Group sees message in bishops' pastoral

The Front Kontra l-Golf Course welcomed the pastoral letter issued by the bishops for the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

The bishops highlighted the agreement between the government and the Vatican regarding the transfer of property to the government. Such property includes the area in Tal-Virtù which AX Holdings want to develop into a golf course.

"Through their pastoral letter the bishops are pointing out that the property transferred to the Maltese government is to be used to promote the safeguarding of the environment and the development of agriculture, and to meet the country's most pressing social requirements, such as social housing and public utilities, as well as for humanitarian, educational and cultural purposes," the front said in a statement yesterday.

"By no stretch of the imagination could the development of a golf course on the agricultural land at Tal-Virtù be considered to conform to the agreement in question.

"We therefore urge the board of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to respect the plight of 90 farmers at Tal-Virtù who are making it clear that they oppose the development of a golf course."

Two further organisations - Azzjoni Pozittiva and GLUE - have joined the Front Kontra l-Golf Course, which now represents 20 member or supporter organisations.

The Milk Producers Co-Operative has also declared its opposition to the proposed development.