29 January 2006 Rating 39% No Comment  

Moviment Graffitti reiterated its position in favour of the conservation of the natural habitats characterized by rare and endemic species, especially the unique vegetation as well as the historical sites found at Ta? Cenc. Moviment Graffitti is ?adamantly against the proposed development of 67 villas, 49 bungalows, a hotel and a golf course as this would mean the destruction of the 146 hectare area. Tourists have been attracted to the place for years because of its natural beauty. Foreign visitors, mostly British and Americans, who chose to settle in Sannat, confirm that Ta? Cenc?s beauty was what attracted them to settle there. Promotion of the site to tourists visiting the island should be done, with the creation of guided walks led by naturalists, to get to know how zoologically and botanically rich the area is.? Moviment Graffitti stated, ?The best way to develop the area is to conserve its flora and fauna on its garigue land, and to let the people who used to farm the fertile soil at Ta? Cenc, to return and help it flourish again.? Moviment Graffitti said it is ?really hypocritical to raise the hope of job opportunities for young Gozitans, when one knows that these jobs would be available only for a few months of the year. This would be another factor that will continue to destabilise the labour market.? ?It is a well informed collective body (society) that has the right to decide whether to let the proposed development be authorised, or not,? the movement maintained. ?That is how democracy works. The people have to show their concern about such issues, or else we will continue having the few ?more equal? people, deciding on behalf of the many ?less equal? others.? Expressing its views on MEPA, Moviment Graffitti said, ?How can MEPA maintain its impartial credentials in the eyes of the people who finance it, when one finds that high-ranking people of the authority itself are the co-authors of Environment Impact Statements of major developments such as the one at Ta? Cenc (with reference to the case of Louis F. Cassar reported by Malta Today on 8 January). Although these people are kept out of the discussions and voting processes of the projects in which they are enrolled as consultants, one cannot be naïve and not suspect that there can be the possibility that they become involved in the lobbying process.? The movement concluded by saying that it will continue to be active in resisting the proposed development and ?MEPA should reject the development at the earliest possible.?