MINISTERS have been accused of trying to sneak around environmental treaties to get the new incinerator built at La Collette.

During ministers’ questions on Tuesday, Deputy Daniel Wimberley said that there was ‘widespread suspicion’ that the Environment department did not discuss the matter with the Ramsar governing body because they did not want them to know about it.

The wetlands up to Havre des Pas are protected by the international Ramsar treaty right up to the point where the  £100 million-plus incinerator will be built. But the Environment department said that the incinerator did not pose an environmental threat.

Environment Minister Freddie Cohen said that there was no cover-up, nor any intention to deceive Ramsar or anyone else. He said that the right processes had been followed. He said that the view of the department was that airborne emissions were not a threat to the environment around the incinerator, which includes the protected zone.

• Picture: The area around the site of the incinerator which has been designated by Ramsar as a special area