| Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green Party Nifs Gdid-Nifs Nadif 149,Archbishop street, Valletta. tel no : 21255330 http://www.alternattiva.org.mt Media Release: 20/07/02 AD CONFIDENT THAT MEPA WILL REFUSE GOLF COURSE PROPOSAL Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo appealed that quality of life, sustainable development and social justice should prevail during next Tuesday's public hearing on the proposed Golf Course at Tal-Virtu'. Dr Harry Vassallo said "AD is confident that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority Board Members will take account of the fact that the proposed golf course violates both Malta's structure plan and the agreement between the Maltese Government and the Vatican. We are also confident that the MEPA Board Members have paid close attention of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), a proper reading of which will confirm that the proposed Golf Course is unsustainable." "The Environment Impact Assessment makes it clear there the proposed Golf Course will have an adverse social impact. Infact the EIA shows how farmers 'would have difficulty supporting their families if they lost the income from their Verdala fields.' Furthermore, the study states clearly that ' the loss of access to the farmer's traditional land and the removal of the opportunity to farm the land independently would severely impact a significant proportion of farmers and their families.' The EIA adds that this impact would be of major significance,". Harry Vassallo continued that a proper reading of the EIA would show that the economic projections for the proposed golf course are "too optimistic and unrealistic." "It is unclear how the EIA arrives at its economic conclusions. The projections on tourist arrivals appear to be over-optimistic, especially when one keeps in mind that Golf Tourism in Malta cannot be equated with that of other countries in which golf courses are abundant. Golf tourists tend to be keen on playing golf in a variety of courses when visiting a country. This will definitely not be the case in Malta because of Malta's size and population density." "The projections on tourist expenditure within the community appear to be over-optimistic, too, especially when one keeps in mind that 5 star tourists tend to spend most money within the Hotel they are staying in." "Alternattiva Demokratika strongly appeals that an independent economic study should be carried out to confirm whether the EIA projections are over-opitimistic." The Chairperson of AD - The Green Party also rebuked the EIA projection that Government revenue from the project would reach Lm814,000 every year. "Does this figure include the thousands of liri that Government would have to expend to subsidise the hefty amounts of water that will be used by such a thirsty golf course?" Dr Harry Vassallo added that the EIA mentions only nine organizations that are opposing the proposed Golf Course. "In reality there are much more organizations that are opposing the proposed development. The member and supporter organizations within the Front Kontra l-Golf Course comprise 17 organisations, namely, 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, University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Kopin and the Farmers' Central Co-Operative Society. Furthermore, other organizations such as Din l-Art Helwa are also opposing the proposed development." Dr Harry Vassallo added that it is clear that the proposed golf course will destroy agricultural land as well as the community of 98 farmers and their families. In fact, the vast majority of farmers in the area are clearly opposing the proposed development and have written to the President of Malta, the Prime Minister, the Vatican, and the Archbishop of Malta and stated their opposition. "The disbenefits brought about by a golf course strongly point towards a refusal of the proposed development. This is even more so when the Progressive Farmers Union has declared that the farmers in the area are ready to develop vineyard production themselves. The farmers at Tal-Virtu' should enjoy the right enjoyed by farmers around Malta to develop vineyards. Ironically, the Planning Authority rejected a proposal for an organic agriculture centre at Tal-Virtu' as it would not allow any development the area." The Chairperson of the Green Party concluded that "AD is confident that the MEPA Board members will stand up and be counted and defend sustainable development, the rule of law, agriculture and social justice by refusing the proposed golf course. This would be a major decision in favour of the quality of life of Maltese and Gozitans." The public hearing organised by MEPA will take place next Tuesday 23rd July at 7pm at the L'Isle Adam Band Club in Rabat. Michael Briguglio Public Relations Officer Stqarrija Media: 20/07/02 AD KUNFIDENTI LI L-MEPA TIRRIFJUTA L-PROPOSTA GHAL ZVILUPP TA' KORSA TAL-GOLF Ic-Chairperson ta' Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party Dr Harry Vassallo appella li fil-laqgha publika