Environmental protection in Malta has suffered a blow with MP Marlene Farrugia’s resignation from the chairmanship of Parliament’s environment and planning committee, environmentalists have warned.
“Without a doubt, the committee is going to suffer greatly,” Alfred Baldacchino, a former assistant director at the Environment Protection Directorate, told the Times of Malta. “There is nobody else on the government side as competent as Dr Farrugia to lead the discussion.”
Mr Baldacchino said the committee would miss the former chairwoman’s “conviction and vision” and her ability to listen and weigh up issues raised by organisations and the public.
“She had a genuine sense of responsibility as an MP to ensure that certain decisions were made not only on the basis of financial considerations, but their impact on the environment and society as a whole,” he said.
Dr Farrugia resigned from the Labour Party and parliamentary group on Tuesday after voting with the Opposition on amendments to the Environment Protection Bill. She called for more transparent governance, particularly on environmental matters.
In her resignation letter, Dr Farrugia expressed her wish to remain a member of the committee. However, while all MPs are entitled to attend committee meetings, for her to retain voting rights on the committee she would have to be nominated by the Opposition.
Former Mepa director and Din l-Art Ħelwa council member Petra Caruana Dingli said Dr Farrugia had introduced a new element to the committee by regularly inviting environmental NGOs to its sessions.
“This was a valuable opportunity for civil society to present their concerns, in a structured and constructive way, directly to MPs,” she said. “It created a positive sense of transparency and participation.”
Dr Caruana Dingli said the inclusive approach had been highly appreciated by stakeholders and that it would be a great pity if the committee discontinued the practice.
Dr Farrugia has been a vocal critic of the government since its early days, especially on environmental issues. Earlier this year she attended a rally organised by the Nationalist Party at Żonqor Point to protest the granting of land to private investors for the construction of a university.
“The development will weaken the committee, which was doing very well under Dr Farrugia’s leadership,” said environmentalist Alan Deidun. “In my experience, she was someone who didn’t bend to pressure and kept the government on its toes.”
While commending Dr Farrugia for taking a stand, Dr Deidun said she had enjoyed the support and respect of environmental NGOs and would be “tough to replace”.
Writing on Facebook, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola said: “In a country where the government and other politicians have become the poodle of those that make hay while the sun shines, Marlene’s resignation is a big loss for Maltese environmental values and for Maltese future generations.”