The Labour Government is selling Malta's public domain through a very rushed process with no transparency. Government has failed to publish its heads of agreement with Sadeen group, has bypassed the parliamentary environment committee and is ignoring advice from MEPA on sustainable alternatives to Zonqor, Front Harsein ODZ said today.
Government is ignoring Front Harsien ODZ, all opposition parties, internal opposition within Labour, all environmental NGOs, civil society and Malta's biggest ever environmental protest. The only concession given by Government, to reduce the footprint of ODZ development, is not enough, as a huge area of ODZ public land will still be given to the Jordanian big business group. Government also violated its own SPED policy as it did not consider all alternatives before deciding to sell Zonqor.
The Zonqor issue is a clear example of bad governance. Front Harsien ODZ will remain vigilant and active in opposing the proposed development, which still has to pass through planning process.
Members of Parliament who vote in favour of the sale of Zonqor will not be considered as credible when, before the next elections, they will attempt to show their environmental credentials.
In a separate statement, the independent think-tank NIFS has lambasted government for its ongoing insistence to press ahead with transferring public property at Zonqor to private commercial interests, aiding and abetting the destruction of an intact stretch of coastline with an extensive and highly intrusive building project.
The National Independent Forum for Sustainability (NIFS) has over the past months repeatedly urged Government to make use of one of several alternative sites available, in order to leave Zonqor intact. Following the latest developments, NIFS stated that the way the matter has been handled by Government flies in the face of all good practice in responsible governance of non-renewable public resources. The manner in which the transfer of the site to private interests is being conducted is of dubious legality, and must be subjected to scrutiny. In economic terms, the readiness to sacrifice such a significant stretch of landscape is nothing short of foolishness, this to feed a building industry that is already stretched to cope with existing infrastructural projects. The failure to listen to public opinion, the decision to ignore the provisions of the current South Malta Local Plan, and the lack of transparency that has bedevilled this venture since when it was first announced all make this project morally wrong.
NIFS appeals to all elected representatives in parliament to stand up and be counted on the right side of history on this issue. The alternative is for them to prepare to be remembered as being party to a politically spineless and irresponsible decision.