Wiċċu bla żejt

 

Persuna li ma tistħix ngħidulha li jkollha wiċċ bla żejt. Taġixxi b’mod sfaċċat, qiesu ma ġara xejn. Bħall-membru parlamentari tal-PN David Agius.

David Agius, meta kien membru parlamentari fuq in-naħa tal-Gvern kien, flimkien ma oħrajn, ivvota favur li art f’diversi partijiet ta’ Malta, fil-parti l-kbira tagħha art verġni, tingħata għall-iżvilupp. Issa qasam fuq in-naħa l-oħra u qiegħed jappoġġa lir-residenti li qed jipprotestaw kontra dan l-iżvilupp li hu ivvota favur tiegħu.

F’Ħ’Attard, fl-inħawi magħrufa Tal-Idward, fil-periferija taż-żona tal-iżvilupp, David Agius jappoġġa lir-residenti li qed jipprotestaw biex art agrikola ma tkunx żviluppata. Ir-residenti huma rrabjati għax issa hemm it-tieni applikazzjoni biex ikun determinat kif tista’ tkun żviluppata l-art fl-inħawi tal-Idward.

David Agius kien hemm, kważi ċass, bla espressjoni f’wiċċu. Ħdax-il sena ilu, fil-Parlament kien ivvota favur l-istess żvilupp li issa kien qed jipprotesta kontra tiegħu!

L-istorja kollha hi dwar dak li hu magħruf bħala l-eżerċizzju ta’ razzjonalizzazzjoni li permezz tiegħu meded kbar ta’ art imxerrda mal-gżejjer Maltin, sa dakinnhar barra miż-żona tal-iżvilupp, saru tajbin għall-bini. Bil-vot tiegħu favur dan kollu David Agius għin biex dan ikun possibli li jsir. David Agius mhux waħdu. Fuq il-bankijiet tal-Opposizzjoni għad hemm diversi kollegi tiegħu li għamlu bħalu.

L-ippjanar għall-użu tal-art hu strument li għandu jkun użat fl-interess tal-komunitá kollha, u mhux fl-interess tal-ftit. Sfortunatament, illum, ħdax-il sena wara huwa ċar iktar minn qatt qabel kemm l-eżerċzzju ta’ razzjonalizzazzjoni injora lill-komunitajiet residenzjali tagħna madwar il-pajjiż kollu biex jaġevola lill-ispekulaturi.

Meta l-Parlament approva li meded kbar ta’ art barra miż-żona tal-iżvilupp isiru żviluppabbli kien jaf li ma kien sar l-ebda studju biex ikunu mkejla l-impatti kumulattivi li rriżultaw minn din id-deċiżjoni. Bħala riżultat ta’ dan, l-impatti tat-traffiku, l-kwalitá tal-arja, l-għargħar, id-dellijiet fuq bini diġa armat b’pannelli fotovoltajċi kif ukoll in-numru dejjem jiżdied ta’ propjetá vojta kienu fatturi injorati kompletament meta l-Parlament iddeċieda li japprova l-eżerċizzju ta’ razzjonalizzazzjoni.

Sfortunatament, l-Awtoritá tal-Ippjanar, minkejja li kienet taf b’dan in-nuqqas baqgħet għaddejja u ma ppruvatx tagħmel tajjeb għan-nuqqas tal-Parlament.

Sadanittant, fil-Parlament, il-Ministru Ian Borg huwa u jwieġeb għall-kritika ta’ din id-deċiżjoni tal-Awtoritá tal-Ippjanar ipponta subgħajh lejn l-Opposizzjoni. Imma dan mhux biżżejjed għax anke l-Partit Laburista wara 4 snin fil-Gvern ma għamel xejn dwar dan kollu.

Bosta minna niftakru li meta l-Partit Laburista kien fl-Opposizzjoni, fil-Parlament, kien ivvota kontra dan l-eserċizzju ta’ razzjonalizzazzjoni. Dan iwassal għall-mistoqsija inevitabbli dwar jekk il-Partit Laburista bidilx fehmtu. Għax ħlief għal ftit kummenti waqt il-kampanja elettorali l-Partit Laburista qatt ma qal xejn dwar dan kollu. Dan x’jfisser? Għandna ninterpretaw in-nuqqas ta’ azzjoni mill-Partit Laburista fil-Gvern bħala qbil mal-ezerċizzju ta’ razzjonalizzazzjoni?

