AD chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo noted that this episode has exposed the Prime Minister’s true colours.

“The same Prime Minister who boasts of his environmental credentials in order to increase government revenue through pseudo eco-taxes, is indirectly trying to influence the Mepa board to approve a golf course which will harm the environment, eradicate agricultural land and consume unsustainable amounts of water. This does not make sense in a country where water is so scarce that a major part of our energy bill is used to purify sea water.

“As usual Dr Gonzi is ignoring the voice of Maltese civil society which has opposed the Verdala golf course. Dr Gonzi is ignoring the views expressed by the Church’s commission on the environment, the opposition, MPs on both sides of the house, the Rabat Local Council and the large number of NGOs who together with AD form part of the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors.”

Dr Vassallo reiterated AD’s stand against the development of golf courses.

“AD is the only party against the development of more golf courses in Malta and Gozo. While both PN and MLP are in favour of the development of a golf course in Malta and a golf course in Gozo, AD is against this model of unsustainable development. Golf courses result in a waste of scarce resources like agricultural land and water. The obsession of the PN and the MLP with golf courses exposes the poverty of the other two parties when it comes to ideas on how to develop Malta’s tourism. For the past year AD has called for the development of Malta’s potential for eco-tourism and agro-tourism. Agro-tourism should be an integral part of Malta’s rural development plan. This would create more money and jobs in rural areas in Malta and Gozo.”