A number of NGOs have called on the Prime Minister and the Minister in charge of the Cultural Heritage to "intervene and stop the destruction of archaeological remains in the immediate proximity of the Sta Verna archaeological site, to enable the due studies and preserve remains as they are duly bound to do."

NGOs Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, Ramblers Association of Malta, Vuci Kollettiva and Wirt Għawdex said that the area surrounding the Sta Verna Temple is well known for its archaeological importance as it predates Ġgantija Temples.

"As stated in Chapter 445 of the Cultural Heritage Act, HERITAGE ACT: (2) Every citizen of Malta as well as every person present in Malta shall have the duty of protecting cultural heritage... cultural heritage is an asset of irreplaceable spiritual, cultural, social and economic value... The duty to protect includes the duty to document, conserve, maintain, restore and includes the duty to intervene whenever deemed fit...' This law is being blatantly violated, not only by the developers of a Rationalisation site close to St Verna Temple, Xagħra, but also by the authorities responsible for protecting our heritage," the NGOs said.

"Findings were only thoroughly investigated when FAA filed a report with the SCH after bones were spotted by residents. A pit on the site was full of bones," the NGOs said, "yet this did not feature in the monitor's original report. The fact that a concentration of bones, including bones scattered on the ramp at the entrance of the site, was confirmed by the monitoring archaeologist's report only after FAA reported it on the 6th of April, debunks the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage's (SCH) claims that monitoring is effective, as precious world heritage is being destroyed."

"It was later confirmed in an SCH report, that human bones placed in a manner indicating that rituals took place were found in that site, however after the report was filed by FAA, the pile of soil and bones on the side, summarily disappeared, and do not feature in the SCH report," the NGOs said.

"This constitutes blatant destruction of our nation's archaeological heritage. Removal of artefacts from their location by unauthorised persons before on-site study, is an irreparable loss of crucial information about the site's history and its relationship to the surrounding landscape. Remains need to be examined on site to determine their precise age and to preserve the integrity of the original context."

"The FRAGSUS archaeological study declared that: 'Santa Verna, which overlies an earlier Neolithic settlement, has revealed levels relating to the much earlier pre-temple cultural phases, which will provide firmer evidence for the earliest history of human occupation on the island.'The SCH was asked whether it checked the material that was removed from site to analyse what was dumped but no answers were forthcoming. It is clear that the site is not being duly studied as it should be and levels which are critical for such studies are being destroyed and bulldozed."

The NGOs said that in spite of all reports, work is still ongoing, "even on sites where no permit has been approved, yet bulldozers are removing material from these sites daily, and archaeological features are being hidden or infilled. This is going on with total impunity, in spite of repeated reports, in an area known for its pre-temple settlement activity on the site dating to the Ghar Dalam and Skorba periods (c.5, 000-4,100 BC)."

The NGOs ask whether there were other important archaeological findings in the area, due to indications that another tomb was found and "is being kept secret".

The NGOs demand the suspension of the application for stables in an outside development zone in the vicinity of Sta Verna Temple. The NGOs call on the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to take immediate action to stop the destruction through an Emergency Conservation Order (ECO) in order to carry out detailed studies of the area.

"Every effort should be made to recuperate what has been dumped and immediately halt further destruction of archaeological features and pottery, including a number of caves which are to be destroyed. This is not just Malta's heritage, it is world heritage that is being lost."