The Chamber of Geologists has filed a judicial protest, demanding to be included in the Building and Construction Authority's consultative council.
The judicial protest was signed by lawyer Mark Said and filed in the name and capacity of Peter Gatt, who is the President of the Chamber of Geologists.
The judicial protest stated that following the report and recommendations of the Jean Paul Sofia public inquiry, the government proceeded to launch "extensive and radical reforms and legislation" in order to introduce necessary controls and expected safety in the building and construction industry. The judicial protest continued that among the new reforms and measures introduced was the establishment of the BCA, within which is the Building and Construction Consultative Council, which the judicial protest described as bringing together all professions and trades intrinsically linked to building and construction.
A particular recommendation from the Sofia inquiry, the judicial protest noted, was the signalling of the "indispensable role of geologists in the construction industry". It added that the inquiry report even suggested that there should be an assessment written by a geologist prior to excavation of any kind as a means of establishing the nature and conditions underground.
Such a suggestion, the judicial protest said, implies that the time has come to recognise the profession of geologists so that only warranted geologists can prepare such reports. It added that geologists have been granted formal and legal recognition of their profession "in practically every European country", but remarked that Malta is still behind in this regard.
With that said, the judicial protest said that there are currently ongoing talks between the Chamber of Geologists and the concerned ministry, with the aim of granting formal and legal recognition to the profession of geologists. It added that the Chamber has already prepared a legislative framework and a draft law regulating the profession and presented it to the minister.
Formal requests have been made by the Chamber to the Chairman of the BCA for the Chamber to be admitted into the Building and Construction Consultative Council, the judicial protest stated, but it said that such requests for the Chamber's membership have been denied and no indication has been given that the BCA is ready to recognise the "fundamental and professional role of geologists".
The judicial protest concluded that as long as the BCA continues to ignore or refuse without any valid or legal reason to admit the Chamber of Geologists, then "this clearly constitutes a discriminatory situation and treatment towards the Chamber, in violation of the laws of our country".
It added that Gatt reserves the right to institute further judicial proceedings so that the respective concerned authorities remedy the discrimination.