this decision had been taken back in April 2006 (according to Mepa’s own Audit Office).

The decision had been taken before the deadline for applications for the post of Director of Environmental Protection had closed.”

AD is insisting with the Ombudsman to intervene before it is too late, especially since, it said, Minister Pullicino has done absolutely nothing to resolve this situation; on the contrary, he had applauded Mepa’s behaviour in this regard.