Sa fejn naf jiena, Alternattiva Demokratika biss indirizzat dan kollu waqt il-kampanja elettorali li għadha kif intemmet. Dan billi pproponiet li dawn it-tip ta’ permessi m’għandhomx joħorġu f’dawk il-lokalitajiet fejn hemm numru konsiderevoli ta’ propjetajiet residenzjali vakanti.

Jidher imma li l-partiti fil-parlament issa bidlu ir-rwol tagħhom. David Agius hu l-eżempju ovvju: meta l-partit tiegħu kien fil-Gvern jappoġġa l-ispekulazzjoni, u issa li qiegħed fl-Opposizzjoni taparsi jappoġġa lir-residenti.

ippubblikat fl-Illum il-Ħadd  9 ta’ Lulju 2017

David Agius’s mental gymnastics

 

David was always into sport – primarily basketball, if I remember correctly. He has, however, now dedicated considerable time to the practice of mental gymnastics.

In Attard, in the area known as Tal-Idward – which is just outside the development zone – David has time and again publicly manifested his support of the residents’ cause: opposition to the development of agricultural land. The residents have now vented their anger in a pubic protest against a second planning control application that seeks to identify what would be permissible development in the tal-Idward area at Attard, the first application having been turned down around three years ago.

David Agius, the Opposition Whip, stood there, with a poker face, not batting an eyelid. Eleven years ago, in Parliament, he voted in favour of permitting the same development against which he is now demonstrating!

The issue is the so-called “rationalisation exercise” as a result of which considerable tracts of ODZ land all over the Maltese islands will henceforth to be considered as developable land. In 2006, with his favourable vote in Parliament, David Agius, contributed to making this possible. On the Opposition benches, he is accompanied by a number of other MPs who likewise voted in favour of more virgin agricultural land being given up for development.

Land-use planning should keep in mind the interests of the whole community and not only the interests of a select few. Unfortunately, eleven years down the line, it is now more clear than ever that the rationalisation exercise has  completely ignored the interests of the residential communities all over the islands in order to satisfy the greed of land speculators.

When Parliament considered the approval of removing ODZ status of large tracts of land, primarily (but not exclusively) agricultural land, it did so in full knowledge of the fact that the cumulative impacts of such a decision had not been assessed. Such an assessment, which is prescribed in the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive of the EU, would have been mandatory had Parliament’s decision been taken some days later than it actually was.

As a result, traffic impacts, air quality, flooding, the shadowing of existing residential property equipped with photo-voltaic panels and the issue of an ever increasing stock of vacant properties were completely ignored when Parliament approved the rationalisation exercise.

The Planning Authority, unfortunately, notwithstanding that it is aware of the shortcomings underpinning the rationalisation exercise, has failed to take steps to mitigate these shortcomings apart from minor cosmetic changes to the  proposals submitted on behalf of speculators.

In Parliament Minister Ian Borg rightly pointed his fingers at the Opposition when replying to criticism of the above-mentioned Planning Authority’s decision.  Blaming the Opposition is however not enough as the Labour Party had sufficient time to act on the matter in the past four years, but has not done so. Most of us remember that the Labour Party itself, when in Opposition, had voted against the rationalisation exercise in Parliament. This leads to the inevitable question as to whether or not Labour has since changed its mind as – with the exception of a few sympathetic comments on the eve of the June general election – it has never committed itself to changes to the rationalisation exercise. Are we to interpret the Labour Party’s non-action as a change of political position, signifying agreement with the rationalisation exercise in the form approved by Parliament in 2006?

As far as I am aware, Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, is the only political party to propose a specific measure on changes to the rationalisation exercise. This was done once more during the recent electoral campaign. Such a measure proposed by Alternattiva Demokratika is linked to the large number of vacant properties, which should be a break applied by land-use planning regulators in order not to develop more land unnecessarily.

But is seems that the Labour Party and the PN have switched roles. Hence David’s mental gymnastics: supporting speculators when in government, supporting residents when in opposition.

published in The Malta Independent on Sunday – 9 July 2017

Meta l-kuxjenza ta’ Edwin Vassallo kienet bil-vaganzi

 

Meta smajt uħud mid-diskorsi fil-Parlament dwar l-emendi fil-liġijiet diversi li ser jintroduċu l-ugwaljanza fiż-żwieg ma kontx sorpriż. La b’dak li intqal u l-anqas bil-lingwaġġ magħżul.

