BICREF is not surprised at the lack of Environment Ministry's consultation and information delivery to the Environment NGOs or interested public regarding the Eco tax, as this is a continuation of an attitude that has been ongoing for too long and that BICREF and some other NGOs have already reported in the past, for example in connection with the Marine Protected Area issue.

Another point is the environmental damage or degradation that has already been allowed to occur with Environment Ministry and MEPA's blessing, both on land and sea. Will this have to be paid for by all of us? Will all current developments, such as tuna penning, be reassessed for their environmental degradation and cost to the public? Are we expecting the sea currents to clear our marine pollution? What responsibility do the Environment Ministry and Authority have toward the public to make sure that their mission statements are really adhered to?

BICREF believes that the Eco tax issue and the way in which it is being tackled is another example of the careless attitude shown by our current Environment Minister and Officials that seem to fork out legislations and pseudo consultation processes without any real intention of solving environmental problems at their source. What incentives have been placed to the public to choose between substances and materials that are environmentally friendly as opposed to those that are not? Where is the choice given to the public to deal with improving its environmental awareness and respect?

Are there fridges, batteries, soft-drink containers that are environmentally friendly and thus will not carry an eco tax? The environmental pollution problems are not a bug that needs to be carried by the consumers alone, on the contrary it should all start by incentives to the producer and businessmen that can realise that it will be more profitable to produce and merchandise products that the public will prefer or pay less for as they are environmentally friendly.

Over and above this, BICREF also wonders what the Eco tax funds will be used for. Will it go to clean our accumulating rubbish in our rural and green areas, coastal and marine environments? Will it go to assist environmental projects for which public calls are announced? Will it go to pay for environmental research and management in all local councils, with assistance from the University and relevant NGOs? Or will it go in the accumulating environmental fund which very few privileged persons really know where and how it is being used and on which basis it is being distributed?