The reappointment of Andrew Calleja as chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is very bad news indeed for the Maltese environment. It means that Mepa’s heavy, not to say absolute, pro-development/speculation bias will be perpetrated, if not intensified, and what is left of our natural/historical heritage will be constantly under threat.

Even more worrying is the fact that the president of a leading pro-environment NGO has accepted a place on the Mepa board. What could have possessed them to fall for the oldest trick in the book?

It is true that this appointment will introduce a dissenting, pro-environment voice on the Mepa board, but it will be just one among about 15. So the positive, real effect of this appointment will be negligible at best.

Mepa (for MEPA read the government), on the other hand, will be able to deflect or attempt to deflect any criticism of anti-environment decisions by loudly pointing out that a member of a prominent NGO participated in the discussion and even voted on it. I expect the Mepa PRO is already rubbing her hands with glee at the prospect.

To add insult to injury, the doctrine of confidentiality and collective responsibility will mean that the NGO representative will not be able to criticise, in public, any board decision he disagrees with, but will be expected to assume responsibility for it - and another powerful pro-environment voice will have been effectively silenced. Nor will the NGO itself be in any position to criticise such decisions in any effective manner, knowing its own president is collectively responsible for them.

It was reported that other environmental NGOs “applauded” and “welcomed” this appointment. Apparently, they have never heard of the saying that goes, “there are more ways to kill a cat than by choking it with cream”.

Victor Laiviera

Naxxar