Il-linġwaġġ konċiljattiv ta’ Claudette Buttigieg, Carm Mifsud Bonnici u Mario de Marco kien ta’ ġid avolja ma tantx jidher li jista’ jwassal ghal-soluzzjoni għad-differenzi dwar il-lingwaġġ tal-liġi proposta.

Imma imbagħad dak li qalu Herman Schiavone, David Agius u Clyde Puli diffiċli biex tifhmu meta akkumpanjat b’dikjarazzjoni li wara kollox qalu li ser jivvutaw favur.

Bla dubju dak li qal Edwin Vassallo kien l-iktar diskors li jistona. Għax kif tista’ tgħid dak il-kliem wara li tkun ikkontestajt elezzjoni bħala kandidat f’isem partit politiku li ukoll wiegħed l-ugwaljanza fiż-żwieġ?

Imma donnu l-kuxjenza ta’ Vassallo mhux dejjem taħdem! Qabel l-elezzjoni ma nigżitux meta l-Kap tieghu Simon Busuttil kien qed jitkellem dwar żwieġ bejn persuni tal-istess sess.

Forsi kienet bil-vaganzi!

Simon’s ODZ bluff

 

20 January is the closing date for the submission of expressions of interest in response to the call by the Privatisation Unit for the setting up of a Motorsports complex in Malta.

During the press conference that launched the call on 29 September, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Chris Agius emphasised the fact that the choice of location was up to the investors presenting the submissions, even though several sites were proposed in the consultation process leading up to the call for expressions of interest.

However, Sam Collins, writing on 25 April last year on an online motor-racing guide, under the heading Malta eyes Formula 1 with new circuit stated that a “110 hectare parcel of land has been earmarked for the development.”  It is pretty obvious that the as yet unidentified  “110 hectare parcel of land” to be used for this proposed motorsports complex will be situated outside the development zone (ODZ). Each hectare consists of 10,000 square metres, meaning that 110 hectares equals one million, one hundred thousand square metres.

Sam Collins describes the proposal in this manner: “The government documents relating to the circuit’s development point out that part of its purpose would be to attract major international racing series, including Formula 3 and similar classes. The proposed facility would also include facilities for concerts, conferencing and a racing school. A hotel and museum of motoring and transport heritage would also be built on site. Road safety and driver training would play a major part in the facility’s layout, with a dedicated area for these activities. A CIK Kart circuit would also be built alongside the main track.”

The basic question which had to be addressed – but which most obviously has not been addressed so far – is whether Malta can afford to waste this much land. The answer, in my opinion, irrespective of the number of motor-racing car enthusiasts on the island, is clear and unequivocal: Malta cannot waste any more of its limited land.

The sites that have been possibly earmarked are limited in number, as Malta’s size does not present too many options and the impact of the selected site will be substantial, irrespective of its current use.

Development on the  parcel of land selectedcould have a substantial impact on areas of ecological importance that are protected either in terms of local policy or else as a result of EU or international commitments. Knowing that most of the undeveloped land along Malta’s coastline from Bengħajsa right up to Ċirkewwa is protected for ecological purposes, this could be the case, particularly if the identified parcel of land is close to the coast.

The impact could be further increased in view of the possible proximity of the selected parcel of land to residential areas. A specific area, mentioned consistently through the grapevine, would lump these impacts on Malta’s political south, further adding to the disregard for residents’ quality of life in the region accumulated over the years.

There are, therefore, three issues on the basis of which the proposed facility is objectionable: firstly, that Malta is too small for such a development; secondly, that the environmental impact will be substantial and thirdly, that the neighbouring residents’ quality of life, as well as biodiversity and natural resources, will be bartered for short term economic gain.

Depending on the precise eventual location, it may be possible to mitigate and reduce the impact on residents. However, it is most probable that a reduced impact on residents would signify increased impact on natural resources and biodiversity. In my opinion, this signifies that even on the drawing board the project should have been a non-starter.

In recent months we have had the Żonqor “University” debacle. A major sticking point in that case was that the original proposal was to use land situated outside the ODZ and public opinion’s unifying reaction was “No to ODZ development”.

