Shooting from the hip

Abstract

Newspapers are currently awash with missives from soothsayers, all outlining their vision for the restructuring of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. Headlines like: 'How to save Mepa' or 'AN's plans for Mepa' often incorporate a list of muddled proposals, which expose a lack of informed opinion or smack of political expediency. In this sense, the opinions being aired on radio and television programmes are even more disconcerting. Some of the more sobering include the ones aired by Anglu Xuereb, namely to delegate to parliament responsibility for deliberating on Outside Development Zone applications. Though aired out of desire for greater transparency, this would backfire since it would open the door to lobbying. Some lessons seem to have been learned, however, with the two main political parties both generally avoiding the quagmire of Mepa reform, shying away from preposterous claims made in the past to water down the authority to make way for greater ministerial power. Mr Xuereb denies the over-development of the islands seemingly forgetting his construction background.