The Labour Party has said that many sectors have "serious concerns" over a bill tabled by the Nationalist Party to make the enjoyment of the environment a constitutional right.
"After two years of presenting a bill to amend the Constitution on the environment, the Nationalist Party realised that what it presented to Parliament contains serious shortcomings. This was only done after various organisations, and legal experts expressed their concern about what is being proposed," the PL said in a statement.
The Bill, scheduled for debate on Thursday during an Opposition parliamentary sitting, would make environmental protection a fundamental right for Maltese and Gozitan citizens if approved.
"Sports federations and associations representing local traditions and hobbies, as well as employers' associations and legal experts, have already publicly spoken about the consequences this bill may have on various sectors of society," the party said.
The Labour Party said that it agrees with the greater protection of the environment and said that a Labour Government will remain consistent in its support for the strengthening of environmental laws.
"This will continue to be done in a planned manner, and not in a rushed manner as the Nationalist Party is doing," the PL said.
It said that there is also widespread concern about the "amateur way" in which the Nationalist Party has written a proposal for a law to change the Constitution, with the risk of leading to unwanted consequences.
"The fact that it had to be voluntary organisations and civil society, together with the Government, to explain the serious shortcomings in this Bill, further undermines the credibility of the Opposition," the PL said.
"This is symptomatic of the Nationalist Party, which has had five different leaders in the last twelve years. The Opposition is demonstrating that it makes declarations without checking the facts on the most fundamental topics in one area after another, both in relation to this Bill and on other pledges made in recent days," it concluded.