| Author: Jesmond Bonello Date: 30.06.2001 MP speaks against proposed Rabat golf course project Government MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said yesterday that even though the structure plan for the Maltese islands suggests that the development of a golf course should only be considered on reclaimed land, detailed plans had been presented to the Planning Authority for the development of a golf course at Rabat. The developers were already advertising the golf course complex abroad, he said. Addressing the Council of Europe session on the situation and prospects of young people in rural areas, Dr Pullicino Orlando had harsh words for the project, claiming that a considerable number of families involved in farming were facing the possibility of seeing the land they had always tilled being converted into a large golf course. "The developers behind this project have been trying to convince the authorities of its feasibility for some years now. Young farmers who have turned to the authorities for help have found little to encourage them to persist in their fight to keep their land. "Very high officials in the ministry for agriculture have actually been perceived to be in favour of a project which will ultimately simply be a strain on the limited land and water resources on Malta. All this for financial gain by a very small group of persistent entrepreneurs." On the issue of EU membership, Dr Pullicino Orlando said that Malta`s EU membership "will undoubtedly benefit the economy which already has a great deal of dependence on interaction with the EU. However, farmers are afraid that they will be unable to compete profitably if there is liberalisation of the limited local market. "One hopes that our fragile but vital agricultural sector will be given some degree of protection. Malta`s negotiators are doing their best in this respect." On the situation with regard to water, Dr Pullicino Orlando said that the islands have always been faced with a shortage of water. He said that the present government has done its best to ensure a steady supply of drinking water. "But much more could have been done to conserve rainwater and to provide second-hand recycled water to the farming community," he said. |
 |
 |