| Media Release: FARMERS PRESENT PETITION TO VATICAN, THE PRESIDENT OF MALTA, THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE NUNCIO 92 farmers who work on agricultural land at Tal-Virtu' have signed a petition and presented it to the Vatican, the President of Malta, the Archbishop of Malta and the Secretary of the Nuncio in Malta. The farmers, represented by the Progressive Farmers Union and supported by the Front Against the Golf Course, are appealing that the proposed Golf Course project on the area be shelved in order to safeguard the agricultural land which they work on. Progressive Farmers Union Secretary Joe Farrugia, who spoke about the petition, said that in themselves many signatures represents the livelihood of a family, meaning that the 92 signatures represent hundreds of people. Farrugia proceeded to highlight the main arguments of the petition. "This land has been tilled by our forefathers and us for hundreds of years. Working this land is our means of earning a living for ourselves and for our families. Now land speculators have cast their eyes on this particular piece of agricultural land with the specific aim of constructing a golf course. The land that we have treasured for so many years will be taken by a single company to become its sole beneficiary. It is not acceptable that wealth which is being enjoyed by so many, be acquired by a single company especially more so since our livelihood and that of our families depend on these 65 hectares of agricultural land." "We feel that it is neither fair nor fitting that the property which had been donated by our forefathers to the Church for pious aims be now wrenched from the hands of their descendants and handed to a company extraneous to that place. " Fr. Jimmy Bartolo, representing the Chaiplancy of the University of Malta, highlighted the fact that Article 2.1 of the Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Malta, which was ratified on the 18th of February 1993, does not permit the development of golf courses on agricultural land under the agreement. In fact the agreement states as follows: "The Government shall use the property transferred to it by virtue of the present Agreement to promote the safeguarding of the environment and the development of agriculture, and to meet the Country�s most pressing social requirements, such as social housing and public utilities, as well as for humanitarian, educational and cultural purposes." Fr. Bartolo stated that the proposed golf course violates Article 2.1 of that Agreement for the following reasons: firstly, it relates to a private, not a public enterprise; secondly, far from safeguarding the environment, it will destroy the productive agricultural community at Tal-Virtu' and thirdly, in no way can the proposed golf course be considered as meeting the country�s most pressing social requirements. With regards to the position of the Church on the Golf Course issue, Joe Farrugia added, "we appreciate the fact that the local Curia issued a statement on the 17th of January 2001 to clarify and state its position on the golf course case. In this statement the local Curia reiterated that the conditions of the Agreement concluded by the Holy See and the Republic of Malta on the 28th of January 1991 be fully adhered to. We have complete trust that the Holy See will continue to protect our rights to work this land. Dr. Harry Vassallo - Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika and representative of the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors said that it is obvious to all that if this land is turned into a golf course we will suffer a cruel and unjust act. "It is for this reason that we are supporting the farmers' appeal to retain the land and not be simply evicted and that greed will not triumph at the expense of their livelihoods and that of their families." Dr. Vassallo stated that the propose Golf Course violates Malta's structure plan and that the Directorate of the Planning Authority has recommended outright refusal of the application. Vassallo added that the golf course is unsustainable for many reasons, include the fact that it will use hefty amounts of water in an island were water is scarce. Besides, it will rob Malta of more agricultural land, which is already being lost at an average of 2 sq. kilometres per year. "It is for these reasons that the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors is giving its utmost support to the plight of the farmers at Tal-Virtu'." The Front Kontra l-Golf Kors is made up of: Progressive Farmers Union, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust, ECO - The Ecological Foundation, The Vegetarian Society, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Pembroke Residents' Association and Zminijietna. It is supported by the University Chaiplancy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, and Kopin. Michael Briguglio for the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors |
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