Independent candidate Arnold Cassola accused the environment minister of “weakening the system of fines for offences against the environment.”
Describing minister Aaron Farrugia as a “bluffer” over his failure to disclose meetings with lobbyists as promised, Cassola said despite all the rhetoric during this electoral campaign in favour of the protection of the environment, once again the Labour government is proposing changes to the law which will weaken environment protection.”
Farrugia, a former leader in the Green Party, stated that Farrugia is using shamefully the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), to propose changes for regulations that will severely weaken the system for daily fines to offences against the Environment Protection Act.
The independent candidate addressed a press conference outside of the environment ministry and highlighted the latest example where Labour’s government has completely ignored the protection of the environment.
Cassola explained the Labour government’s proposal to eliminate the possibility that an offender could be fined multiple times if they break the regulations and harm the environment many times.
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Incredibly, in the case of concurrent offences which are subject to separate daily fines for different offences, the offender is to be subject only to the highest dailypenalty applicable at any one time,” Cassola said.
He said that the proposed regulations are intended to be replaced by the existing regulations, which stipulate that concurrent offences will result in separate penalties per day that will accrue until all offences have been addressed to ERAs satisfaction.
“Basically, Aaron Farrugia has reduced ERA to being the government’s lapdog instead of the guardian of our environment.”
Cassola stated that the Labour government will also be introducing the option to petition an Environment and Planning Review Tribunal. The Tribunal may then grant such petitions in whole or in part.
Our country has never used review boards or tribunals.
Cassola stated that the proposal was made by a Minister who has little credibility in effective environmental enforcement raises suspicions about the creation of another mechanism to allow environmental offenders to escape jail.
He added that Farrugia is also proposing a flyover instead of a garden in Msida and a petrol station inside the Ta’ Xbiex gardens.
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“This is folly,” Cassola said, adding that“once again it is abundantly clear that the only way for environmental protection to be taken seriously is for people to vote for it. Voting for honest, independent and third-party candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to the environment throughout their lives is a way to do this.
Cassola – a former secretary-general of the European Green Party – is contesting the tenth and eleventh electoral districts.
