Whilst addressing the Plenary meeting organised for Local Councillors by the Local Councils Association on Saturday at the Corinthia Hotel, Carmel Cacopardo AD spokesman on Sustainable Development and Local Government said, “as a result of examining the Consultative Document on the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy it results that Local Councils have not been considered as being worthy of giving an input.”

Cacopardo added, “some of the impacts effect localities directly. In particular he made reference to the capacity of the infrastructure to handle changes in the frequency and intensity of rainfall.”

“Whilst we still have Authorities and Commissions appointed by Government that are still not sufficient aware of the important role of Local Councils Cacopardo added that where authorities accept and recognise the role of local authorities these should deliver by getting involved. He referred to the intervention of Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said with MEPA in order that it halts its negotiations with Freeport on the conditions of its environmental permit pending the direct involvement of the Birzebbuga Local Council.”

On the other hand, Cacopardo said, “when MEPA issued the environmental permit on the Marsa abattoir incinerator the Marsa and Paola Local Councils where given rights such that at the expense of Wasteserve they could establish an alternative air monitoring system as well as engage the services of experts to assist them in understanding the technical data available. Considering the criticism being made it is clear that these Local Councils are not aware of their rights which they consequently not making use of.”

Cacopardo concluded by encouraging the Association to better assist Local Councils in how to proceed in these circumstances.

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