“Environment Minister Georgo Pullicino’s directives went against the spirit of the Planning Authority and this document establishes that clearly,” said Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo, referring to an internal report by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The report, drawn up by Carmel Cacopardo, AD candidate and former official in Mepa’s auditor’s office, was made public by Mr Cacopardo after the Mepawithheld it.

Dr Vassallo was addressing the press, together with Mr Cacopardo, outside the Mepa offices in Floriana yesterday in order to reply to Mepa’s comments about the publication of the report, dealing with the Sant’Antnin waste recycling plant.

“It is important for us as a nation to have a decent and transparent administration with institutions that really work. This country has a lack of people with integrity working within its most important institutions,” said Dr Vassallo.

AD, he said, has since 1992 been encouraging a mechanism by which they could remove the fear of those whose duty it is to report any form of corruption they may be aware of, so as to prevent improper use of public funds, and corruption. This would be a Whistleblower Act which needs to become part of the legal system as soon as possible.

Such legislation would prevent people from plotting, secure in the belief that people who might be aware of what they were doing would be frightened to speak out.

“There have been many comments about our publication of the Marsascala plant report. We feel that this criticism is unwarranted. The Prime Minister has invited us to judge him upon his performance, but if the report had been published after the elections and not before, the timing would have been unfavourable for those who want to make their judgement properly,” said Dr Vassallo.