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| Alternattiva Demokratika The Green Party 149,Archbishop street, Valletta tel no : 255330 http://www.alternattiva.org.mt Media Release Dr. Harry Vassallo defends environment and free speech AD-The Green Party Chairperson Dr. Harry Vassallo has presented a Counter-protest in the First hall of the Civil Court against Angelo Xuereb in his own name and in the name and on behalf of AX Holdings Limited and Verdala Mansions Limited. "The Counter Protest is a defence of free speech and expression which is being threatened by Angelo Xuereb's attempt to use the courts to stifle legitimate criticism. Angelo Xuereb in his judicial protest has made an attempt to discredit Dr. Harry Vassallo's integrity. Dr. Vassallo is the only party leader who is not afraid of the financial power behind unsustainable projects. Dr. Vassallo has a record of two decades of total commitment in favour of sustainable development and the social well being of the Maltese and Gozitan people. AX Holdings and Angelo Xuereb cannot boast of having such a record" ,said AD-The Green Party General Secretary Stephen Cachia The Counter Protest exposes Angelo Xuereb's environmental record. This record includes: "The development of the Verdala Hotel, Verdala Mansions and the Duplex Suites outside development zone, the demolition of Capua Palace and the misappropriation of public land in Qawra". In the Counter Protest Dr. Harry Vassallo declared that: "the development of a golf course in a landscape which has witnessed the unfolding of Malta's history under the walls of Mdina is an outrage to the national identity of the Maltese and Gozitans and violates the provisions of the constitution enjoining the conservation of the landscape, in the context of a difficult situation whereby more than 2Km2 of arable land of the less than 100Km2 which remain, the project proposes to consume more than 65 hectares and in the dire context of water supply which constrains the country to dedicate 11% of its energy generation to the desalination of sea water and with the experience of other countries with a similar climate where similar projects failed disastrously leaving large tracts of land unavailable to agriculture, the exponent is in duty bound and has the right to consider the proposed development both inappropriate and unsustainable". Stephen Cachia added that: "AD-The Green Party will continue its national and international campaign against the project and will continue to inform Regents Hotels about the environmental and social harm caused by the Golf Course and the fact that the development of a golf course in Verdala contradicts the Church-State agreement. The development of a Golf Course in Verdala does not conform to the Structure Plan. Even the Directorate of the Planning Authority has recommended the refusal of this application". James Debono Media Officer |
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