| FRONT KONTRA L-GOLF COURSE MEMBERS: Progressive Farmers Union, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Eco - The Ecological Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Inizjamed, Move! Organisation, International Animal Rescue SUPPORTERS: University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Kopin, Farmers' Central Co-Operative Society http://nogolfmalta.cjb.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Media Release 22/07/02 Farmers and Front Kontra l-Golf Course to Participate in Public Hearing In a press conference held at Tal-Virtu' the Front Kontra l-Golf Course said that it will participate in the MEPA public hearing about the proposed golf course at Tal-Virtu' to be held held in Rabat on Tuesday evening at 7pm at the L'Isle Adam Band Club. The press conference was chaired by Joe Farrugia, Secretary of the Progressive Farmers' Union as well as attended by farmers representing the Tal-Virtu' farming community and by spokespersons of various organisations within the Front Speaking on behalf of the Front, Joe Farrugia said, "We shall be confirming with the Board of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority that the overwhelming majority of farmers at Tal-Virtu' are opposing the project because it goes against the agreement between the Maltese Government and the Vatican and forces them off the land against their will. The proposed development would have significant adverse impacts on agriculture, and this is confirmed by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) on the proposed golf course. The proposed golf course will also have a negative impact on other areas such as the environment, archeology, and infrastructure." Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo added "The Front Kontra l-Golf Course agrees with professional economists who have reviewed the so-called economic projections the EIA, that these are merely speculation. They are exaggeratedly optimistic. Therefore during the public hearing we shall be demanding that an independent financial audit of all the EIA's so-called projections of earnings, tourist arrivals, expenditures generated and impact on the Maltese economy. We strongly appeal to the MEPA Board to accept this request and to reflect upon the actual legal situation, i.e. that the land in question is covered by article 2.1 of the Holy See-Malta Agreement, 1991." In the meantime, a statement issued by the Front Kontra l-Golf Course said "The Front Kontra l-Golf Course keeps on growing and is now made up of 17 member or supporter organisations. The latest addition is the Farmers Central Co-Operative, which represents around 1,000 farmers. Besides, other organizations have also publicly declared their opposition towards the proposed golf course such as Din l-Art Helwa." "A decision in favour of the preservation of the agricultural land at Tal-Virtu' and against the development of the proposed golf course would be, a month before Malta's participation at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, a major victory for agriculture, sustainable development, social justice and respect for international treaties ratified by the Maltese state. It would also mean that the MEPA Board fully respects Malta's Structure Plan and the agreement between the Maltese Government and the Vatican. " "In this regard we remind the MEPA Board that the Planning Directorate within MEPA had recommended outright refusal of the golf course proposal as it does not conform with the Structure Plan. Moreover, the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr. Luigi Conti, recently made it clear in Il-Gens Illum on 22nd June 2002 that the proposed golf course violates the agreement between the Maltese Government and the Vatican. We also remind the MEPA Board that the Planning Authority had refused a proposal for the development of a centre for organic agriculture at Tal-Virtu' as no development would be permitted in the area." "The Front Kontra l-Golf Course is made up of the Progressive Farmers Union, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Eco - The Ecological Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Inizjamed, Move! Organisation, International Animal Rescue, the University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Kopin, Farmers' Central Co-Operative Society." The website of the Front Kontra l-Golf Course may be accessed at http://nogolfmalta.cjb.net Michael Briguglio for Front Kontra l-Golf Course Stqarrija Media: 22/07/02 Bdiewa u