(6) In-Newtralita’
Id-dispożizzjoni tan-newtralità li fil-Kostituzzjoni tagħmel referenza għaż-żewġ superpotenzi ta’ żmien il-Gwerra l-Bierda għandha tiġi rriveduta b’tali mod li tkun rilevanti għar-realtajiet ġeopolitiċi tal-lum u għall-impenn ta’ Malta lejn id-drittijiet tal-bniedem .
(silta mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)
(5) Ħarsien u Protezzjoni
Il-Libertà tal-Informazzjoni, l-Protezzjoni tad-Dejta u d-drittijiet tal-whistleblowers għandhom jiġu ddefiniti kif xieraq u inkorporati fil-Kostituzzjoni.
(silta mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)
M’hiex xi storja ġdida li l-vulkan Marsili jista’ jiżbroffa minn ħin għall-ieħor. Hi storja li kien hawn ħafna diskussjoni dwarha madwar tlett snin ilu.
Il-vulkan Marsili hu vulkan rieqed li qiegħed sitwat taħt il-baħar Tirren. Minn studji li saru ma jidhirx li qatt żbroffa fl-istorja riċenti. Fil-gazzetti ta’ tlett snin ilu jingħad li qatt ma kien hemm żbroff ta’ dan il-vulkan “since the start of recorded history”.
Qiegħed iżda jingħad li billi l-ħitan tiegħu huma dgħajfa, jista’ jiżbroffa minn ħin għall-ieħor. Iżda meta dan ser iseħħ, jekk iseħħ, ħadd ma jaf. Il-konsegwenzi iżda jafu jkunu diżastrużi. Kif jidher fil-mappa ta’ hawn fuq l-impatt ewlieni jkun fuq in-naħa t’isfel ta’ l-Italja u fuq it-tramuntana ta’ Sqallija. Minħabba li Sqallija isservi ta’ tarka jidher li ftit li xejn ikun hemm impatt fuq il-gżejjer Maltin.
Fl-inħawi li jistgħu jkunu milquta kemm fi Sqallija kif ukoll fl-Italja, ser isiru eżerċizzji ta’ taħriġ mill-awtoritajiet fil-pajjiż inkarigati mill-protezzjoni ċivili dwar kif l-awtoritajiet għandhom jilqgħu għall-emerġenza li tista’ tinħoloq.
L-impatt ikun bħala riżultat tal-maremot (tal-qawwa ta’ 7.5 fuq l-iskala Richter) li l-iżbroff tal-vulkan jiġġenera. Hu ikkalkulat li dan l-iżbroff jista’ jiġġenera tsunami b’mewg għoli għaxar metri li jista’ jagħmel ħerba fiż-żoni indikati fil-mappa ta’ hawn fuq.
U f’Malta? Jidher li ftit li xejn ser ikun hemm impatt kif anke’ qalet is-seżmologa Maltija Dr Pauline Galea f’kummenti li kienet tat lit-Times f’Malta tlett snin ilu.
Imma jkun għaqli li fil-waqt li nosservaw li l-iżbroff ta’ dan il-vulkan, jekk iseħħ, ftit li xejn jista’ jkollu impatt fuq Malta, nagħmlu sewwa jekk neżaminaw ftit fil-fond il-ħidma tad-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili u naraw ftit jekk aħniex ippreparati f’kaz li nintlaqtu minn xi diżastru simili.
Wisq naħseb li m’aħniex ippreparati.
Tajjeb li nistaqsu ftit mistoqsijiet. Għal-lum waħda tkun biżżejjed.
Fl-1 ta’ Diċembru 1999 il-Parlament Malti approva liġi li permezz tagħha waqqaf id-Dipartiment tal-Protezzjoni Ċivili. Skond din il-liġi il-Prim Ministru kellu jaħtar Kunsill dwar il-Protezzjoni Ċivili li fost ir-responsabbiltajiet tiegħu għandu l-obbligu li jara li l-pajjiż ikun imħejji għall-“emergenzi u diżastri pubbliċi”.
Fejn wasalna?
(4) L-elezzjoni tal-President
Il-President tar-Repubblika għandu jkun elett minn Kulleġġ Elettorali magħmul mill-Membri Parlamentari kollha u mis-sindki eletti kollha tat-68 lokalita. It-twessigħ ta’ din l-approvazzjoni jista’ jiżgura li jiġi aċċettat aktar il-Kap tal-Istat li jingħażel.
(silta mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)
(3) Ħatriet ta’ importanza nazzjonali
Il-ħatra ta’ Bordijiet/Kummissjonijiet ta’ importanza nazzjonali għandha ssir mill-President bħala l-Kap tal-Istat u mhux mill-Prim Ministru. Il-President għandu jkun meħtieġ iwettaq konsultazzjonijiet mhux biss mal-politiċi imma wkoll mas-soċjetà ċivili.
(silta mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)
The issue of land reclamation should be tackled in a responsible manner.
The Netherlands used land reclamation successfully to adequately manage its low-lying land. Hong Kong made use of land reclamation to create high value land required for its airport on the Chek Lak Kok island. Through land reclamation Singapore expanded its container port, an essential cornerstone in its economy.
