PN MPs Marthese Portelli and Ryan Callus have slammed government and MEPA claiming ongoing bad practice.
Parliament was discussing the MEPA 2015 estimates, presented by Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon.
Marthese Portelli chose to remind everyone of MEPA's responsibilities and obligations, "as in many cases MEPA has forgotten, or chose to cast aside its obligations".
"MEPA's aim is to pass onto our children a better country than we inherited. It is for this reason that we compare our environment to a treasure".
MEPA must protect, care for and improve the environment. "In its mission statement, it explainew how MEPA is supposed to operate in order to follow its vision, and what it will do to protect, care-for and improve the environment," she said.
The mission statement mentioned responsibility, partnership in planning for effective land use and caring and commitment to foster an awareness in favour of the environment, the MP argued. "This is supposed to be MEPA's vision and mission".
She turned to the University planned in Zonqor, and mentioned that the MEPA CEO said during a meeting of the Environment directorate, that the Directorate did not enter into site selection process. She asked why the Environment Directorate was not consulted. "Did the MEPA CEO have his hands tied and was he pushed to have certain people work on the report?" During yesterday's sitting, questions were raised by ENGO representatives and the AD as well as the Opposition, "yet they were not able to tell us who wrote the report. We cannot give you the names of the people involved in the report as the OPM told us that they must remain confidential, is what the CEO said. Everything is top secret," she added.
"Yesterday, we discovered that the MEPA CEO was involved in the Heads of Agreement. So he has the right and privilege to discuss the heads of agreement, yet Parliament does not. We asked for it and it was not presented, ENGOs asked for it, but nothing was presented, and the Prime Minister said he would present it when the time is opportune for him. There is a direct line between Castille and MEPA. We are speaking of a large amount of land that will be given to a Jordanian developer".
"There were a number of experts yesterday who said the report is fraudulent yet MEPA keeps insisting that it won't give us the name of the persons who worked on the report" she argued. "This is what happens when there is a direct line between MEPA and Castille".
She quoted from the Labour Manifesto, saying that they promised to increase the ways people could gain information, and that they believe in responsible and accountable politics. When we look at Zonqor, and everyone asked for the agreement to be published, he has not yet done it. Where is the accountability and transparency?
The environment is being treated as though it was the 'last class' she said, adding that the enforcement directorate does not have a Director. Is this the good governance this government preached? Where is the accountability and the transparency and respect for the workers? We've seen posts invented in the planning directorate, yet no director for the Directorates of the environment and enforcement have been appointed".
She asked if the Prime Minister knows that one of the top persons within the Planning Directorate was called out by the MEPA Auditor, who, in his report was asked to see what went on regarding the construction of a vineyard and winery in Rabat.
The MEPA Auditor had said - "the complaint was assessed contrary to the official policies. The planning directorate is responsible for misleading the dev control commission in believing it conformed to official policies when it clearly did not and, for ignoring information regarding the application".
PN MP Ryan Callus said that government chose to keep certain information hidden." Do we not have the right who know who decided on promotions in MEPA? The MEPA Chairman said that the interviewing boards members were being chosen by Johan Buttigieg, meaning that one person has abslute power. Do you believe that only one person should choose the members of these boards?"
He said that he found out that the interviewing board members themselves voted on whether their names would be published when the information was requested. He said that Dr Robert Abela, the MEPA lawyer, had written that it is not in the best interest for their names to be published. "It displeases me that a MEPA lawyer tries to push the government's agenda like this".
He referred to Ronnie Vella who had received two promotions in two years. He said it was unacceptable that Mr Vella passed on information to developmets or applicants behind the Board's back.
He mentioned that it was MEPA CEO Johan Buttigieg alone who chose those who sat on this promotion's Board, and said that one person, Marisa Darmanin, was given two promotions in a single day. "She applied for the position of a Grade 7 as well as a Grade 8 position, and was the preferred choice in both. Marisa Darmanin, was promoted to Grade 7 through one and then Grade 8 through the other".
“MEPA was discussing a large flat development, and the Board was informed that one of the blocs of flats was already built without permits. How can it be, that when MEPA considers such an application, no one knew it had been built without permission. How could no one have known? We are speaking of a large apartment block. I am not convinced that someone in MEPA did not know. After this illegality was reported, the developer was already downstairs with Marisa Darmanin whispering in his ear. What filth. I recognise MEPA wasn’t perfect in previous years, but today it is disgusting. How did MEPA not know about this illegality, but was prompt to inform the developer once the Board found out. Why was he in the Chairman’s bloc, rather than the enforcement offices. No wonder you do not want to publish the names of those on the interviewing boards".
