Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino wrote an article “Towards a better state of the environment” (TMID, 6 March). Mr Pullicino’s article says many good things, including the fact that land is our most precious non-renewable resource.

He calls for more efficient land use and welcomes the reduction in the rate of loss of agricultural land.

I was impressed by two things – firstly, by the fact that I could not disagree with anything the minister wrote. Secondly, I was amazed that Mr Pullicino managed to ignore completely the two biggest environmental controversies raging at the moment – the proposals to develop Xaghra l-Hamra in Malta for a golf course and Ta’ Cenc in Gozo for a hotel development.

Does Mr Pullicino have an opinion on these proposed developments? Both involve the loss of rare and characteristric garigue habitat, both are sites of exceptional scenic and ecological importance.

Ta’ Cenc also has archaeological sites and could have “Maltese” (Peregrine) Falcons breeding again there. Xaghra il-Hamra has prime agricultural land used for viniculture. Both sites are places where we can walk in peace and refresh our souls and minds.

Does Mr Pullicino agree with riding roughsod over the normal Mepa process and imposing an environmental impact assessment on a site that Mepa had not identified as a golf course site? Can he tell me why while the government keeps telling its citizens that a golf course is such a good thing because the two political parties agree on it? How can he justify not protecting the whole of Ta’ Cenc as one of the brightest remaining jewels in Malta’s fading environmental crown?

Malta in the last 100 years has seen widespread and uncontrolled building and destruction of our natural habitat. A look at old pictures taken will give you a clear idea of how much building has taken place – and how mediocre most of it has been. It is now well over 100 years since the United States became the first country to proclaim a national nature reserve. Practically every country in the world except us has followed suit and has areas where nature is protected.

The tourists we pretend to want to attract flock to these places and the places remain somewhere all its citizens can enjoy. Meanwhile, back in Malta, we threaten to destroy the best of our remaining natural areas. Why are we focusing on these to attract tourists?

The government still allows trappers and hunters to squat in and around the world heritage sites of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra. We allow Valletta, a World Heritage City, to look like an eyesore with a crumbling travesty of a City Gate and the continuing disgrace of the destroyed Opera House site. We still neglect to use and restore Fort St Angelo and St Elmo which should be a focus for our nation’s pride, as well as a unique attraction.

Instead of trying to develop our national assets, we are promised ludicrous figures of 30,000 extra tourists per year for what promised to be yet another Mediterranean golf course.

So, Mr Pullicino, I am impressed by your ability to avoid difficult issues which run contrary to the letter and spirit of your article.

Have courage and speak out against these developments if you believe in what you have written. Convince your fellow Tourism Minister to start concentrating on more important attractions.

The Maltese people deserve their first national nature reserves, unique to us, our pride and joy, properly run for our benefit and our relaxation and protected for our children and many generations afterwards. Better late than never.

Carmelo Aquilina

Brighton

England