Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/523863
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 JUNE 2015 News 7 MIRIAM DALLI MINISTERS will require the approval of the Of- fice of the Prime Minister before giving interviews, organise activities or pub- lish statements, according to the revised Ministerial Code of Ethics. The 'new' code of ethics, published four months af- ter it came into force, has been slimmed down in appearance but is now ac- companied with a host of manuals gleaned from the civil service code, guid- ing the application of the code. The code itself has had two main points added to it: one of them al- lows Cabinet members to retain their private work if it is deemed to be "in the national interest"; and a new entry focuses on the ministers' public relations and their interac- tion with the media. What was considered to be "pro- cedural" was removed from the code and listed in the Cabinet's manual for procedures. According to point 10 of the ministerial code, ministers are to regularly inform the public and the media of their ministerial activities. "For this purpose, and for effective coordination, statements, interviews and ministerial activities must first receive the Office of the Prime Min- ister's approval," the code reads. The code goes on to add that in- correct information divulged must be immediately corrected and that ministers have to ensure open and full communica- tion with social partners, NGOs, professional organi- sations, media, and the pub- lic. What effectively reflects a stronger control by the Office of the Prime Min- ister on the government's communications, principal permanent secretary Mario Cutajar said clause 10 was included for "consistency across government". "Approval from the Of- fice of the Prime Minister needs to be sought since this Office is the regulating ministry which takes collec- tive decisions," a spokesperson for Cutajar told MaltaToday. "This clause does improve the Code of Ethics in such a way that ethical and responsible decisions are taken reassuring collective transpar- ency and good governance." In a press conference convened on Friday morning, Cutajar insisted that "the code of ethics was revised to strengthen governance and trans- parency". TIM DIACONO THE Front Harsien ODZ will hold a public protest in Valletta on Saturday, 20 June, urging the government not to give the go ahead to the construction of a pri- vate university at Zonqor Point in Marsaskala. The protest will start outside the new parliament building at 10am. "We will call on the govern- ment to abide by the 2006 local plan for the south of Malta," FHO spokesperson Michael Briguglio said of the government's plan to allow Jordanian construction firm Sadeen to build their private 'American' University on virgin land in Marsaskala. "In the plan, the entire Zonqor area was designated as a national park, with no development al- lowed and the livelihood of farm- ers safeguarded," Briguglio said. Front Harsien ODZ was set up last month in reaction to the pro- posed construction of the 'Amer- ican University of Malta' that is believed will take over 90,000 square metres of pristine land. Another seven environmental NGOs, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, Ramblers' Association, BirdLife, Greenhouse, and Na- ture Trust, declared that they will be participating in the protest. "Development that increases the urbanisation of ODZ areas is unacceptable, and compromising on this point has caused untold damage to the nation's coun- tryside over the past years," the NGOs said in a statement. "Any new investment should take place within the develop- ment boundaries. We condemn any attempt to once again alter the development boundaries, as well as the attitude being taken that investment is only viable if located on 'cheap' ODZ land. "The remaining ODZ land serves as an invaluable public benefit and should not be sacrificed to the ad- vantage of private investors just because its location outside the de- velopment zone makes its market price artifically cheap." The NGOs "deplored" attempts to reduce the planned national park footprint as provided by the 2006 local plan, and insisted that the park's implementation should not interfere with the farmers' live- lihoods and that the area should have the debris systematically dumped there, removed. "We encourage all Maltese proud of their country to stand and be counted in defence of the little that remains of our over-exploited nat- ural environment," the NGOs said. "A strong but peaceful national protest will send a strong message to the authorities, and to all politi- cians, that non-agricultural devel- opment in ODZ areas can never be regarded as sustainable in the long term, nor justifiable to future gen- erations. Indeed, all efforts in the future need to be instead focused on the regeneration of under-uti- lised sites within the development zone." Green party Alternattiva Demokratika praised the Front for their "sterling work" in safeguard- ing the few open spaces left in the country for present and future gen- erations. AD declared its support for the farmers, whose land will be built up on if the Zonqor university proposal goes through, and for the Marsaskala residents who will be deprived of a public open space. Moviment Graffiti, the left-wing activist group, also urged anyone who has the environment at heart to attend the protest. "We must show that we will not accept yet another project involv- ing environmental destruction for the interests and profits of the few," the movement said. "It's time for all those who care about the envi- ronment, regardless of the political party they support, to make their voices heard loud and clear." 'No compromise if university takes up any ODZ land' While the government has stated it was willing to seek a "flexible" compromise, Briguglio insisted that the Front will not be satisfied if the compromise includes even the partial construction of the uni- versity on land that is outside de- velopment zones. "That will not be a true compro- mise, but simply playing around with words," Briguglio said. "If the government is truly after a com- promise, it must stick with the 2006 local plan and find an alterna- tive site that isn't located in ODZ land. If there truly is a need for such educational investment, then that will be a win-win situation." However, he warned that a prop- er analysis of a feasible alternative site would be time-consuming. "Potential alternative sites should be studied properly," he said when asked to comment on four recent proposals by the National Inde- pendent Forum for Sustainability. The think-thank proposed that the AUM be spread out across three forts around Kalkara, within the Inner Grand Harbour, at a quarry near Marsaskala, or at the former airport in Luqa. "A full analysis of a possible al- ternative will require an environ- mental impact assessment, a social impact assessment and a transport impact assessment," Briguglio said. "The government cannot rush through locating an alternative site." Also present at the protest was Marsaskala's deputy mayor, Desi- ree Attard, who was elected on the Labour ticket and who has publicly criticised the siting of the univer- sity at Zonqor. She said that residents she has spoken to were shocked by dec- larations by mayor Mario Calleja that the majority of Marsaskala residents were in favour of the project. "Many residents I have spoken to disagree with the siting of a univer- sity at Zonqor," she said, a claim that was backed by PN councillor Charlot Cassar. Civil society in strong support for protest against Zonqor university Today SPCA Malta is announcing that Mrs. Sarah De Cesare Dunkerley has been appointed as the new Chief Operations Officer for the organisation. She aims to expand the scope of the SPCA, building on the strong reputation of the organisation. Mrs. De Cesare Dunkerley has headed Dogs Trust Malta since its inception in 2009 with an excellent track record throughout the duration of the 6 year project. With Dogs Trust's campaigns being handed over to SPCA to carry on, she brings with her the expertise and experience gained through Dogs Trust's success. Mrs. De Cesare Dunkerley would like to thank all the Dogs Trust Malta supporters for making the project a success, and invites them to continue supporting the campaigns now run by SPCA Malta so that animal welfare standards can continue to improve through education, neutering and rehoming. SPCA Malta announces new Chief Operations Officer Ministers require OPM's approval before engaging with media eNGOs will be supporting the Front Harsien ODZ in its protest against building at Zonqor Point, announced by Michael Briguglio (third from right) OPM spokesperson Kurt Farrugia has a private word with the Prime Minister