MLP 'flexible' Maghtab solution not dependent on EU - Sant

Labour leader Alfred Sant braved the cold yesterday to stress that although the government intended to close the Maghtab dump by the end of the year, there were no solid financial arrangements to bring this about.

Dr Sant said the government's solution lay only in drawing up reports upon reports by consultants. Its commitment to solve the Maghtab problem, which has been around for 17 years and which has reached crisis proportions in the last five, were not backed by adequate financial resources.

The "fairy tale" approach adopted by the government was that EU membership was the solution to everything.

Speaking on site at Maghtab, Dr Sant said the EU would not be allocating money for projects that were focused on Malta's specific needs.

The funds from the EU went towards the commissioning of reports and only consultants benefited, he said.

However, he said, the MLP knew where to find the resources for these projects and would not be dependent on the EU. Its partnership arrangement would be based on flexibility and the adoption of a policy that was suitable to Malta while adopting EU norms and standards.

Money would be available through flexible arrangements and partnerships with the private sector to convert the rubbish dump into something environmentally acceptable.

Costs incurred in adopting EU rules and regulations would be reduced, Dr Sant said, adding that the current situation involved the setting up of a "new planning authority over Malta", which further increased expenses.

Joint ventures with the private sector would boost land reclamation and control waste, while the MLP had no plan to introduce new taxes to solve the problem.

Dr Sant said a Labour government would close Maghtab and Qortin in a year and nine months, using methods that were in conformity with European and American practices.

Under the partnership arrangement, the need to use glass bottles - rather than plastic - which could be recycled, would be pushed.

The partnership choice would allow Malta to apply EU regulations "flexibly" and not "at all costs", according to Dr Sant.