A few weeks ago, the news media announced an important presidential proclamation to the Maltese nation. With the stroke of a pen, His Excellency the President of Malta, had requisitioned large sectors of land in its natural state and considerable areas of farmed fields for public use. Or so it was claimed. However, said land and fields have already been serving a public purpose, which is far better than what has been declared to be the intention of the presidential declaration, which is for the benefit of a few private individuals and used for speculative purposes.
It is ominous how the stroke of a pen can have so much power to deprive the Maltese of what rightfully belongs to them, to turn an unspoilt part of our beautiful island into a man-made green area for the elite few who dare venture into this morally diseased country to practice their hobby of hitting a ball with a stick, or converting it into a retirement playground for our political cronies and their consultants.
It is sacrilegious that the stroke of a pen can have so much authority as to deprive farmers from tilling the fields as they have done for centuries. And it is a pity that the Maltese are living in slumberland and do not wake up to the realities of the harm done by such an irresponsible stroke of a pen.
It is ironic that in spite of the constant bickering between our two major political parties, the heads of both of the minority government and the confused opposition are in agreement with this sordid state of affairs i.e. that Malta needs more golf courses rather than safeguarding our fast diminishing natural beauty, and natural heritage.
Little do our major parties’ leaders realise the consequences of this blasphemous act caused by the stroke of pen? Decreasing the already scarce natural beauty of our islands, will consequently lead to the decline of tourists’ arrivals and not vice versa as claimed.
It will soon be realized that the upkeep of this man-made greenery will be so expensive, and herbicides used to maintain it so harmful, that the financial gain obtained by the elite few who come to practice their ball game will be insignificant. The ruined natural beauty might then be usurped by the political insiders at their own leisure and to the detriment of the Maltese nation.
Is this sustainable development? Is this in conformity with EU rules and regulations, or with the now defunct EU Constitution? Does this action respect the laws of nature? Will the culprits ever be able to enter the kingdom of Heaven, when Judgment Day comes? Isn’t it amazing how much harm can be done with the stroke of a pen?
Raymond Sammut
MELLIEHA