The Parliamentary Opposition, both inside and outside Parliament, took a clear stand against the ODZ Development proposed at Żonqor. Yet in the case of the proposed motor track facility, the Opposition Spokesperson on Sport, David Agius, was invited to be present when the call for expressions of interest was launched. His presence confirms that, notwithstanding Simon Busuttil’s solemn declarations on the sanctity of ODZ land, the proposal for the (ODZ) motor track facility enjoys bipartisan support.

Which means that Simon’s talk on ODZ is just bluff.

published in The Malta Independent on Sunday : 3 January 2016

L-ODZ u l-politika b’żewġt uċuħ ta’ Simon Busuttil

Il-politika onesta ta’ Simon Busuttil u l-PN tidher ħafna fil-mod kif jitkellem u jaġixxi l-Partit Nazzjonalista dwar l-ODZ (jiġifieri ż-żona barra mill-linja tal-iżvilupp).

Għamilna ġimgħat b’Simon Busuttil jgħidlna kemm hi għal qalbu l-ODZ. Qalilna kemm hu neċessarju li nħarsu l-ODZ u għaldaqstant bid-dmugħ tal-kukkudrilli huwa ukoll oppona l-proġett taż-Żonqor għall-Università Amerikana. Bosta esponenti tal-Partit Nazzjonalista attendew għad-dimostrazzjoni fil-Belt bi protesta kontra l-proposta tal-Gvern li sa dakinnhar kienet dwar 9 ettari ta’ art (jiġifieri 90,000 metru kwadru) ODZ.

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista organizza ukoll attività politika ġewwa ż-Żonqor fejn ipprova jimmanipula d-dikjarazzjonijiet ambjentali tal-Membru Parlamentari Laburista Marlene Farrugia.

Imma l-ġimgħa l-oħra l-Partit Nazzjonalista wera l-wiċċ l-ieħor tiegħu: il-wiċċ veru moħbi taħt il-maskri tal-ipokrezija politika.

Wara li pprotesta favur l-ambjent, issa kien imiss li l-PN jagħti appoġġ lill-proġett ta’ natura kompletament differenti. Għaldaqstant il-PN bagħat lil Onorevoli David Agius kelliemi tiegħu għall-Isports biex dan jirrappreżenta lill-Opposizzjoni fl-okkazjoni tal-bidu tal-proċess tal-espressjoni ta’ interess għal ċirkwit tat-tlielaq tal-karozzi. Proposta li tista’ tibla 80 ettaru ta’ art, jiġifieri 800,000 metru kwadru ta’ art fl-ODZ.

L-appoġġ tal-PN għaċ-ċirkwit tat-tlielaq tal-karozzi hu ankrat fil-programm elettorali tal-PN għall-elezzjoni ġenerali tal-2013. Programm li nafu li kellu sehem mhux żgħir Simon Busuttil, fit-tfassil w il-kitba tiegħu, u dan meta kien għadu Viċi ta’ Lawrence Gonzi.

Din hi l-politika onesta ta’ Simon Busuttil? Jgħid le għall-iżvilupp ta’ 90,000 metru kwadru ODZ imma jagħlaq għajnejh għal proposta li tista’ twassal biex 800,000 metru kwadru ta’ art ODZ jinbelgħu miċ-ċirkwit tat-tlielaq tal-karozzi.

Din hi l-politika ġdida tal-PN : politika ta’ żewġt uċuħ.

If pigs had a vote

The latest shots in Malta’s environmental siege that followed so soon after the Żonqor debacle, were fired earlier this week by Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius who, accompanied by PN Sports spokesperson David Agius launched a call for expressions of interest in connection with the Concession for the Design, Build and Operation of Motor Recreation and Education Park.

The call specifies the functions which must be fulfilled, namely national and international motor racing events, motor sport training and other related activities including motor research and development. Ancillary activities deemed to complement the project can also be included.

The terms of the call are very wide such that it is ensured that those responding would have sufficient flexibility. The proposed site has not been selected yet, although, as declared by Parliamentary Secretary Agius, the government is aware of the available potential sites due to it having been lobbied by motor racing groups for quite some time. TVM news stated on Tuesday that three specific sites have been identified. From other sources it is known that one of the sites is in Ħal-Far while a second one lies in the limits of Siġġiewi. The location of the third site is so far unknown.

