Alternattiva Demokratika leader Harry Vassallo described the proposal made by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to take personal responsibility for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority if re-elected, as a cheap gimmick.

“Once more the Prime Minister is following closely in AD’s tracks,” Dr Vassallo said. Alternattiva Demokratika had indicated the need for Prime Ministerial responsibility for land-use planning before the 2003 election.”

Dr Vassallo then dug in further: “After his performance as Prime Minister we have withdrawn our 2003 proposal. We have no confidence in his ability to safeguard the common good.”

The Prime Minister’s conversion to green priorities remains under heavy suspicion, since his track record on the environment belies his promises, Dr Vassallo said.

“His government will go down in history as the one which illegally extended development zones in 2006, promoted high rise development and relaxed height limitations across the country while dragging its feet on the publication of the 2005 census results.

“His government has encouraged the accumulation of 53,000 vacant properties which are a permanent burden on our quality of life, a major threat to the economies of thousands of families owning property and to the Maltese economy as a whole,” he added.