Labour leader on NGOs and illiteracy

The trials and tribulations of environmental NGOs were yesterday on the agenda of Labour leader Alfred Sant who promised them that their sector would be high on the agenda of MLP MEPs.

With three weeks to go till the European Parliament election, several NGO representatives were invited for a seminar with MLP officials at party headquarters in Hamrun.

The seminar was one of a series of events organised by the MLP in recent days in connection with the environment.

Dr Sant said those elected on the MLP ticket would reflect the environmental aspirations of the Party of European Socialists.

The PES has championed the environmental cause in the European Parliament, contrary to the "non-cohesive" European People's Party, Dr Sant said.

He underlined the importance of political parties having ongoing consultation with NGOs to ensure their voice was heard within the European Parliament.

Friends of the Earth president Rudolph Ragonesi lamented the lack of a national strategy where the environment was concerned.

Issues like CO2 emissions and pollution still lacked a strong policy. Often, such issues were being dealt with by crisis management with laws failing to be accompanied by a comprehensive policy.

Antoine Vella from the SPCA called for the introduction of schemes and initiatives to protect stray animals and to ensure safe animal transportation.

Nature Trust president Vince Attard said NGOs were still not legally recognised and this was putting them at a disadvantage when it came to tapping EU funds.

Mr Attard pointed out the need for the EU to put the Mediterranean on its environmental agenda; something he hoped would change now that Cyprus and Malta were in the European fold.

Speaking during a seminar in Cospicua later, Dr Sant spoke of the need to eradicate the "vicious circle of illiteracy" in Cottonera.

A survey carried out by the MLP joint committee found that the majority of children who frequented schools in Cottonera were obtaining low marks during their annual examinations.

At the same time, illiteracy levels at schools in Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Senglea and Kalkara were alarming, the Labour leader noted.