Ever since the despicable decision to turn Maghtab from virgin countryside into an uncontrolled festering rubbish dump back in the 70s, the residents of the surrounding area have had to endure all manner of hardship.

They have had to live with toxic fumes, bad smells, hundreds of trucks driving through their locality every day and the total degradation of the area. This is, I would say, public knowledge.

On 1 May 2004, the Maghtab rubbish dump was officially closed, however this did not mean that the area was going to be freed of its hardships.

Although several other options were available, it was decided to continue using engineered landfills to dispose of solid waste and to add insult to injury, the sites chosen are adjacent to Maghtab!

This means that the residents of the area will have to continue living in the shadow of this monster for many years to come.

We have been told however that these engineered landfills and the “rehabilitation” of the old Maghtab rubbish dump will be producing gas that is going to be harnessed and used to produce enough electricity to supply several thousand households.

This brings me to the whole point of this letter. Who should be the first people to benefit from this “free” electricity?

How about putting the abused word “solidarity” into practice instead of just empty words?

The residents of Maghtab, Bahar ic-Caghaq and Madliena should be given this electricity as due compensation for all past and future inconvenience caused by the landfills.

It is a small price to pay but I believe it is a golden opportunity for the government to show that it has a social conscience and that it is prepared to put solidarity into practice.

Denis Zammit Cutajar

BICMAD

Bahar ic-Caghaq – Madliena

Residents’ Association