Do you take back your comment about the referendum being a ‘mistake’ since you now consider it somewhat of a victory?

The biggest mistake is that, unfortunately, many people speak about something they know nothing about. Everyone can see what the project consists of but unfortunately, not everyone actually informs themselves properly. They can go to the Sannat Local Council, the Planning Authority or take to the internet to see what the project is. Unfortunately, people are -and I don’t blame them because I probably would have done the same- talking without knowing what they’re speaking about. Only a few people know that this project has conditions for it to happen. Things have to happen according to the Local Plan. The GZ-SNA2 Plan specifies that the Heritage Park is a must and that I have to give access to it. It says that I must keep the current road open as well. Why did the Local Plan say I have to give access? Because everyone knows that it is private land and as things stand it is my prerogative whether to close it off or not. As soon as I complete the project, I will benefit somewhat. When we talk about 15 villas, we’re saying they will be near the other ones and they will be in an area of Ta Cenc where, the Local Plan GZ-SETL3, states that there are certain areas which, although aren’t included in the plan, allow for development.

These include Mgarr Harbour, Xewkija, Heliport, Cittadella, Fort Chambray when it still belonged to the government, Ta Dbiegi, the Industrial Estate and Ta Cenc. There is no other private property in Malta or Gozo which has always been earmarked for development. There is a policy in the Structure Plan TOU10 purposely for Ta Cenc and another two in the Local Plan. Unfortunately a number of people only mention the 15 villas. So they mention the villas without mentioning 1,400 tomna Heritage Park. They don’t mention that I’m giving up my constitutional right to enjoy my own property and I’m going to give access to the public. I don’t want the area around the villas open to build more and more villas. I feel it is most unfair because at the end of the day I would like to go to the PA and tell them I want to build 15 villas there without mentioning the Heritage Park or access for the public, but would it be fair? So would it be fair, on the other hand, that I give access and build a Heritage Park and I don’t use any of it? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. 

You said that the majority of the residents are in favour of the project because of the low turnout. With this comment you are assuming that those who did not vote are in favour of this project. How did you reach this assumption?

I didn’t say that those who didn’t vote are in favour of the project. What I said was that as soon as you take into consideration who didn’t vote and who voted in favour, there were only 15% which voted against. This means that a part of 85% voted in favour and the others didn’t pay attention. If they were against, they would’ve gone to vote against. The people of Sannat care that there isn’t a large development, which there won’t be. And the most important thing is that there will be access. Right now it is entirely up to me. I could wake up in the morning and decide to close it off. However, if the Heritage Park is built, I can’t do that. The people of Sannat and a number of others think that the land is not private, but I assure you that it is. You can also see that the Water Services also paid to pass water lines, even Parliamentary Questions confirm that it is private land.

After the referendum have you made contact with the local council and if so, what was discussed and what was the outcome of the meeting?

After the referendum I asked for a meeting with them. I called the secretary and I told him I wished to meet. I went and told them how the things are and I showed them a number of things. There were also people who voted against but certain people didn’t even know that this is private land. If the project isn’t approved, then there is no guarantee that there will be access to it. I told the people present that I didn’t want any favours. If I don’t have a right to something, I don’t want it. I tried to keep everyone happy, including the eNGOs and the villa owners. That’s why I put the number of villas down from 57 to 15.

You claimed that Ta Cenc is not, in fact, ODZ. Can you explain why?

As I said earlier, there are certain places in Gozo which are in the Local Plan GZ-SETL3 which are ODZ, but certain development can happen. This isn’t a new thing; this has been going since a letter of intent in 1989/1990 when there was Michael Falzon in cabinet. There were a number of commitments from MEPA and from both governments always saying that there needs to be development in Ta Cenc. The difference is that from 1965 onwards, the projects have always been reduced in size. Not only have the governments agreed on it, but MEPA during Dr Sant’s administration had proposed the golf course and this was again proposed under the Lawrence Gonzi government. How can anyone interpret that there can’t be development, when there was more than one plan to build a golf course?  

When you mentioned the Local Plan, you said that it highlighted Ta Cenc as a zone for ‘special types of development and/or land-use’ however none of your proposals have been accepted so far. Should this latest proposal fail to be approved will you be proposing another project? If so, what will it be next time?

