On the 7th of October the European Parliament discussed various petitions handed in by residents in Malta. Amongst these, there was one against the Marsascala recycling plant and three separate petitions against the proposed project for villas at Ramla l-Hamra, Gozo. Both petitions were definitely closed. Strangely enough, the Times of Malta Brussels correspondent immediately reported on the closure of the Marsascala case, but stayed absolutely mum on the Ramla l-Hamra case. Who knows why?

What happened exactly in the Petitions’ Committee with regards to the controversial application to develop a tourist complex at the Ulysses Lodge site at Ramla Bay, Gozo? Well, the representative of the European Commission intervened and recommended that since the Maltese government had given its asssurance that the project had been rejected the case was to be closed.

The Commission representative actually stated: “In relation to the proposed tourist development at Ramla l-Hamra, the Commission received information in September 2007 (from the Maltese government) stating that no permit for the proposed project would be granted. Consequently, there are no grounds for identifying a breach of EU environmental law and no further action is proposed.” (The Malta Independent on Sunday, 2 November).

The Commission representative was not the only one to speak. Dr Simon Busuttil also took the floor and, according to TMIS, “inform(ed) the Committee that the application had been dropped by the national authority due to public pressure”. Dr Busuttil continued telling the Petitions’ Committee, “Very briefly, this happens to be a case in which, due to public pressure, the authorities have had to reject an application for development that had caused a great deal of environmental concern and the application in question has been rejected by the national authority.

“So I think that here is a case where, on the basis of public pressure, the authorities do move and when the public is right, that right is given to them. That is why I agree with the Commission that there is absolutely no basis for continuing with the petition – precisely because of the pressure created by this petition the application in question will now not proceed.”

We at Alternattiva Demokratika were elated at the news. And not only because two of the petitioners to the European parliament were our Secretary General Victor Galea and AD Munxar candidate Michael Bajada. But we were happy for all Maltese and Gozitans, who would continue enjoying the beauty (and the added economic value) of this beautiful natural spot. So we immediately issued a press release mentioning the Maltese government’s declaration and also Dr Busuttil’s confirmation of the facts.

Strangely enough, however, the Maltese government did not mention anything in Malta. And then we get to know that MEPA was still planning to hold a sitting on next 28 November to discuss some technicality regarding the Ramla l-Hamra application.

Now, may I ask, if the government and Dr Simon Busuttil have confirmed to the European Parliament that the Ramla project has been rejected, how is it that there is a hearing on the issue scheduled at MEPA for 28 November? Of course, MEPA is an independent body. But the question still arises: “Why is MEPA going ahead with its Appeal Board when the Maltese government has assured that the project has been rejected?” Or else, one could revert the question:”Why did the Maltese government assure the EU that the project had been stopped when it knew that MEPA was continuing with the appeal on 28th November”?

I sincerely hope that the interests of all Maltese and Gozitans are safeguarded. The building of villas and other amenities in the Ramla l-Hamra area would not only ruin the charm of the place but would also go against the concept of eco-Gozo, destroy a gem of natural beauty and a great focal point of tourist, ergo economic, attracion.

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Arnold Cassola is the Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika- The Green Party