When writing his article New season – in treating our waste (TMID, 22 November), Minister George Pullicino was in two minds whether to dismiss us as a negative party or to praise me as someone who knows his stuff well but at the same time to rubbish us as people for whom old habits die hard.

I will let people reach their own conclusions as to who is being pro-active in his views and perspectives.

One important thing that the minister failed to do is to address directly the severe criticism made against the running of the Government Marsa incinerator in a report which is on line under the title of European Commission: Health & Consumers Directorate-General – Directorate F – Food and Veterinary Office: Final report of a mission carried out in Malta from 3 March to 7 March 2008 in order to evaluate the implementation of health rules on animal by-products (ABP). Whether he has done so confidentially I am not in a position to confirm or deny but I have seen no public reaction on his part to a report that has been on line for well over seven months.

Rather than reacting blow by blow to Minister Pullicino’s criticism, I invite the Minister to publish his official reaction to the report in question.

The minister claimed that I was merely recycling arguments already made by myself in the House of Representatives. What he failed to mention in his article was that I was merely quoting verbatim from the above-mentioned official report.

Leo Brincat

Main Opposition Spokesperson for the Environment, Sustainable Development & Climate Change

St Julian’s