“And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16: 8).

It seems that there is more endeavour and entrepreneurship in actions that are gobbling up our ridges and our natural land and less in conserving it and working for long-term sustainable development.

Lust seeks short-term satisfaction and gain. Love, on the other hand, is patient (1 Cor. 13:4) and works for a long-term reward. 

Buildings that are sustainable in the long term stand the test of time, embellishing our urban landscape, and will still be in use many years from now. I do not see any bright future for the mayhem of apartments being built. We are investing in – and producing – slum areas. I do not see any artistic aspect in a block of apartments built on a ridge in which the front is five storeys high and the back goes down to 10.

We should opt for a moratorium on this madness for building. If the construction of apartments is really the driver of the economy, then we do not have a bright future because we are eating away at one of the pillars of Malta’s identity: we are changing the face of the country irreparably.

And, to add insult to injury, the Planning Laws and the Planning Authority seem to favour the developer and are not acting as protectors of our natural heritage.

 

Joe Portelli

Nadur