PL MP Marlene Farrugia spoke of working together, arguing that next year, when this discussion again takes place, “lets aim to give MEPA what it needs and help it come to its feet and deliver the service the people deserve”.
She said that all that occurred today was political back and forth arguments and expressed that MEPA, under the previous legislature was not in good form, hoping that the same will not occur under this government, andexpressed fears that the sins being committed could haunt future generations.
She argued that MEPA should convince people that it truly works in the country’s best interest. She questioned whether there exists political interference in MEPA leadership, arguing that it must work autonomously.
The Speaker then, accidentally, thanked “Marthese Portelli” for her intervention in Parliament.
PL MP Joseph Sammut said that MEPA was a monster under the PN and came to the defence of the current MEPA CEO.
He said that as a MEPA Board member, “our job is to analyse the projects that come before us, while the CEO has a different job description". He said that the CEO has a financial responsibility, which Board members do not. He also said it is his responsibility for running MEPA. "I don’t think I can attack him when I don’t have his responsibilities, with all do respect colleague, this doesn’t make sense”.
He was referring to the comments made by MP Ryan Callus.
Turning to the promotions of Marisa and Ronnie, he said that whoever places first comes first.
He said that there is the integrity of the person to take into consideration, referring to the meeting in the CEO office with the developer mentioned by MP Callus, adding that the CEO can speak to whoever he wants.
He mentioned a case where a property touches upon a green area however was within the development zone. The previous administration saw the green area built on, yet the person who had a right to build his plot was denied.
MP Censu Galea said that when discussing MEPA, architects including those in Parliament keep their mouths shut as they fear the consequences it can have on their profession.
"We have an authority that is supposed to have an important role in our daily lives. We must admit that politicians who are in charge of this sector face difficulties.
He said that if there was a person who criticised MEPA in the past, “I am that person”. He said he criticised it when discussions took place to create the authority as it is known today. “There are people working within MEPA who are afraid of the interferences. If on the large projects there is interference, then there would most likely be interference on smaller projects”.
Parliamenraty Secretary Michael Falzon, while making his intervention, said that last year no less than 6 policies reached completion. The first was the Rural Policy and Design Guidance that merged three policies into one, “bringing some certainty as to what can and can’t occur in ODZ and rural areas”.
He also mentioned the Cemeteries policy, which hadn’t been tackled for over a 100 years, adding that MEPA had previously been working off of a regulation from the 1800s. He explained that one of the thrusts of the policy makes it clear that there should not be any new cemeteries, but allows for the extension of cemeteries. The policy also speaks of new requisites, management plans etc, “and I believe we need to make better use of the existing areas within cemeteries”.He said that it also looks at the possibility of new systems for burial.
Dr Falzon spoke of the fuel stations policy, mentioning that a number of stations lie in the heart of urban areas. “Another policy refers to Strait street and should be seen in the context of the regeneration of Valletta”.
He also mentioned the policy regarding fireworks factories, stating that they are part of our culture. He said that there was a total lack of a policy in this regard, explaining that the policy concluded in 2014.
He argued that the person who used to occupy Ronnie Vella's post, had his wife as the secretary of the MEPA Chairman, adding that this person's wife was appointed without a call for applications.
Under the previous administration the recordings were removed in MEPA, he said, asking if this was transparency?
He admitted that not everything is perfect in MEPA, adding that they hired 10 people in the enforcement directorate. He added that an assistant director in the enforcement directorate was hired, yet “no one mentions this. Why are we only mentioning the bad?”.
He mentioned the policy relating to outside catering, adding that they have never had such a policy before, and said that the same can be said relating to the billboards policy.
He also said that a heights adjustmen policy was being worked on.
"Whoever is responsible for MEPA does not have an easy job". He said that development is part of the country’s economy. "The truth is we need to work moving forward".
On the MEPA Demerger he said that it was part of the electoral manifesto. “The people voted for it. We promised it and we will keep this promise".
He called for everyone to look at whats’ important for the country rather than attacking each other. “We need a better environment and sustainable development,” he said.