On Thursday, Siggiewi Mayor Karol Aquilina commented that the area known as Ta’ San Niklaw, close to id-Dar Tal-Providenza Siġġiewi, which, he said, was potentially being considered as a candidate site. I think that it is highly unlikely that the Siġġiewi site would be selected in view of the fact that all indications in the past three years have pointed towards the Ħal-Far area as the preferred location. But one never knows.

The call does not limit the site area. Motor racing enthusiasts are speaking of approximately 80 hectares of land which would be required for a three to five kilometre racing track as well as the ancillary facilities. In 2013, during the electoral campaign, the footprint referred to was much smaller, around half the size.

The call for expressions of interest refers to protection of the environment, protection of cultural heritage, long-term sustainability of the project as well as adherence to Natura 2000 protection criteria. Interestingly, however, the call makes no commitment to protect agricultural land. This may be very indicative as to what lies in store.

The scale of the project and its uptake of land, is massive by Maltese standards. It is also out of proportion to the size of the Maltese islands.

Irrespective of the selected site, the land used will undoubtedly include large areas of agricultural land still in use. In good time we will also be informed that abandoned agricultural land will also be incorporated into the project. In such a large area, most of which has never been substantially disturbed, it is also inevitable that some archaeological remains will surface.

There are also issues of air quality and noise pollution. These impacts will be of relevance to communities closest to the selected site. The submitted proposal will undoubtedly include mitigation measures, in particular those relative to noise pollution. Residents have votes and as a direct consequence of this fact there will be a concerted effort to minimise the impact of noise in residential areas. The extent to which this is successful and/or acceptable can only be established when the exact parameters of the proposal are known. Noise pollution will, however, be a major issue irrespective of the identified site.

The Habitats Directive of the European Union is applicable to a number of areas in the Maltese islands. Through the implementation of this Directive, it is not only the specific sites which are afforded protection. This protection extends beyond the sites to activity in the area surrounding the sites in so far that the said activity will have an impact on the protected sites.

The proposals to be submitted will have an impact on nocturnal natural life on the selected site and its surroundings. Such nocturnal life is heavily impacted by both noise and light pollution which will result from motor sport activities .

Farm animals in the vicinity of the selected site will also be in for a hard time. Noise pollution from the racing track will have a considerable impact on the operation of farms as well as on farm animals.

Pigs, cows and birds do not vote. If they did we would definitely not need to worry about ODZs any more.

published in The Malta Independent on Sunday – 4 October 2015

Ħolm ikrah u d-dilemma tal-Partit Nazzjonalista

 

Is-sejħa għal espressjoni ta’ interess biex jinbena u jitħaddem ċirkwit għat-tlielaq tal-karozzi li ħareġ iktar kmieni din il-ġimgħa mill-Gvern hu attakk ieħor fuq l-art barra miż-żona ta’ żvilupp (ODZ).

L-iżvilupp li qed jikkonsidra l-Gvern hu stmat li jista’ jirrikjedi sa madwar 800,000 metru kwadru ta’ art (80 ettaru) u ma jista’ jsir imkien jekk mhux f’ODZ – jiġifieri barra ż-żona ta’ l-iżvilupp.

Malta u Għawdex huma żgħar wisq u l-ftit art li baqalna mhux mibnija barra miż-żona ta’ żvilupp għandna bżonn li nipproteġuha aħjar. Il-Gvern, sfortunatament qed jagħmel minn kollox biex jinkorġġixxi kemm jiflaħ żvilupp fuq art ODZ.

Hi ta’ ħasra li f’dan il-każ il-PN għoġbu jagħti appoġġ lill-Gvern, liema appoġġ intwera pubblikament permezz tal-parteċipazzjoni tal-kelliemi tal-PN għall-Isports David Agius f’konferenza stampa flimkien mas-Segretarju Parlamentari Chris Agius.

Apparti t-tniġġiż tal-arja kkawżat mhux biss mit-tlielaq imma wkoll mis-sessjonijiet ta’ taħriġ fiċ-ċirkwit propost, hemm ukoll il-ħsejjes esaġerati minn karozzi misjuqa b’veloċità kbira li se jkunu ta’ inkonvenjent kbir għal dawk li jkollhom l-isfortuna li jkunu ġirien taċ-ċirkwit.

Nittama li din tkun ħolma oħra kerha, li tgħaddi, mal-bosta li l-Partit Laburista fil-Gvern qed joħloq fil-qasam ambjentali.