nhar it-Tlieta dwar il-proposta ghall-izvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf f'Tal-Virtu', tinghata priorita' lill-kwalita' tal-hajja, lill-izvilupp sostenibbli, u lill-gustizzja socjali. Dr Harry Vassallo qal "AD hija kundifenti li l-membri tal-bord ta' l-Awtorita' Maltija ghall-Ambjent u l-Ippjanar ser jikkunsidraw il-fatt li l-proposta ghall-izvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf tmur kontra l-Pjan ta' Struttura u tmur kontra l-ftehim bejn il-Gvern Malti u l-Vatikan. Ahna kunfidenti wkoll li l-membri tal-bord tal-MEPA taw attenzjoni kbira lill-istudju dwar il-proposta, l-Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). Meta wiehed jaqra dan l-istudju sew, jikkonferma li l-korsa tal-golf li giet proposta hija insostenibbli." "L-Environment Impact Assessment jaghmilha cara li l-korsa tal-golf li giet proposta ser ikollha impatt socjali negattiv. Fil-fatt l-EIA turi li l-bdiewa jkollhom diffikulta' biex imantnu lill-familji taghhom jekk jitilfu l-qliegh mill-agrikoltura f'Tal-Virtu'. L-istudju juri wkoll li l-fatt li l-bdiewa jitilfu access ghall-art agrikola u li jahdmu r-raba' b'mod indipendenti ser ikollu impatt negattiv hafna fuq numru kbir ta' bdiewa u l-familji taghhom. L-EIA jghid li dan l-impatt hu ta' importanza kbira hafna." Dr Harry Vassallo sahaq li jekk wiehed jaqra l-EIA b'mod xieraq, dan jinduna li l-previzjonijiet ekonomici ghall-korsa tal-golf huma "wisq ottimisti u neqsin mir-realizmu." "M'huwiex car kif l-EIA waslet ghall-konkluzjijiet ekonomici. Il-previzjonijiet dwar numru ta' turisti jidhru li huma ottimisti wisq, specjalment meta wiehed izomm f'mohhu li t-turizmu ghall-golf f'Malta ma jistax jigi mqabbel ma' dak ta' pajjizi ohra li fihom hemm numru kbir ta' golf courses. It-turisti tal-golf generalment ihobbu jilghabu l-golf f'numru differenti ta' golf courses meta jzuru pajjiz. Dan zgur li mhux ser ikun il-kaz f'Malta minhabba d-daqs tal-pajjiz u d-densita' qawwija tal-popolazzjoni." "Il-previzjonijiet dwar kemm ser jonfqu fil-komunita' t-turisti tal-golf huma ottimisti wisq, ukoll, specjalment meta wiehed izomm f'mohhu li t-turisti 5-star ghandhom it-tendenza li jonfqu l-ikbar numru ta' flus fil-lukandi fejn ikunu qeghdin joqoghdu." "Alternattiva Demokratika tappella b'mod b'sahhtu li ghandu jkun hemm studju ekonomiku biex jikkonferma jekk il-previzjonijiet ta' l-EIA humiex ottimisti wisq." Ic-Chairperson ta' Alternattiva Demokratika ikkontesta wkoll il-previzjoni ta' l-EIA li l-Gvern ser idahhal Lm814,000 fis-sena minn dan il-progett. "Insaqsu jekk din il-figura tinkludix l-eluf ta' liri li l-Gvern ikollu jonfoq biex jissusidja il-kwantitajiet kbar ta' ilma li golf kors daqshekk bil-ghatx ikollha tuza." Dr Vassallo tkellem ukoll dwar il-fatt li l-EIA issemmi biss 9 organizazzjonijiet li qed jopponu l-proposta ta' zvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf. "Fil-verita' hemm hafna iktar organizazzjonijiet li qed jopponu dan il-propost zvilupp. Fil-Front Kontra l-Golf Kors hemm 17-il ghaqda membri jew sostenituri, li huma l-Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Eco - Il-Fondazzjoni Ekologika, Moviment Graffitti, L-Ghaqda Vegetarjana, L-Ghaqda Residenti ta' Pembroke, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Inizjamed, Move! Organisation, International Animal Rescue, Il-Kappella ta' L-Universita', Il-Moviment Malti ghall-Agrikoltura Organika, Kopin u l-Koperattiva Centrali tal-Bdiewa. Ma' dawn hemm organizazzjonijiet ohrajn bhal Din l-Art Helwa li ukoll qieghdin jopponu l-izvilupp propost." Dr Harry Vassallo zied li hi haga cara li l-proposta ghal zvilupp ta' korsa tal-golf f'Tal-Virtu' ser teqred l-art agrikola u l-komunita' ta' 98 bidwi u l-familji taghhom. Fil-fatt il-maggoranza assoluta tal-bdiewa qieghdin jopponu l-progett u kitbu lill-President ta' Malta, lill-Prim Ministru, lill-Vatikan u lill-Arcisqof fejn iddikjaraw l-oppozizzjoni taghhom. "L-izvantaggi li ser iggib maghha l-korsa tal-golf turi bic-car li din il-proposta ghandha tigi rrifjutata. Dan hu iktar minnu meta l-Ghaqda Bdiewa Progressivi iddikjarat li l-bdiewa f'Tal-Virtu' huma lesti li jkabbru d-dwieli huma stess. Il-bdiewa f'Tal-Virtu' ghandhom igawdu d-dritt li jgawdu bdiewa madwar Malta li jkabru d-dwieli. Ironikament l-Awtorita' ta' l-Ippjanar kienet irrifjutat propsta ghall-centru ta' agrikolutra organika f'Tal-Virtu' ghax l-ebda zvilupp m'hu permess f'dan il-post." Ic-Chairperson ta' Alternattiva Demokratika ikkonkluda li "Alternattiva Demokratika hi kunfidenti li l-membri tal-bord tal-MEPA Board ser iqumu ghall-okkazjoni u jiddefendu l-izvilupp sostenibbli, il-ligi ta' Malta, l-agrikoltura u l-gustizzja socjali billi jirrifjutaw il-proposta ghall-korsa tal-golf f'Tal-Virtu'. Din tkun decizzjoni kbira favur il-kwalita' tal-hajja tal-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin." Il-laqgha publika tal-MEPA ser issir nhar it-Tlieta 23 ta' Lulju fis-7pm fil-Kazin tal-Banda L'Isle Adam fir-Rabat. Michael Briguglio Ufficjal Relazzjonijiet Pubblici |
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