Martin Galea’s article “Development At Ta’ Cenc” is another obvious attempt to influence the MEPA board in its decision regarding the Ta’ Cenc project. He is again being selective in his orchestrated attacks in the media, which are based on half-truths and misinformation. The fact that he did not once mention a single positive aspect of the whole project is ample proof of this.

No wonder MEPA’s spokesman had said: “It borders on the incredible how something that is easily available for public scrutiny can be allowed to be distorted beyond recognition. It seems naïve to state this but an application is assessed according to policy. The current policy application on Ta’ Cenc is TOU 10 of the Structure Plan and GZ-Snat-2 of the Gozo and Comino Local Plan. These are complementary to each other and it is therefore ludicrous to interpret the local plan as going against Structure Plan policy.”

The spokesman went on to quote from the local plan, which says “to this effect a number of submissions and studies have been undertaken in consultation with MEPA so that the provisions of this policy are implemented”.

According to a report in The Times on the same day, “...a MEPA spokesman said that the excerpt from the local plan ... shows clearly that there is no conflict between the local plan and the Structure Plan. No further comment is deemed necessary”.

In the same article it was reported that “according to Martin Galea, Din l-Art Helwa raised the issue with MEPA’s chairman last May before the plans were approved but never got a reply”.

If Mr Galea, as executive president of Din l-Art Helwa (DLH), a leading and highly respected heritage trust and environmental NGO, expects his pronouncements to be given due weight – as DLH certainly deserves – he should never resort to ignoring the facts or the principles enshrined in our Constitution and trying to influence public opinion through sensationalism and incorrect information or playing around with words.

Mr Galea even tries to give weight to a so-called petition on the Ta’ Cenc development. The petition carried incorrect and biased information that did not give a full picture of the whole project or its obligations when planning permission is approved. It went even further by showing photos of areas as if these are the areas to be developed.

On the contrary, as Mr Galea knows very well, these form part of the proposed protected and Heritage Park areas, which together will take up nearly 60 per cent of the whole area – a stretch of, land larger than Valletta. A fact Mr Galea never mentioned.

Nor did the petition include the information that “the beautiful coastal area at Ta’ Cenc, the open countryside of outstanding scenic beauty” and “the vital habitat for dwindling communities of rare plants and animals” (as described in the petition itself) is not only going to be protected but also enhanced and maintained at the sole expense of Real Finanz (the owners) with the creation of Malta’s first Heritage Park.

It will be enjoyed by everybody, free of charge, and at the same time serve as a marketing tool to be used by any operator, not just the owners, to attract more tourists to Gozo especially during the winter season when they are most needed – for walks, bird watching, educational and cultural holidays, and so on.

I ask Mr Galea if he is against this proposal, especially as Ta’ Cenc will be freely enjoyed by everybody. Or would he prefer that the “outstanding scenic beauty” of the Ta’ Cenc territory be enjoyed only by the select few, that is, by the owners of the villas that exist at present? This would be the end result if the application were not approved.

I cannot understand how, at the annual general meeting of DLH, held on 25 February, Mr Galea said things like:

“The insidious political pressure on MEPA has to stop...

“To say we have no confidence in politics meddling in development applications is an understatement. We have been there and the results are there for all to see…”

“Politics has to move out of the planning process once and for all...”

Real Finanz has followed meticulously all the set procedures and requirements as stipulated by MEPA regulations, involving all NGOs concerned and the public.

No, Mr Galea. We are not after “rampant speculation par excellence”. We only want justice to be done, and not just seen to be done. We do not expect anything else – just that our rights be fulfilled.

Does anyone really believe that we, the Gozitan owners of Ta’ Cenc, would ever dream of doing anything to reduce in any way the natural attributes of this unique gem on our beautiful, beloved island?

Victor Borg

Managing director

Real Finanz ag