On Sunday 6 September your correspondent Stephen Calleja blamed the environmentalists for “causing great harm” to the nation’s economy by their action against the Bahrija valley-floor development. He quoted unnamed “sources” stating that the ailments and the economic slowdown being experienced were being aggravated by the NGOs that exert “a big influence on the way the government thinks and the way Mepa reacts”.

Last Sunday, The Ramblers’ Association of Malta (RAM) expected that once Mr Calleja started the ball rolling, his “sources”, being entrepreneurs, would jump on the bandwagon and come out enterprisingly to show their contempt for the NGOs. RAM expected facts, figures and examples of the gloom and doom into which development was thrown by the NGOs, “as entrepreneurs with plans for projects are becoming more cautious in their approach”.

Does anyone think RAM was surprised that your newspaper was instead inundated with letters from readers pouring scorn on Mr Calleja’s dubious “sources” and their pathetic generalisations? Readers had every reason to do so as it was an insult to their intelligence. Under normal circumstances it is rational for serious correspondents to seek the position of the party receiving the affront before an affront is reported, especially when it emanates from un-named sources! RAM was surprised at the serious lapse for a newspaper like the Independent on Sunday.

Only one correspondent ventured to give any consideration, and not scorn, to Mr Calleja’s unfounded arguments. Not surprisingly, ex-minister Michael Falzon, writing in another newspaper, accepted the unfounded arguments by default, never refuting them although he calls them “alleged”. There is no doubt where Mr Falzon’s interests lie. Being an architect by profession, real estate is close to his heart. He showed his true colours (green is not one of them) and came out cunningly as the knight in shining armour in defence of his dear development entrepreneurs. Like Don Quixote he tilted at the wrong targets, confusing the issues. Seemingly attacking the Prime Minister he deviously tries to denigrate the NGOs – “a few ill-advised tree-huggers” – that exert influence on an indecisive Dr Gonzi. Has he forgotten that what the NGOs asked for but never got was the Prime Minister’s intervention in the fait accompli of the Bahrija case?

For Michael Falzon and Stephen Calleja the fact that the Mepa Auditor issued a damning report on the Bahrija valley-floor development is not worthy of mention, which report proves the NGOs were correct at all times and in all respects. Both correspondents confuse the issue with their irrational arguments that is beside the point. On the other hand, the NGOs will remain focused on the fact that the site at Bahrija is a Natura 2000 site, protected by the Habitats Directive and by all the policies under the sun.

Malta receives funds from the EU for the protection and maintenance of such rare sites and it is the NGOs’ prerogative not to let private interests prevail over the national interest.

Alex Vella

Hon. Secretary

Ramblers’ Association of Malta