Residents and stakeholders across Marsascala came together on Friday evening in protest against a Transport Malta proposal to build a massive yacht marina across the locality’s bay.

The project has drawn vast criticism since it was brought to light some weeks ago – although the government has continued to attempt to justify it, with Ian Borg this week telling The Malta Independent that the project was necessary because a lot of Maltese are buying pleasure boats.

Many in Marsascala, however, disagree with that sentiment, and have blasted the project as one which will change the locality forever, for the worse.

A total of nine speakers addressed a protest against the project on Friday – the second such protest in the space of a week – with the common theme being simple: hands off Marsascala Bay.

Moviment Graffitti activist Wayne Flask lambasted authorities such as the ERA for being “spineless” and blaming residents for how Marsascala had become.

“Is it the residents’ fault that the Minister responsible for the Environment – between one selfie with X-Factor and another – Aaron Farrugia defends the marina and compares it to the airport,” he questioned.

He questioned where, after the local council took a stand against the project, the MPs representing the third district are. “I only heard one speak out.  And now they’re going to have the cheek to come knocking our doors for their vote?  When their silence makes them complicit with all this?”

Flask, who was brought up in Marsaskala, said that instead the courtyard of the house where he used to live has now become a property agency and that he had seen the locality develop – not in the right direction – for the past decade.

He said that the community is what makes the locality special, and that it is that same community which under threat from the marina.

“Don’t let them feed you their dreams and lies, because the only people who are going to benefit are themselves,” he said.

PN minority leader John Baptist Camilleri criticised those who had been saying that Marsascala will benefit from the project and become something like Monaco, and also criticised Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia for stating that Gudja residents had to deal with the airport and Birzebbuga residents had to deal with the Freeport as he attempted to justify the project.

He said that Marsascala had been left to suffer much like a rubbish tip, with residents having to deal with pollution, smoke, drainage, a waste plant, and smells from fish farms – things which he noted the Environment Minister had failed to mention.

He also lashed out at Transport Minister Ian Borg, who justified the project by saying that many Maltese are buying pleasure boats and do not have anywhere to berth them.

“What about those who don’t have a luxurious yacht?  Are they going to be able to go swim and enjoy the coast?  I don’t think you’re worried about them,” Camilleri said.

He called on residents to continue their fight to save what they had left from the village: the sea.

Kurt Camilleri, who has lived in the locality for 30 years, said that the project was not being proposed – it was being imposed.

He said that the project will increase property prices and force people wanting to live there away, and that it would eradicate swimmers’ zones in the area – leaving people only able to use St. Thomas Bay, or elsewhere if the wind makes the bay unswimmable.

He said that the project will bring added congestion, and that it will increase both air pollution and noise pollution: “They reason that now that we’ve suffocated the land, might as well suffocate the sea as well.”

“Is this progress or regression,” he questioned.

He said that the idea that progress can only come by selling land (or the sea) to private businessmen has to stop, and noted that in many other areas such as Jerma and Zonqor the land had been sold purely to satisfy some rich pockets and with no consideration for the residents.

He said that a common and concrete plan for the locality is needed, but that marina should not be a priority.  The value of the area, he said, is not in its price.

Academic Ivan Sammut said that in today’s day and age, one must pay for everything – be it food, transport, or entertainment – except for the sea, something based on nature’s wonder.

“Unfortunately, this too is under threat,” he said.

“Not because there is the need for something in the common interest or for a sacrifice from our community.  No, not for this. It is under threat because a few privileged people want to fatten their pockets off our backs, want to make our lives hell, want to threaten our relaxation, and want us to pay for our own air,” he continued.

He said that with the yacht marina, one can wave “bye bye” to swimming, fishing, coastline walks, characteristic views, fireworks from the bay, small family businesses, the beauty of a typical Maltese bay, and to tourists with any sense in their heads.

Sammut said that Marsascala is not for sale and that is belong to the community, not to Transport Malta and their company.

Jacqueline Rotin, a Junior College lecturer who specialises in the environment and a Marsascala resident of over 50 years, said that the project will have disastrous environmental effects on the area and on the bay itself.

The practice of traditional anti-fouling, she said, will leave remnants of heavy metals such as copper and other chemicals at the bottom of the bay, which will pollute it for many years to come – while the more modern ultrasonic anti-fouling risks negatively affecting sea-life by changing migratory and reproductive patterns – possibly resulting in a bay devoid of marine life.

Fuel emissions will pollute the sea, as will the emptying of yacht’s sewage or tanks into the bay – something which isn’t meant to happen, but will likely come to pass, she said.

She said that the project will also have serious consequences on the Maghluq area close-by, which is a Natura 2000 site.

Rotin said that she does not agree with the suggestion for a referendum, saying that no government or authority has the right to take what belongs to future generations and sell it to someone – referendum or not.

She questioned how almost no election candidates had made their voices heard on this matter and called on them not to try and give the debate the “silent treatment” so not to propagate controversy before an election.

The coordinator for the St. Anne’s fireworks show David Spagnol also spoke on behalf of the local feast association, as did Ruben Abela, the President of Wirt iz-Zejtun.

Two other residents – Michael Mallia and Therese Hoban – also addressed the protest.