In Malta land reclamation was used in the past to create the Freeport Terminal at Kalafrana in the limits of Birżebbuġa.
MEPA has during the recent past engaged consultants to assess the potential of land reclamation in Maltese waters.
A 2005 study was commissioned by MEPA and carried out by Carl Bro. This study identified six relatively large coastal areas as search areas for potential land reclamation sites. The study had recommended that these six areas, or a selection of them, be “investigated in further details in parallel with the execution of a pre-feasibility study, before a principal decision is taken on whether land reclamation is considered realistic under Maltese conditions. It is recommended that such investigations and studies be carried out by the Government prior to the involvement of the private sector in possible land reclamation projects.” (page 8 of report).
MEPA took up this proposal and commissioned ADI Associates together with Scott Wilson to carry out a detailed study on two of the identified coastal areas. These studies were finalised in 2007 and 2008 and consist of 4 volumes. The coastal areas identified and studied are those along the Magħtab/Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq coastline and the Xgħajra/Marsaskala coastline.
These latter studies conclude with a detailed set of recommendations on more focused studies relative to environmental and economic impacts which would be necessary if land reclamation is to be further considered.
In Chapter 10 of its electoral manifesto the Labour Party is committed to utilise a programme of land reclamation as an important tool in the infrastructural development of the country. The said electoral programme emphasises the environmental and economic sensitivity of such projects and underlines a commitment to high standards in environmental, social, economic, land use planning and sustainable development fields.
In Parliament it has been declared that the next step would be for expressions of interest to be submitted by those proposing projects for development on reclaimed land. A call should be issued in the near future.
I believe that this is not the way forward. On the basis of the studies carried out to date and such additional studies as may be required it would have been much better if government presents for public consultation a detailed draft land reclamation strategy. Such a strategy would then be subjected to public consultation. A dialogue is required, not just with the developers but also with civil society, including most importantly with environmental NGOs.
The draft strategy would undoubtedly indicate the proposed permissible development on the reclaimed land. It would be interesting to note if the said strategy would consider the need for residential development in view of the over 70,000 vacant residential properties on the islands. On the basis of existing and possibly additional studies the strategy would also seek to ensure that Malta’s coastline is protected much more effectively than Malta’s countryside has been to date.
All views should be carefully considered before such a strategy is finalised.
Once the strategy is finalised its environmental impacts should be carefully scrutinised as is provided for in the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive of the EU. This Directive now has the force of law in Malta. It is only when this assessment has been finalised and the impacts identified are suitably addressed through changes in the draft strategy itself (if required) that it would be reasonable to invite expressions of interest from interested parties.
Land reclamation is no magic solution to a construction industry which is in urgent need of restructuring. Even if land reclamation is permitted it cannot and will not offer a long term solution to an ailing construction industry which has been capable of contributing to an accumulating stockpile of vacant dwellings which are equivalent to 9 ghost towns, each the size of B’Kara.
The country would be economically and socially much better off if the construction industry is assisted in its much needed restructuring. It would undoubtedly need to shed labour which can be absorbed by other sectors of the economy. Retraining would be required to ease the entry of the shed labour force into other economic areas.
This would certainly be much more beneficial and sustainable than land reclamation.
published in The Times on 27 April 2013 under the title: Land Reclamation and Building
(2) Riforma Elettorali
Malta għandu jkollha sistema elettorali bbażata fuq rappreżentanza proporzjonali assoluta bejn siġġijiet u voti mitfugħa f’elezzjoni, ikkoreġġuti b’għatba ta’ 2.5%. Dan il-prinċipju jista’ jinkiseb bl-istess Sistema ta’ Vot Trasferibbli filwaqt li jitwessa’ l-mekkaniżmu Kostituzzjonali attwali li jiżgura proporzjonalità stretta bejn l-għadd ta’ voti u siġġijiet u li jimxi minn wieħed li japplika biss f’każijiet fejn żewġ partiti biss jiġu eletti fil-Parlament, għal wieħed li japplika għall-partiti kollha li jaqbżu l-għatba nazzjonali ta’ 2.5% tal-ewwel għadd tal-voti. Malta għalhekk għandha jkollha għatba doppja, bi kwota distrettwali ta’ 16.6% li tippermetti li individwu jiġi elett minn distrett, u kwota nazzjonali b’għatba ekwivalenti ghal żewġ kwoti biex partit politiku jiġi rrappreżentat fil-Parlament.
………………………….
Id-dritt li ċ-ċittadini jikkontestaw l-elezzjonijiet lokali, ġenerali u Ewropej għandu jkun inkorporat fil-Kostituzzjoni u mhux imħolli f’idejn il-konvenjenza tal-gvern tal-ġurnata.
