Lobbying and the development/construction industry
Subsequent to the declaration by Clyde Caruana, Minister for Finance and Employment, that the current dependence of the economy on the development/construction industry, ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo issued the following statement:
Minister Caruana’s declaration is welcome.
It signifies that at long last someone has realised that the large parliamentary parties, PLPN, have caused great harm as a result of their closeness to the development/construction industry. This excessive closeness has resulted in a dilution of the regulatory effectiveness of development with substantial environmental damage, in most cases of an irreversible nature. If Minister Caruana wishes to be credible he should ensure that Government takes the necessary steps such that the authorities dealing with land use planning and the protection of the environment honour their brief.
All this has not come about since 2013: it has been developing over a quite longer timeframe. PLPN have been too close for comfort with the development/construction industry. Since 2013 this closeness has resulted Government being in cahoots with the industry more openly. In the absence of clear lobbying rules no one knows exactly what has been going on!
If Minister Clyde Caruana wants to be taken seriously, we await, without further delay, the conclusion of the consultation exercise on the lobbying rules prepared by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life way back in April 2020.
Throughout the years the construction/development industry made hay while the sun was shining in the absence of lobbying rules. If all this changes it would be a good step forward.
***
Il-lobbying u l-industrija tal-iżvilupp u l-kostruzzjoni
Wara id-dikjarazzjoni da parti tal-Ministru għall-Finanzi u x-Xogħol Clyde Caruana, li l-ekonomija ma tistax tibqa’ dipendenti fuq l-industrija tal-iżvilupp u l-kostruzzjoni, ċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD Carmel Cacopardo ħareġ l-istqarrija segwenti:
Id-dikjarazzjoni tal-Ministru Caruana hi ta’ sodisfazzjoni. Tfisser li fl-aħħar hemm min beda jirrealizza li l-partiti l-kbar, il-PLPN, għamlu ħsara kbira bil-viċinanza żejda tagħhom mal-industrija tal-iżvilupp u l-kostruzzjoni. Din il-viċinanza żejda wasslet għall-illaxkar tar-regolamentazzjoni tal-iżvilupp bi ħsara ambjentali sostanzjali u f’ħafna każi rreparabbli. Jekk il-Ministru Caruana jrid jitwemmen jagħmel tajjeb li jara li l-Gvern jerġa’ jibda jissikka biex l-awtoritajiet tal-ippjanar għall-użu tal-art u l-ħarsien tal-ambjent jagħmlu xogħolhom.
Dan ma bediex iseħħ fl-2013: ilu jseħħ ferm iktar minn hekk. Għax il-PLPN ilhom ħafna jħokku mal-industrija tal-iżvilupp u l-kostruzzjoni. Mill-2013 li ġara kien li intensifikaw iktar minn qatt qabel il-ħidma mill-viċin bejn il-Gvern u din l-industrija. Fl-assenza ta’ regolamentazzjoni bis-serjetà tal-lobbying ħadd ma jaf eżattament x’ġara bejniethom!
Jekk il-Ministru Clyde Caruana jridna nieħduh bis-serjetà nistennew li mingħajr iktar dewmien tkun konkluża l-konsultazzjoni dwar ir-regolamenti dwar il-lobbying li kien ħejja l-Kummissarju dwar l-Istandards fil-Ħajja Pubblika f’April 2020.
L-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni u l-iżvilupp irnexxielha tul is-snin tisfrutta l-fatt li l-lobbying mhux regolat. Jekk dan ma jibqax il-kaz inkunu mxejna pass ‘il quddiem.
