Hundreds of people, non-governmental organisations, religious orders and political parties braved the scorching heat last night to join the ‘Save Gozo’ protest at City Gate in Valletta. They gathered together to protest at the numerous proposed developments in Gozo, at Ramla l-Hamra, Hondoq ir-Rummien, Ta’ Cenc and Tal-Kus amongst others.

The large and vociferous crowds were addressed by all the organisations involved, excerpts from some of the speeches are listed below:

Ramblers Association

Lino Bugeja, President of the Ramblers Association said that the protection of Malta’s natural and historical heritage is entrenched in the Constitution and since the government is the guardian of the Constitution it should ensure that this protection is guaranteed.

He added that Mepa was set up specifically to help the government in this regard. “If it is found wanting, it should be scrapped,” said Mr Bugeja. He went on to say, “Future generations will not blame faceless Mepa for the destruction of our countryside but the government in power.”

MEPA was set up to rectify past mistakes not to let people cash in on them. The monstrous development of thirty years ago should, like a cancerous growth, not have been allowed to spread with grave consequences.

Mr Bugeja concluded by saying, it is unbelievable how the government, through MEPA, has alienated a whole country, irrespective of their political beliefs, in order to accommodate a few developers and speculators whose aim is to get richer.

“Aghti Mulej, id-dehen lil min jahkimha” Grant them O Lord the wisdom to realise that the quality of life does not depend only on economic development but on the enjoyment of our fair land, turned sour by the greed of those who are ready to sacrifice anything on the altar of Mammon.

Save Hondoq Movement

Paul Buttigieg, secretary of the Save Hondoq Movement and Qala local councillor, said that we have all come together at this protest to express our anger at the destruction of Gozo’s natural habitat and to save the little that is still left, especially Ta’ Cenc, Ramla l-Hamra, Mgarr ix-Xini and Hondoq ir-Rummien.

He appealed to the authorities not to ignore a local referendum at Qala about the Hondoq project which has shown that 85 per cent of the residents are four square against the proposed monstrous project.

Alternattiva Demokratika

John Mizzi, AD local councillor for Sannat, said that until January 2005 government included Ta’ Cenc as a Natura 2000 site, but later the European Commissioner had said that this was not true and that Ta’ Cenc is not part of the European project.

Councillor Mizzi said that in summer 2005, the government proposed a golf course at Ta’ Cenc, a proposal which the Labour Party also supports. He added that late in 2005, the owners of the land at Ta’ Cenc filed an application to build 120 villas, but because there was resistance no bulldozer entered the area. “But the fight goes on,” he concluded.

Xewkija Council

Dr Monica Vella, Mayor of Xewkija Council strongly objected to the proposed development of a waste transfer station at Tal-Kus, which is close to the scenic valley of Mgarr ix-Xini.

Dr Vella said, “Mepa issued a permit notwithstanding the fact that scientific reports which have been forwarded, indicate clearly that Tal-Kus has not only ecological and geomorphologic value but also archeological value of great importance. The remains, which have been found in Tal-Kus, span one thousand years of history from the Phoenician to Roman times.”

Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar

Astrid Vella, coordinator of the environmental NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), summed up by saying that each one of these issues would cause an outcry in any civilized EU country, the combination of them together would cause a national scandal. Here in Malta we are supposed to accept them and not speak up against them.

FAA’s original stand was to try very hard to resolve the matter of Ramla through consultation, recommending a deferral of the MEPA board decision, in order to avoid the issue going public. In a step which belies MEPA’s supposed stand on public consultation, the NGOs proposals were swept aside.

This is not just a matter for Gozitans to be upset about, but sadly symptomatic of the way land issues are being handled recently, an ugly blot on our administration of environmental justice that will be going down in history.

We urge on our Government in the strongest possible manner to investigate this matter in the interests of environmental justice for all Maltese and Gozitan citizens, as well as the rights of future generations to enjoy a decent quality of life and islands that are not irremediably scarred by the selfishness of some and the weakness of others.