An estimated 1,500 people from all walks of life – representing environmental NGOs, political forums and political parties, among others – took to the streets in Valletta to protest against four different construction developments in Gozo.

The protest was organised by several environmental NGOs – Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), Gaia Foundation, Ramblers’ Association, Friends of the Earth, Din L-Art Helwa, Nature Trust and Birdlife Malta, among others.

The protest, Save Gozo, was organised to raise the awareness about four developments, approved or about to be approved by the Malta Planning and Environment Authority (Mepa), namely Hondoq ir-Rummien, Mgarr ix-Xini, Ta’ Cenc and the recently-approved development overlooking Ramla l-Hamra Bay.

In what was described by FAA spokesperson Astrid Vella as an “exceptional turnout”, representatives from political organisations and associations such as Labour Youth Forum members in eye-catching red T-shirts, Labour MPs Evarist Bartolo, Anglu Farrugia, Helena Dalli and Justyne Caruana were present.

Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) – The Green Party chairman Harry Vassallo and candidate Edward Fenech, various Gozitan local councillors also participated.

Carrying various banners and placards with slogans such as FAA – Stand And Be Counted, Ghall-Kwalità ta’’ Hajja Ahjar (for a better quality of life), Le Ghall-Waste Transfer Station (No to the waste transfer station), Gustizzja ma’ Uliedna (seeking justice for our children) and Ramla Will One Day Seek Revenge on Mepa.

There was a strong police presence throughout the protest that started off at City Gate, Valletta and ended just in front of Café Cordina.

Just before the protest started, police officials confiscated, to a chorus very loud boos, a placard against Mepa. Even though the last word had been crossed out, the banner was still removed.

Another placard listed the names of the Mepa board members who voted in favour of the development overlooking Ramla l-Hamra and the one member who voted against: Labour MP Joe Brincat.

During the protest, Ramblers’ Association president Lino Bugeja read out the names of each board member who voted in favour – to loud booing from those protest. However, when he read out Dr Brincat’s name, the crowd started cheering loudly.

Armed with whistles and blasting off a siren at various intervals, the protestors walked down Republic Street, stopping every minute or so, and shouting various slogans such as: Save Ramla Now, Mgarr ix-Xini, Ta’ Cenc and Hondoq ir-Rummien.

During one stop, Mr Bugeja thanked all those who participated in the protest and said that if they all work together, they can save Malta and Gozo from the developers.

“We will continue this campaign – even if we have to get foreign help to do so,” he said.

In a direct reference to the visit made recently by the newly-elected French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was seen jogging in Mgarr ix-Xini, Mr Bugeja queried “Do we want to lose Sarkozy’s favourite place to developers?”

He stressed that this was not a political protest but one that was in favour of the environment – especially Ramla l-Hamra.

Addressing the crowd during the last stop, Mr Bugeja said that it is not Mepa’s role to protect the places of historic and environmental value but the government’s role.

“However, Mepa is there to support the government. The Maltese are speaking out against this destruction,” he said.

Referring to Ramla l-Hamra, Mr Bugeja said that it was immoral to approve a permit for a development that was illegally built – no matter when this development took place.

“Malta’s environment is being ruined since we gained our independence,” he said.

Xaghra local councillor Carmen Bajada said there is still a lot that can be done and that it is not too late.

“We will lose about 7,000 square metres of land that are based on clay slopes and the new development is larger by about 500 times – as can be clearly seen on the Mepa website,” she said.

Moviment Harsien Hondoq secretary and Qala local councillor Paul Buttigieg said that he was protesting against the destruction of Gozo’s environment, especially the development overlooking Ramla l-Hamra, Mgarr ix-Xini and Hondoq ir-Rummien, and to save the little that is left.

He pointed out that many historic places in Gozo, such as Fort Chambray, are already lost.

”We are worried that, after Ramla L-Hamra, Hondoq Ir-Rummien will be next,” said Mr Buttigieg.

He added that 85 per cent of the Qala residents, who voted in a secret referendum, voted against the project.

“This referendum should not be pushed aside for a simple survey,” he said.

AD councillor in Sannat John Mizzi spoke out against the Ta’ Cenc development and called for laws to be implemented that protect the environment.

He pointed out that, in 2005, everyone was under the impression that the government would include Ta’ Cenc as part of the Natura 2000.

However, when they wrote to the European Commission, they were informed that this was not true.

Xewkija mayor Monica Vella spoke about the development of the waste transfer station in Mgarr ix-Xini and pointed out that the valley is known for its ecological, geomorphologic and cultural importance.

In 2004, the Xewkija and Sannat local councils set up the Mgarr ix-Xini Regional Park in 2004 – the only park that forms part of COST A27, a programme financed by the EU.

However, said Dr Vella, Mepa still issued the permit for the development regardless of the fact that it received scientific reports that clearly indicated that the Tal-Kus area is not only of ecological and geomorphologic value but also of archaeological value.

Dr Vella said that Mepa’s decision, taken in 2004, is ultra vires (beyond their power) as it breaches Article 13(5) of the Development Planning Act, 1992.

Din L-Art Helwa president Martin Galea said that many people were angry at Mepa’s mistakes and pointed out that one-third of the development in Ramla l-Hamra area is illegal while the remaining area is in an Outside Development Zone (ODZ).

“Gaia Foundation and Din L-Art Helwa will continue fighting for this cause and will take it up before the Mepa Appeals Board and before the civil court – if need be,” said Mr Galea.

FAA spokesperson Astrid Vella spoke last and was described by Mr Bugeja as Malta’s Joan of Arc.

She addressed the cheering crowd and said that the protest was the biggest turnout they ever had.

She said that these issues would cause an outcry in any “civilised EU country” and added that the combination would cause a national scandal.

However, she said, here in Malta we are supposed to accept them and not speak up.

Ms Vella pointed out that FAA’s original stand was to try to resolve the issue of Ramla L-Hamra through consultation with Mepa to avoid the issue becoming public.

She urged the government, “in the strongest possible manner” to investigate the matter in the interests of environmental justice for all citizens and so that future generations will be able to enjoy a decent quality of life.

At the end of the protest, the crowd sang the Maltese national anthem, after which representatives against the four projects presented a 7,000-strong petition of signatures, in parliament, that were collected online on the www.savegozo.com website.

The petitions were presented to Labour MPs Roderick Galdes and Justyne Caruana and Nationalist MP Franco Galea.