(siltiet mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)
(1) Parteċipazzjoni wiesgħa
Kull diskussjoni dwar bidliet profondi fil-Kostituzzjoni għandha titmexxa bl-akbar ftuħ u trasparenza u tiġi diskussa kemm fil-Parlament, (li għandu jsir istituzzjoni professjonali b’Parlamentari full-time), kif ukoll f’forum rappreżentattiv li jkun jinkludi rappreżentanti tal-organizzazzjonijiet tas-soċjetà ċivili, il-partiti politiċi kollha u l-Kunsilli Lokali. Il-proċeduri u d-diskussjonijiet għandhom ikunu aċċessibbli online u s-suġġerimenti taċ-ċittadini għandhom jiġu diskussi wkoll. Il-bidliet għandhom jiġu approvati b’referendum.
(silta mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)
Attendejt għall-Forum tal-President dwar il-Kostituzzjoni illum il-Ħamis 25 t’April fil-għaxija.
Hemm diversi emendi meħtieġa għall-Kostituzzjoni. Alternattiva Demokratika fil-fatt, fil-programm elettorali ta’ Marzu li għadda tispjega fid-dettall bosta mill-emendi li naraw meħtieġa.
Forsi l-iktar punt bażiku li ninsistu dwaru f’Alternattiva Demokratika hu li l-Kostituzzjoni hi tan-nies u mhux biss tal-politiċi. Punt li jagħmlu ukoll il-Partit Laburista permezz tal-proposta tiegħu ta’ Konvenzjoni Kostituzzjonali.
Waqt il-Forum tal-President illum, f’messaġġ permezz ta’ email Lawrence Gonzi Kap tal-Opposizzjoni qal li l-PN jidhirlu li għandu jkun Kumitat Magħżul tal-Kamra (Select Committee) li għandu jkollu l-inkarigu biex iħejji għall-emendi Kostituzzjonali.
Għalkemm jikkuntrastaw jiena ma narax li hemm kontradizzjoni bejn il-posizzjoni tal-partiti. Qegħdin fil-fatt jemfasizzaw l-importanza ta’ stadji differenti tad-dibattitu pubbliku.
Alternattiva Demokratika u l-Partit Laburista qed jemfasizzaw li l-proposti għandhom jinbnew mill-egħruq tas-soċjeta fil-waqt li l-Partit Nazzjonalista qed jinsisti li l-Parlament għandu jżomm kontroll. L-emfasi li qed jagħmel il-Partit Nazzjonalista mhux daqstant dwar l-involviment tas-soċjeta ċivili imma dwar ir-rwol ta’ Franco Debono, għalkemm fl-email ta’ Lawrence Gonzi ma jissemmiex. (ara rapport fit-Times online hawn).
Fl-aħħar, it-tibdil Kostituzzjonali li jkun hemm qbil dwaru irid jikseb l-approvazzjoni tal-Parlament. Fil-parti l-kbira l-emendi jkunu jeħtieġu l-approvazzjoni ta’ żewġ terzi tal-Membri Parlamentari. F’xi każi maġġoranza sempliċi tkun biżżejjed. Għal din ir-raġuni tattika biss hu ċar li ma kienx għaqli da parti ta’ Joseph Muscat li jappunta lil Franco Debono biex jikkordina l-Konvenzjoni Kostituzzjonali. Tajjeb kemm hu tajjeb, bħala riżultat ta’ kif żviluppaw l-affarijiet tul l-aħħar ħames snin ma tantx ser jibni pontijiet. Il-preġudizzju li nżera’ għadu jinħass u jrid jgħaddi żmien sew biex jittaffa.
Dan ser jitfa’ dell fuq kif il-proċess ser jiżviluppa. Imma m’huwiex awgurju tajjeb.
The Malta Independent focuses on the fact that the newly appointed MEPA Chairman is a part-timer and that he is allowed to carry out private work as an Architect & Civil Engineer.
The Malta Independent is correct in pointing out that this is asking for trouble. But, I hasten to add that this is just theoretical in the case of the newly appointed MEPA Chairman Vince Cassar.
In all fairness one should add the following relevant information on Vince Cassar. He is past retirement age having served in the public service for over 30 years primarily in the Works Department in various positions up to the post of Director General and lately as Permanent Secretary in the Transport Ministry until 2008. He was in fact the Permanent Secretary attached to Jesmond Mugliette’s Ministry.
As far as I am aware Vince Cassar has no history of private practice during the past 30 years. He may have been a director since retirement of a limited liability company. But I am not sure of that. Knowing Vince Cassar I have no doubt that if this is the case he would withdraw immediately if there is the least possibility of a potential conflict of interest.
In view of the above I am of the opinion that Vince Cassar has been unfairly criticised.
One final point: is the role of MEPA Chairman a full-time post? The answer depends on whether MEPA has a Chief Executive Officer. If in the affirmative, that is if MEPA has a CEO it is reasonable to expect that a part-time MEPA Chairman could do the job adequately. With a CEO in place the role of MEPA Chairman is to Chair Board meetings and not to run the organisation. With the MEPA Chairman not being involved in the daily running of the organisation he would be more in a position to hold MEPA’s officers to account. That is the MEPA Board’s function and can only be carried out adequately if the MEPA Chairman is not a full timer.
Blog ta' Carmel Cacopardo 