Seven environmental NGOs have called on the president of the Malta Developers’ Association to retract statements that NGOs accept money from businesses to carry out campaigns and file court cases to harm competitors.

In a statement, the Ramblers' Association, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Aħjar, Birdlife, Friends of the Earth, Nature Trust, Din L-Art Ħelwa and Moviment Grafitti rejected the “serious allegations” and stated that they did not engage in such practices.

In an interview with Times of Malta, MDA president Michael Stivala said business people who want to harm their competitors are going to NGOs and funding court cases and entire campaigns to harm other businesses. And NGOs are accepting the money and doing it happily.

He said “almost all NGOs” do it “almost all the time” but would not mention names because he does not have enough proof.

The NGOs challenged Stivala to substantiate “these outrageous claims” or retract them.

The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector in a separate statement said it was unacceptable that individuals within or outside the voluntary sector made allegations that were not substantiated.

Voluntary organisations operated within a legal framework to ensure good practices and transparency in their operation and good management of funds. This was ensured also with the relevant reporting and checks by the Commissioner for the Voluntary Organisations and other authorities as required by law.  

Any allegations should be reported to the relevant authorities with necessary proof, and it was not acceptable that organisations or individuals involved in the voluntary sector are subjected to public shaming.