On Saturday 14 August, a gathering of various bodies who have the environment at heart met at 6pm in front of Sannat Church in Gozo. The idea was to raise awareness and to save Ta’ Cenc from being developed into a golf course. Some 200 supporters turned up and an interesting programme was planned for this activity on Ta Cenc cliffs with instructive talks on the flora and fauna of the site that would be lost forever if the golf course is built. Readings and poetry that express the unique wild beauty of the place and discussing possible ways to stop the development of Ta Cenc were also on the agenda.

However, everyone was quite disappointed – and angry – to find a gate barring the road leading to Ta Cenc cliffs and placards on each side prohibiting entrance. Four policemen stood by. The programme had to be executed behind the gate rather than at strategic points along the picturesque route towards the cliffs.

I spotted Dr Harry Vassallo, Dr Arnold Cassola, Fr Alfred Darmanin, Lino Bugeja of the Ramblers Association and other members of the public, who expressed their sadness and disgust at the possible loss of the cliffs and its intrinsic beauty.

Fr Darmanin felt that the gate was unnecessary as it blocks public access to the cliffs. He speculated whether we as citizens have a legal right to object to this obstruction and what right has the authority concerned to block public access to a heritage site available to everyone. Besides, on the way to the road there are signs for tourists to visit particular spots along the way to the cliffs. What ambiguity is this? Is it a public area or not?

Later, on their way back, the gathering was treated to an impromptu exhibition on a pavement close by, of artistic work done by artists who sneaked in from other routes to grab a piece of the beauty found in the area. Some poetry also was on display.

It is becoming so pathetic that locals on this small island has to go through all this heartache of trying to wrestle with this monster of a capitalist mentality which is so oblivious to the simple citizen’s sacrosanct right to enjoy whatever breathing space and natural beauty is left for him to inhabit. This heartless monster is selling our very souls for some pieces of gold.

And we boast that we live in a democratic society. How mistaken we all are. It is becoming more and more a matter of shrouded dictatorship where the mighty and powerful have the last say – whatever the general opinion of the public is.

Raping and plundering our land is becoming the inevitable order of the day…

Mary Attard

MTARFA