The consultative referendum on the proposed Ta’ Ċenċ project held for Sannat residents yesterday had a somewhat low turnout of 22 per cent, with polling closed at 7pm yesterday.
But from the votes cast, the ‘no’ vote was the clear winner, having secured 295 votes, against 126 votes in favour of the project, which contemplates the development of a heritage park, a multi-ownership hotel and 15 villas.
The holding of yesterday’s consultative referendum had been criticised not only by the proposed developer, but also by environmental organisations.
Earlier this week, land owner Victor Borg said that the referendum was “a mistake”. In comments to our sister daily newspaper, Mr Borg explained that the area is visited by more outsiders than locals and as such the issue shouldn’t be up to Sannat residents to decide upon.
Mr Borg hit out at the local council for organising this referendum saying that it is unheard of considering “it is private land which belongs to owners who, instead of selling it off piece by piece, are proposing a Heritage Park out of love for Gozo”.
Nevertheless, he had appealed for a ‘yes’ vote as he said he felt a ’yes’ vote would be a vote for everyone to enjoy the land, rather than only the owners. “I don’t want selective enjoyment,” Mr Borg said, likening the scenario to a public playing field that only allows some people to use it. “If the project is carried out, then everyone will be able to benefit from it for free.”
Environmental Front Ħarsien ODZ said this week that the sudden referendum raised suspicions about its legitimacy.
“In the democratic world, referendum dates are announced months in advance so as to enable proper debate. The Gozitan and Maltese public got to know about the Sannat referendum about development in Ta' Ċenċ only five days in advance through the press,” the NGO said. It added, “Moreover, the issue to be discussed is being misrepresented. No mention is made of the 15 villas that make up part of the project which Sannat residents are being consulted on.”
Likewise, Din l-Art Helwa had also urged for a wider debate on the issue before holding a referendum.
Din l-Art Ħelwa welcomed the fact that the residents of Sannat were given another opportunity to make their voices heard. But it questioned why the Sannat Local Council had not publicised the referendum more widely.
“This,” it said, “makes the referendum seem questionable, and is a disservice to the initiative. The wording of the referendum question is also not acceptable as it does not reflect the full scale of the project, because it left out the 15 ODZ villas.
“Any referendum should be preceded by a wide and healthy debate, involving all sides of the question, to ensure that voters are fully informed about the facts, background and implications of the vote. A full information campaign should have been organised, from at least several weeks in advance.”
The Ta’ Ċenċ saga has been ongoing for close to two decades, with various proposals presented by the same developers since the initial proposal for a golf course in 1996.
All the proposals since then have been met with harsh criticism. In fact, in 2007 a petition raised by Din l-Art Ħelwa against the proposed development at Ta' Ċenċ was signed by 10,000 people and was tabled in Parliament by two MPS, one from the government side and one from the Opposition, both of whom had signed it.