Editorial

The expected cacophony about the Prime Minister's announcement that an expanse of land had been identified where to build an 18-hole golf course has not failed to materialise. Already there have been statements opposing the idea.

The land in question lies between Ghajn Tuffieha and Mellieha, a site where a top-class hotel will soon open its doors to guests but also an area which environmentalists focus on because of the garigue there.

It is not the first time that a golf course site has been identified. Anglu Xuereb bought the Grand Hotel Verdala in Rabat with the intention of building such a course on the surrounding land. Though the original builders of the hotel were allowed to develop part of the outstanding Rabat promontory where the hotel lies, Mr Xuereb was not as lucky, for his golf course idea never got off the ground.

The first question that needs to be asked, and answered, in this ongoing saga of whether or not to build a second golf course, in addition to the modest one at Marsa, is whether Malta needs such a facility. The government does not doubt the need is there: the tourism industry would benefit greatly, its argument goes. Golfing tourism would grow, the tourism industry would have a highly attractive addition to what it offers and there is no doubt of the beneficial effect on the national economy, the government further argues.

In creating the golfing facility, it also needs to be pointed out, Malta would be, in its limitations, giving a partial answer to neighbouring competing countries that have more land at their disposal.

These points have been made over and over, but in Mr Xuereb's case they were drowned out by the consistency, and virulence, of the opposition to his proposal. This time round those sharpening their talons to again dig into the idea will likely have tougher flesh into which to sink them. For there can hardly be any doubt that in this case the opponents of the golf course idea will not only be facing the developers but also the government, which is adamant that the project proceeds to fruition as soon as possible.

It must be realised, surely, that building a golf course anywhere in Malta would affect something or other adversely. The course needs a considerable area of land and a lot of water, which are in very short supply here. Given Malta's rich historical and archaeological heritage, the developers might come across some remains that could delay their work. And if it is not heritage, it could be agriculture that has to be kept in mind. If not agriculture, it would be the garigue, or some form of life a particular site would be supporting.

They are all worthy of consideration. None can be ignored and it would be wrong not to study carefully all the points at issue. But this needs to be done within a context for there are other considerations that need to be taken into account, foremost of which is the common good, for, after all, tourism is a mainstay of our economy. So without crying ''profiteering'', the question should be carefully considered. In this instance, it would seem so far that garigue is the main opponent of the golf course idea, which the government says is in the national interest to have. We have yet to see all arguments developed. Let us hope passion will be tempered with reason, on both sides of the fence, and that precious time is not wasted