In a press conference in Qormi, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that environmental issues such as flooding and air quality are of major concern in various localities.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson said: “Environmental issues such as air quality and flooding are of major concern to residents in localities such as Qormi. For example, air quality is singled out as a main environmental concern in Malta according to surveys such as Eurobarometer. The election of Green candidates will ensure that local councils will give due importance to such issues by making the necessary pressure on respective authorities and Ministries for better planning and proper enforcement. This is essential in order that local councils really belong to residents and not to powerful lobbies that damage the environment and people’s health”.
Henrik Piski, Alternattiva Demokratika’s candidate for the local council elections for Qormi said: “Air quality affects everyone’s health. Due its location, the vicinity of Marsa, the heavy traffic around Qormi on peak hours and the amount of local bakeries, the air quality in Qormi is often very bad affecting the immediate quality of life and health of its residents. If elected, I will propose speed limits inside the town, divert transit traffic from the core of the town and seek a direct dialogue with the different bakeries to promote a correct usage of their ovens. Today, some bakeries still use machine oil to start their fires and could continue these hazardous habits due to loopholes in the law.”
Carmel Cacopardo AD Spokesman for Sustainable Development and Home Affairs said that Local Councils have a central role in the formulation and implementation of environmental policies. At a local level environmental policy can and should be an integral part of the local council’s activity. Use of alternative energy in street lighting and in public areas and buildings, green purchasing, waste separation and encouraging sustainable mobility (more use of public transport, cycling, speed limits in urban areas and more pedestrianized zones) are some of the areas in which practical initiatives can be taken by local councils and which will decrease environmental impacts and better the quality of life of the local community.”
In Qormi the local council should seek a more active role in addressing the impacts of flooding which time and again creates havoc amongst the local community, both in residential areas and in areas used for commercial purposes or light industry. The election of Green Local Councillor at Qormi concluded Cacopardo will result in initiatives in all these areas.
Il-lokalitajiet taghna jixirqilhom politika ambjentali ahjar – AD
Waqt konferenza stampa f’Hal Qormi, l-Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, qalet li kwistjonijiet ambjentali bhall-gharar u l-kwalita’ tal-arja huma problemi principali f’hafna lokalitajiet.
Michael Briguglio, ic-Chairperson tal-AD, qal: “Problemi ambjentali bhall-kwalita’ tal-arja u l-gharar huma ugigh ta’ ras ghar-residenti f’lokalitajiet bhal Hal-Qormi. Per ezempju il-kwalita tal-arja giet imsemmija bhala wahda mill-akbar problemi skont studji bhall-Eurobarometer. L-elezzjoni ta’ kandidat tal-Alternattiva Demokratika tiggarantixxi li l-kunsilli lokali jaghtu importanza lill-kwistjonijiet bhal dawn billi jaghmlu l-pressjoni mehtiega fuq l-awtoritajiet u Ministri biex ikun hemm ippjanar ahjar u infurzar tal-ligi kif suppost. Dan hemm bzonn li jsir biex il-kunsilli lokali ikunu tabilhaqq tar-residenti u mhux ta’ gruppi ohra b’sahhithom li jaghmlu hsara lill-ambjent u lis-sahha tan-nies”.
Henrik Piski, kandidat tal-Alternattiva Demokratika ghall-kunsill lokali ta’ Hal-Qormi, qal: “Il-kwalita’ tal-arja taffettwa is-sahha ta’ kulhadd. Minhabba l-pozizzjoni tieghu qrib tal-Marsa, it-traffiku kbir ta’ madwar Hal-Qormi kif ukoll il-fran tal-lokal, il-kwalita’ tal-arja f’Hal Qormi tkun ta’ spiss hazina. Din taffettwa hazin il-kwalita’ tal-hajja u s-sahha tar-residenti. Jekk nigi elett, nipproponi limiti ta’ velocita’ gewwa t-toroq tar-rahal, li traffiku ghaddej minn Hal-Qormi ma jghaddix mill-qalba tar-rahal u nfittex li nibni djalogu dirett mal-furnara tar-rahal biex nippromwovi l-uzu tajjeb tal-ifran. Sal-lum il-gurnata certi fran ghadhom juzaw zejt tal-magna biex iqabbdu n-nar u jistghu jibqghu jaghmlu dawn l-affarijiet minhabba loopholes fil-ligi.”
Carmel Cacopardo, kelliem tal-AD ghall-Izvilupp Sostenibbli u l-Affarijiet Interni, qal li l-kunsilli lokali ghandhom rwol centrali fit-tifsil u l-implimentazzjoni tal-politika ambjentali. Fuq livell lokali, il-politika ambjentali tista’ u ghandha tkun parti integrali mill-attivita tal-kunsill lokali. L-uzu ta’ energija alternattiva fid-dwal tat-toroq u f’positjiet u bini pubblici, xiri li ma jaghmilx hsara lill-ambjent, is-separazzjoni tal-iskart u l-inkoraggiment li jigu uzati mezzi sostenibbli ta’ mobilita’ (aktar uzu tat-trasport pubbliku, l-uzu tar-roti, limiti ta’ velocita’ f’zoni urbani, aktar zoni pedonali…) huma ftit oqsma fejn inizjattivi prattici jistghu jigu mehuda mill-kunsilli lokali. Dawn iservu biex jonqos l-impatt ambjentali u biex titjieb il-kwalita’ tal-hajja tal-komunita’ lokali.”
F’Hal Qormi il-kunsill lokali ghandu jara li jkollu aktar rwol attiv biex jindirizza l-impatt tal-gharar li kull darba johloq dizastu shih fil-komunita’, kemm f’zoni residenzjali kif ukoll f’akwati uzati min-negozjanti jew industriji zghar. L-elezzjoni ta’ kunsillier tal-Alternattiva Demokraika f’Hal Qormi, twassal biex jittiehdu inizjattivi bhal dawn f’dawn l-oqsma kollha”.