Farmers oppose Rabat golf course

The Progressive Farmers Union has presented a petition to the prime minister signed by almost all the farmers working the land at Tal-Virtù in an appeal to safeguard agricultural land threatened by the proposed golf course, the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors said.

Copies of the petition were submitted to the President of Malta, the Appostolic Nuncio, the Archbishop and members of parliament.

The petition appeals to Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami to intervene following the Planning Authority's decision to consider the proposal to develop a golf course on prime agricultural land and to AX Holdings to submit an Environmental Impact Statement, a move which had seriously worried the farmers.

The farmers also appealed to the PM to ensure that the agreement between the government of Malta and the Holy See of 1991 be fully respected. The front said that, in terms of the agreement, former Church land used for agriculture and transferred to the State could not be put to other uses. The site targetted by AX Holdings is former Church land.

The petition states: "We appeal that you take into consideration the fact that taking land from farmers and giving it to third persons is not legal. We encourage you to note that according to Christian morality it is not correct to take the little that is enjoyed by the many and give it to one company.

"We appeal that you take into consideration whether it is just that while other farmers will benefit from substantial government aid to grow vineyards, this right shall be taken away from us Tal-Virtù farmers to the benefit of another company."

The farmers also explained that should the golf course be developed, they would be deprived of the benefit from the thousands of liri which they had invested there.

At its meeting on June 19 the members and supporter organisations of the Front Kontra l-Golf Kors unanimously declared their support of the farmers' petition. The Front also expressed the opinion that in their view the flyers entitled 'Give Malta Golf' being distributed by AX Holdings contained many untruths and misleading arguments.

"Contrary to what AX Holdings is stating, it is not true that most farmers have signified their interest in receiving 'key money' for each tumolo of land in their tenure."

Nor was it true that other farmers "are opting for land in lieu, or are choosing to stay in the area, working the number of fields that will be incorporated into the (proposed) golf course project", the Front stated.

"Similarly, it is not true that 'local organisations are increasingly pledging their support to the Verdala golf course'." Instead, numerous environmental, agricultural, social, religious and political organisations have publicly declared their opposition towards the golf course at Tal-Virtù.

These include Din l-Art Helwa, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Nature Trust, Progressive Farmers Union, University Chaplaincy, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Eco - The Ecological Foundation, Moviment Graffitti, the Vegetarian Society, Pembroke Residents Association, Zminijietna, Alternattiva Demokratika Studenti, Move! Organisation, Inizjamed, International Animal Rescue and Kopin.

"We appeal to the board of the Malta Planning and Environment Authority to approve the recommendation of its own Planning Directorate and refuse permission for this unsustainable proposal," the Front said.