Zonqor Point farmers are uniting in their opposition to the government’s plans grant a chunk of ODZ land in Marsascala to a Jordanian investor to develop the so-called University of Malta – a move that will most certainly mean that a number of them will be evicted from their lands.
A group of round 30 to 40 farmers met PN Shadow Minister for the Environment on Thursday evening, where they voiced their concerns over the controversial project, which could see the construction of a 91,000 square meter university on pristine land in Marsascala.
“They were all extremely irritated not only at the fact that they are not being consulted or told anything but also at the fact that the Prime Minister tried to give the impression that their fields are disused or only used to grow clover. They explained that they also grow export potatoes and that clover is still an important produce for them, because apart from being sold as animal fodder, produces nutrients for the soil, which is necessary for the next crop rotation,” Dr Portelli said.
The PN MP said the farmers also doubted the existence of alternative sites where they could be relocated and insisted that, should this be the case, they should be given lands in the south, close to home. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told this paper on Thursday that alternative sites would be found for them but did not say where. “Some of the farmers said there were simply no other lands available for them and others questioned where these alternative sites would be and what type of land they would find there. Some said they were convinced that they would be evicted and that the university would be built in Zonqor Point.”
The Environment Shadow Minister said the farmers had raised other important questions, such as traffic and noise issues. “They pointed out that accessibility to the area is already problematic and heavy traffic would add to the woes of the farmers and residents. Besides, in order to build more roads the government would have to use up more ODZ land.”
Dr Portelli said she was deeply concerned with the Prime Minister’s reaction after the farmers spoke about their worries that they will be losing their land.
This is not the way to treat people who work hard in their fields every day, she said. “I am following all that is being said and I ensure the farmers that the PN will remain strongly opposed to the location of the project.”
Present for the meeting were also MPs Toni Bezzina,Stephen Spiteri and Mario Galea, and PN Marsascala councillors Charlot Cassar and John Baptist Camilleri.