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maltatoday, THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2017 6 News Alternattiva Demokratika pledges 'Zero Carbon Malta' by 2050 STEFAN PAUL GALEA CHOOSING one of the island's most polluted localities as venue for their press conference, Alternattiva Demokratika presented its proposals for "a clean environment". Addressing reporters in Paola yester- day, Green Party deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo accused subsequent administrations of failing to tackle the problem of traffic congestion. "Instead, more roads are being pro- posed meaning that further cars on the road, not to mention the excess oil and fuels that are constantly being used," he said. AD said it was proposing a long term solution in order to take action and combat climate change in a more ef- fective manner, in order to have cleaner urban cities. "The project Malta Zero Carbon 2050 will focus on this," Ca- copardo said. AD is proposing further investment in the public transport sector, which includes transport operations through the use of bio fuels including fuels ex- tracted from sewage plants. "I encourage different means of trans- port, which makes use of clean sources, rather than increasing road expendi- ture which only contribute to further pollution and traffic congestion," Ca- copardo said. He added that further administrative measures must be taken in order to have a better infrastructure for bicy- cle lanes to be created on Malta's main roads. "This would encourage further peo- ple to use their bikes, and thus we must ensure that European funds would be used in order to provide showers in dif- ferent areas." AD said a large investment was re- quired to reduce more cars from the roads, arguing that the idea of a metro system was "very viable if implemented properly". On the energy sector, AD secretary general Ralph Cassar said the Green Party agreed with the switch to gas, in order to reduce poisonous gasses and carbon monoxide. "Yet, the transition- ing to gas raises a lot of questions to- wards the Labour government because of its deals with the world's most cor- rupt government in Azerbaijan." Cassar added that gas was a reliable and renewable source of energy up till the year 2050. "The aim of zero carbon or a 100% clean energy system up till 2050 is something which is doable." Cassar said that such a project would provide further investment in technol- ogy services, which would also provide the creation of new jobs. AD is proposing that every new build- ing must undergo the installation of a PV panel in order to have electricity generated from natural sunlight. Cas- sar said that this would ensure that all generated electricity would be car- bon neutral. This would also have to include the installation of solar water heaters He added that the distribution of elec- tricity must be improved in order to have a higher and accepted energy level from natural sunlight, including an in- vestment with regards to wave energy. Ex-hunter acquitted of bribing ALE police officers MATTHEW AGIUS A man was acquitted of at- tempting to bribe police offic- ers from the Administrative Law Enforcement section for information on patrols against illegal hunting, in a case that collapsed after nine years. Eric Scicluna, 45, from Mtarfa, had been charged with having conspired to bribe an official from the ALE and relapsing, af- ter the Commissioner of Police had investigated a tip-off about ALE officials who were getting overly friendly with the local hunting fraternity. Hunters were alleged, at the time, to have given gifts to of- ficers in exchange for being tipped off on timing and routes of ALE patrols against illegal hunting. Magistrate Josette Demicoli had been told how two police officers had undergone disci- plinary proceedings related to the investigation and then cleared. One of these officers had tes- tified that Scicluna had been an informant who cooperated closely with the police. Scicluna had been going through a diffi- cult time due to family health concerns and on once occasion had confided with the accused that he was strapped for cash. The accused had once lent him €150, which he later paid back in full, the officer said, categorically denying having ever accepted a bribe. The second officer accused had said the he and the ac- cused were friends and had exchanged gifts at Christmas- time. He denied that cash had ever changed hands between them. Scicluna had testified to hav- ing abandoned his former hob- by after being slapped with a €6,000 fine for illegal hunting at sea. In her judgment on the case the magistrate noted none of the man's alleged accomplices had been summoned to testify and that the police officers who had been charged accepting bribes had been acquitted. No evidence to show that the men had been in contact to hatch a plan to commit an of- fence had been presented be- fore the court, it said. Significantly, noted the court, the prospect of payment – an essential element for the of- fence of bribery to subsist, was absent. The accused had never promised any form of payment and the policeman never re- quested it, she said. The gift- giving was simply a token of their 5 year friendship, held the court. Scicluna was acquitted of all charges. Superintends Mario Spiteri and Simon Galea pros- ecuted. Carmel Cacopardo accused subsequent administrations of failing to tackle the problem of traffic congestion