| Front Kontra l-Golf Kors Media Release 3/8/02 Front kontra l-Golf Kors rebuts allegations of AX Holdings Extensive report on EIA presented to MEPA. AX Holdings are using lies, half truths and threats to obscure the fact that the development of a golf course in Verdala is being opposed by the Verdala farmers and by a large number of NGOs and Maltese civil society. This opposition is growing everyday. This was more than evident during the protest march organised by the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors last Saturday. It is a blatant lie that the Front has made any pressure on farmers. In fact 90 farmers have shown their opposition to the development of a golf course by sending individual letters to MEPA in which they stated their objections to a development which is a direct threat to the land which their families have worked for generations. The opposition of the farmers against the development of a golf course by AX holdings was evident during the public hearing. AX Holdings are trying to give the impression that only a handful of people have voiced their opposition to the golf course during the public hearing. This is another blatant lie. In fact a large number of farmers voiced their opposition during the public hearing. Joe Farrugia from the Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi also spoke on behalf of the Verdala farming community against the development of a golf course. Dr. Harry Vassallo, Stephen Cachia, Michael Briguglio and Mario Mallia from Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green Party, Silvan Agius from Moviment Graffitti, Martin Galea de Giovanni from Friends of the Earth, Dr. David Zammit and Fr. Arthur Vella from University Chapliancy, Adrian Grima from Inizjamed and many other persons also declared their opposition to the project. This is confirmed by various reports in the press. These persons represented organisations which form part of the Front kontra l-Golf Kors. During the meeting only a handful of people spoke in favour of the project. It is not true that anyone from the Front kontra l-Golf Kors tried to stop anyone from expressing his/her views. The fact that only a few people spoke in favour of the project is evidence that there is very little support for this project in Maltese society. During the public hearing the short comings of the Environment Impact Assessment prepared by consultants hired by AX Holdings were eexposed. In fact extensive report prepared by the Front kontra l-Golf Kors, has been presented to MEPA. This report underlies the short coming of the EIA. These include -The fact that various laws will be broken if the land in question is taken away from the farmers and given to a private company. This is even contrary to the agreement between the Vatican and the Maltese government. -The project breaches various Structure Plan policies. -The project contradicts the policy document issued by MEPA about golf courses; -The project is a threat to the historical, natural and cultural heritage. -The project will result in a waste of hydrological resources. -The project will result in the destruction of prime agricultural land. -The economic projection in the EIA are based on assumptions which are not based on valid research. In the light of all this,the Front kontra l-Golf Kors is confident that the MEPA Board will be responsible enough to make sure that this unsustainable and socially unjust development will not take place. Michael Briguglio Front Kontra l-Golf Kors Front Kontra l-Golf Kors 3/08/02 Stqarrija Media Il-Front kontra l-Golf Kors iwiegeb lil AX Holdings Rapport estensiv tal-Front dwar l-EIA prezentat lill- MEPA. AX Holdings qed jipprovaw juzaw il-gideb, in-nofs veritajiet u it-theddid fieragh ta' azzjoni legali biex jipprovaw jahbu l-fatt li hemm oppozizzjoni shiha mill-bdiewa tal-Verdala u minn firxa wiesgha ta' organizazzjonijiet non-governattivi kontra l-progett tal-golf kors tal-Verdala. Din l-oppozizzjoni qed tizdied b'mod kontinwu u deher car fil-public hearing li sar dwar il-progett kif ukoll waqt marc ta' protesta organizzat mill-front nhar is-Sibt li ghadda. Hija gidba sfaccata li tghid li l-front qed jaghmel xi pressjoni fuq il-bdiewa. Fil-fatt il-gimgha l-ohra 90 bidwi ghal darb'ohra ikkonfermaw l-oppozizzjoni taghhom meta baghtu ittra individwali lill-MEPA sabiex iwasslu l-oggezzjoni taghhom ghall-izvilupp li qed jhedded l-art li l-familji taghhom ilhom jahdmu ghall-generazzjonijiet shah. Ir-rabja tal-bdiewa fil-konfront ta' AX holdings deher car waqt il-hearing u kien gustifikat ghal kollox meta wiehed iqis li dan il-progett qed jhedded l-ghixien taghhom. AX Holdings jipprovaw jaghtu l-impressjoni li kienu ftit nies li tkellmu kontra l-progett waqt il-public hearing. Din hija gidba sfaccata ohra. Fil-fatt , fost 'il hafna bdiewa li tkellmu kontra l-progett, tkellmu ukoll Joe Farrugia mill-Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi, Dr. Harry Vassallo, Stephen Cachia, Mike Briguglio u Mario Mallia mill-Alternattiva Demokratika, Silvan Agius mill-Moviment Graffitti, Martin Galea de Giovanni mill-Friends of the Earth, Dr. David Zammit u Fr. Arthur Vella mill-University Chapliancy, Adrian Grima minn Inizjamed u bosta persuni ohra li kollha tkellmu kontra dan il-progett. Dan il-fatt jista' jigi kkonfermat mir-rapporti li dehru fil-mezzi kollha tax-xandir u fil-gazzetti l-ghada tal-public hearing. Dawn kienu kollha nies li jirraprezentaw ghaqdiet imsiehba jew li qed jaghtu appogg lil Front kontra l-Golf Kors. Matul il-laqgha tkellmu ftit nies favur il-progett. Hija gidba sfaccata li tghid li l-Front ipprova iwaqqaf li xi hadd minn dawn il-persuni milli jitkellem. Dawn il-ftit nies kollha tkellmu. Madankollu in-numru mizeru ta' nies li qalu xi haga favur il-progett ikompli jindika kemm dan il-progett bla sens ma jgawdix l-appogg tal-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi. Matul il-public hearing intwera b'mod car in-nuqqasijiet serji li fih l-Environment Impact Assessment ippreparat mill-konsulenti imqabbda minn AX Holdings. Ir-reazzjonijiet tal-Front ghal-EIA issa ngabru f'rapport estensiv li inghata lil MEPA. Fir-rapport jintwera b'mod cara ghala il-progett m'ghandux jigi approvat mill-MEPA. Ir-ragunijiet jinkludi li: -biex l-art tittiehed mill-bdiewa u tinghata lill-kumpanija ghal skop privat iridu jinkissru numru ta' ligijiet ta' pajjiz kif ukoll ftehim bejn il-Gvern Malti u l-Istat tal-Vatikan; -il-progett imur kontra il-provedimenti tal-Pjan ta' Struttura; -il-progett imur kontra il-policy document tal-MEPA dwar il-Golf Courses; -il-progett se jeqred il-wirt kulturali, storiku u ambjentali ta' l-inhawi; -il-progett se jahli ammont konsiderevoli tar-rizorsi idrici ta' l-inhawi; -il-progett se jeqred art agrikola ta' kwalita gholja; -il-progezzjonijiet ekonomici tal-golf kors huma bbazatai fuq assunzjonijiet, uhud minnhom foloz,u mhux fuq ricerka valida. Fid-dawl ta'dan kollu johrog car li l-izvilupp ta'golf course fil-Verdala jkun zvilupp insostenibli u socjalmanet ingust. Il-Front Kontra l-Golf Course hu kunfidenti li l-Bord tal-MEPA se jiehu decizjoni responsabli u dan l-isfregju socjali u ambjentali ma jsehx. Michael Briguglio |
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