The e-NGO Malta Clean Up presented a list of concerns after allegations from news outlet The Shift News that said that €25,000 was paid per flag, per beach.
The founder of the group, Camilla Appelgren, insisted that she had been sending Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Climate Change Jose Herrera emails since March 2018 without receiving any answers.
"The White Flag initiative was first perceived by citizens as a free scheme where beaches would be getting a flag as a symbol for being maintained. During summer a rumour of a high cost was spread and it was confirmed last Thursday when The Shift News revealed in two articles that the cost is €25,000, per flag. This has not been denied by anyone as per yet."
She went on to criticize the signing of the initiative, and the "lack of knowledge from the Minister" by asking whether he is aware that "minutes after the cleanups, more plastic will come in and microplastic isn't cleaned up at all y divers since it can't be seen by the eye?"
The price of the flags and the background of White Flag International were also questioned by the Malta Clean Up founder, referring to the fact that they have "less than 1000 followers on their Facebook page and that google search doesn't give many hits, nor any photos from claimed cleanups".
The lack of information and secret events were also focused on by the activist, particularly because the White Flag events "have been very secret and no one has known about them".
"The only way the public has been made aware that they actually happened has been via media several days after the events."
She also noted that the majority of the diving community has never heard about the initiative, nor have they been invited to take part, and the same goes for the NGOs in the field of environment.
"Why didn't the Ministry invite NGOs to take part in this initiative, nor did they answer questions about when the next event would be?"
Due diligence by the Ministry was put into question as it was noted that that the founder of White Flag International is being sued by the partner he advertises on their web page, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
"A Croatian NGO with no online presence, nor any big amount of followers, asking for €25,000 per flag to claim an area plastic free should raise big concerns and also be reported. Instead the Ministry decided to sign a contract?"
Appelgren then called for information regarding who invited and introduced White Flag International to Malta; why there hasn't been a statement from the Ministry setting all facts straight; and why White Flag International is looking like a PR site for the Maltese islands rather than an environment page for White Flag certification?