l-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors ser jippartecipaw fil-Laqgha Publika dwar il-Korsa tal-Golf F'konferenza stampa f'Tal-Virtu', il-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors qal li li ser jippartecipa fill-laqgha pubblika organizzata mill-Awtorita' Maltija ghall-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar (MEPA) dwar il-proposta ghall-izvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf f'tal-Virtu'. Il-laqgha pubblika ser issehh nhar it-Tlieta fir-Rabat fil-Kazin tal-Banda L'Isle Adam, u tibda fis-7pm. Il-konferenza stampa kienet immexxija minn Joe Farrugia, Segretarju tal-Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi u attendew numru ta' bdiewa li jirraprezentaw il-komunita' agrikola f'Tal-Virtu' kif ukoll kelliema minn organizazzjonijiet differenti fi hdan il-Front. Joe Farrugia qal "Il-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors ser jikkonferma mal-bord tal-MEPA li l-maggoranza kbira ta' bdiewa f'Tal-Virtu' qed jopponu l-progett minhabba li jmur kontra l-ftehim bejn il-Gvern Malti u l-Vatikan u ser jisfurzohom il-barra' mill-art agrikola f'Tal-Virtu' kontra r-rieda taghhom. L-izvilupp tassew ser ikollu impatt negattiv sinjifikanti fuq l-agrikoltura, u dan hu kkonfermat mill- Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) dwar il-korsa tal-golf. Il-progett ser ikollu impatt negattiv ukoll fuq numru ta' oqsma li jinkludu l-ambjent, l-arkeologija u l-infrastruttura." Ic-Chairperson ta' Alternattiva Demokratika Dr Harry Vassallo qal "Il-Front Kontra l-Golf Course jaqbel ma' ekonomisti professjonali li wara li analizzaw l'hekk imsejha previzjonijiet ekonomika fl-EIA, qed jikkonkludi li dawn l-hekk imsejha previzjonijiet huma biss spekulazzjonijiet. Huwa car li fl-aspett ekonomiku, l-EIA hu ottimist b'mod ezagerat. Ghalhekk, fil-laqgha publika ahna ser nitolbu ghal awditjar indipendenti dwar l-hekk imsejha previzjonijiet ekonomici fl-EIA dwar dhul, numru ta' turisti, nfieq li jigi ggenerat u impatt fuq l-ekonomija Maltija. Nappellaw li l-bord tal-MEPA jaccetta din it-talba u sabiex jirrifletti dwar is-sitqazzjoni legali, jigifieri li l-art hi koperta bl-artiklu 2.1 fil-ftehim bejn il-Gvern Malti u s-Santa Sede fl-1991." Sa dan it-tant, il-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors qal fi stqarrija li "Il-Front Kontra l-Golf Course qed jibqa' jikber u issa jinkludi 17-il organizazzjoni fi hdanu. L-iktar inkluzjoni ricenti hi dik tal-Koperattiva Centrali tal-Bdiewa, li tirriprezenta madwar 1,000 bidwi. Barra minn hekk, organizazzjonijiet bhal Din l-Art Helwa esprimew ukoll l-oppozizzjoni taghhom ghall-korsa tal-golf." "Decizzjoni favur il-harsien ta' l-art agrikola f'Tal-Virtu' u kontra l-izvilupp propost ta' korsa tal-golf tkun rebha kbira - xahar qabel il-partecipazzjoni ta' Malta fis-Summit Dinji ghall-Izvilupp Sostenibbli - favur l-agrikoltura, l-izvilupp sostenibbli, il-gustizzja socjali, u r-rispett ghal tratatti internazzjonali li gew irratifikati mill-Gvern Malti. Decizzjoni kontra l-izvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf tkun tfisser ukoll li l-Bord tal-MEPA jirrispetta bi shih il-pjan ta' struttura ta' pajjizna u l-ftehim bejn il-Gvern Malti u l-Vatikan." "F'dan ir-rigward, infakkru lill-Bord tal-MEPA li d-Direttorat ta' l-Ippjanar fi hdan il-MEPA kien irakkomanda li l-proposta ghall-korsa tal-golf ghandha tigi irrifjutata totalment minhabba li ma tikkonformax mal-Pjan ta' l-Istruttura. Barra minn hekk, in-Nunzjo Appostoliku Mgr. Luigi Conti dan l-ahhar ghamilha cara fil-Gens Illum tat-22 ta' Gunju li l-proposta ghal korsa tal-golf tmur kontra l-ftehim bejn il-Gvern Malti u l-Vatikan. Infakkru wkoll lill-Bord tal-MEPA li l-Awtorita' ta' l-Ippjanar kienet irrifjutat proposta ghal zvilupp ta' centru ta' agrikoltura organika, minhabba li l-ebda zvilupp m'hu permess f'dan il-post." "Il-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors hu maghmul mill-Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Il-Kappella ta' l-Universita', Il-Moviment Malti ghall-Agrikoltura Organika, Kopin, Il-Koperattiva Centrali tal-Bdiewa, Moviment Graffitti, Inizjamed, Move! Organisation, L-Ghaqda Vegetarjana, L-Ghaqda Residenti ta' Pembroke, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Eco - Il-Fondazzjoni Ekologika, u International Animal Rescue. Il-website tal-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors tinsab f' http://nogolfmalta.cjb.net Michael Briguglio ghall-Front Kontra l-Golf Course |
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