Alternattiva Demokratika’s spokesman for energy and the environment, Ralph Cassar yesterday said his party regretted the environmental damage being caused by the imported red palm weevil.

The weevil has, in a short time, managed to eliminate scores of palm trees at Salina, St Paul’s Bay, Mosta, Attard, and Ta’ Xbiex, as can be seen from the dead palm trees in these areas. And, he said, this was just the beginning of the environmental damage being caused, as more and more established and historical palm trees will fall victim to this weevil in all parts of Malta.

“If one looks at government projects, one cannot help but notice the great percentage of imported trees which are being planted. And imported trees are the source and potential for carrying diseases and introducing new species to the Maltese islands, as in the case of the red palm weevil,” said Mr Cassar.

“It is a shame that the government of the day, without any consideration for the potential environmental damage, is exposing our country to such an unnecessary financial burden. AD shudders to think about the damage that is going to be done if the afforestation projects mentioned by the Prime Minister in his budget speech, are going to be undertaken on these lines.”