If it wasn’t for my children who are interested in hotels and tourism, I would say that, at my age of 70, if the application is approved I would be worse off. Why? Because I will have more to do since I will have to be involved whereas I can now retire instead, or start reducing my work. Secondly I will have to take out a loan, which I don’t have right now. Thirdly, I will have to give access to my property where someone who has been insulting me for years can freely walk in and I can’t kick him off my property. 

You said, “I can say that if Sannat doesn’t want it, then I could just rent out 1,000 tomnas at €100 per tomna per year and get a comfortable €100,000 in my pocket every year,”  Are you still considering this if it is not approved?

As you know, everyone who has his own property can do whatever they wish with it. In the same way, nobody can interfere with what I want to do with my property. I can give it to the SPCA for the dogs, you know, maybe someone will be happy to see me when I go there. I’m open to all options, but what I know for sure is that if I don’t use one inch of Ta Cenc, neither will anyone else.

 

You also claimed that you aren’t a developer, yet you have been proposing different developments for Ta Cenc since 1996 and you said that you still wish the golf course went through. How could you possibly say you aren’t a developer?

The development I’m pushing for is so that if people want to stay in a hotel in Ta Cenc they can; if they want to stay in a villa or an apartment, they can as well. When I do marketing, I won’t only do it for the hotel, but for the entire complex. There were a number who offered me very good money to sell off Ta Cenc, but I never did. Not only did I never sell, but there was a ground rent of Lm5,700 and since I didn’t want any commitments, I redeemed it via contract so there are no hidden conditions. The issue is that if one sees what I have and don’t have; they will see that I have never built a block of flats to sell it for quick money. When I bought the Cornucopia Hotel, it had 15 rooms and I upgraded it to 50 rooms. I didn’t turn it into a timeshare or add apartments or developments. St Patrick’s Hotel had eight rooms, and I upgraded it to 60-room hotel. I asked for an extension to the Ta Cenc Hotel because nowadays it is more viable for it to be larger; at least 100 rooms. And how could I be expected incur the costs to keep the Heritage Park in tip top shape if I didn’t have the villas there?

You proposed that the running of the Heritage Park be headed by a number of NGOs, not only one. Are you trying to do this just to have a wider support from the NGOs?

The reason is that I know the importance of the Heritage Park having a steering committee led by knowledgeable people. I will speak with all NGOs if they express interest. For example the Ramblers’ Association would be invaluable to advertise walking holidays. I want to join together to make a better product rather than fighting and breaking apart what there is. Nature Trust and Birdlife would be equally ideal for bird watching and taking care of flora and fauna. 

You said you are proposing the heritage park ‘out of love for Gozo’, but what about the 15 villas and the extension to the hotel?

The Heritage Park isn’t only out of love for Gozo because love isn’t enough to buy 1,400 tomna. The Heritage Park needs to be there for the entire project to happen. These are the conditions of the Local Plan. Regarding the extension, this is also a must because there are certain rooms which were built in the late 60s and aren’t exactly 5-star and they need to be fixed. 80 rooms for a hotel like that aren’t viable, apart from the fact that it isn’t multi-storey so you need an extension because you can’t build higher. The government has given authority to other hotels to build up to two more floors as well and we need to focus on shoulder months as well.

If this proposal is not approved will you still be running the hotel? Are there any plans to refurbish the hotel?

In life, it is difficult to say what will happen tomorrow and things must be done keeping the greater good in mind. For example, the Italians who knew that it wasn’t economically viable to keep the hotel open between November and March used to close it to save money, whereas I never closed even though, in these months, everyone who is in any seasonal business can attest to the financial losses. What I can say is that I close in January in order to do all the maintenance work that needs to be done and I not only give leave to all the workers, but I save around €20,000 in energy and other costs. It is too early to commit myself to any ideas of what to do with my land if the application doesn’t go through.

Don’t you think that the general public can see the obvious correlation between you wanting to organize walking tours in the Heritage Park and more people spending money at the Ta Cenc hotel in the shoulder months?

It is very important in Gozo to have amenities. That whoever comes to Gozo in winter, which I personally think is the best time to visit Gozo, has things to do rather than coming and not finding anything to do. We have to attract people who come for walking tours, for cycling, for photography. Most don’t go to Ta Cenc for lunch because they bring a packed lunch with them, but if they come to Ta Cenc, good luck. If they go anywhere else, good luck. What’s important is that everyone benefits.