Sadanittant il-Partit Nazzjonalista qiegħed f’dilemma. Jeħtieġlu jispjega kif, meta jfettillu jikkritika l-iżvilupp fl-ODZ fiż-Żonqor u issa jappoġġa proposti ta’ żvilupp fl-ODZ, bħalma qiegħed jagħmel bl-appoġġ li qiegħed jagħti f’ismu l-Membru Parlamentari David Agius għaċ-ċirkwit tal-karozzi tat-tlielaq.

Il-kontradizzjonijiet tal-PN jiżviluppaw quddiem għajnejk!

 

George Pullicino jistaħba wara Simon : jipprova jibqa’ jgħaddi ż-żmien bin-nies

Il-bierah fiż-Żonqor Marsaskala Simon Busuttil wiegħed  mhux biss li jibqa’ jkun fuq quddiem biex “iħares” iż-Żonqor imma ukoll biex iħares l-ODZ (iż-żona barra mil-linja tal-iżvilupp).

Simon Busuttil qalilna ukoll li “jekk” il-PN għamel xi żbalji ambjentali jiskuża ruħu dwarhom! Għax Simon Busuttil, taf int, għandu dubju dwar jekk il-PN għamilx żbalji ambjentali.

Jekk tħarsu sewwa fir-ritratt fuq il-lemin, fuq wara, fiċ-ċirku aħmar jidher George Pullicino li kien il-Ministru responsabbli biex parti mill-ODZ ma baqgħetx ODZ.

F’Lulju 2006 l-Parlament approva mozzjoni imressqa minn Pullicino biex żewġ miljun metru kwadru ta’ art ODZ ma tibqax ODZ.  Dan kien ifisser li f’diversi lokalitajiet żdiedet l-art li tista’ tinbena. Dan apparti l-introduzzjoni ta’ policies li għamluha possibli biex iktar art fl-ODZ tinbena, bħalma ġara fil-kaz tal-art li fuqha inbnew il-Lidl ta’ Ħal-Safi u Ħal-Luqa.

Dan għandu l-wiċċ jipprotesta! Xejn ma jiddejjaq jipprova jgħaddik biż-żmien.

Għamilt sewwa jiena li ma mortx iż-Żonqor il-bieraħ. Għax minkejja li bla dubju kien hemm diversi persuni ta’ rieda tajba fiż-Żonqor il-bieraħ, il-presenza ta’ persuni bħal George Pullicino (u ta’ oħrajn) twassal messaġġ ċar li dawn jaħsbu li jistgħu jibqgħu jgħaddu ż-żmien bin-nies.

Kif tista’ tkun kredibbli meta fil-Gvern tagħti l-ODZ għall-bini u fl-Opposizzjoni tipprotesta biex l-ODZ ikun protett? Fix-xhur li għaddew diġa fuq dan il-blog tkellimt dwar l-ODZ f’Ħ’Attard fejn ukoll kellna lil David Agius, Membru Parlamentari mill-Opposizzjoni, li kien ivvota favur il-bini tal-ODZ u mbagħad ġie mar-residenti biex jipprotesta kontra d-deċiżjoni tiegħu stess!

Simon Busuttil, iddeċiedi: jekk verament trid tipproteġi l-ODZ, meta ser tressaq mozzjoni fil-Parlament biex tħassar jew tal-inqas tirrevedi dak li għamel George Pullicino bil-mozzjoni approvata mill-Parlament nhar l-Erbgħa 26 ta’ Lulju 2006?

Alternattiva Demokratika fil-Manifest Elettorali għall-elezzjoni ġenerali tal-2013 qalet dan b’mod mill-iktar ċar fil-paġna 82 tal-Manifest Elettorali fis-silta ta’ hawn taħt :

Il-bikja tal-kukkudrill tkompli ………… dwar l-art f’Ħ’Attard

 

L-art fi Triq Dun Mikiel Xerri  u Triq Dun Ġwann Theuma f’Ħ‘Attard tista’ tinbena u dan grazzi għal deċiżjoni tal-Parlament fl-2006 li għamilha tajba għall-bini. Mhux din l-art biss. Hemm ukoll artijiet oħra, diversi, li huma mxerrda ma Malta kollha.

Issa s-sidien tal-art għaddejjin bl-applikazzjoni tagħhom mal-MEPA biex jaraw li jkunu jistgħu jibnu l-iktar possibli fuq din l-art.

Sadanittant ikollna Membri tal-Parlament li jiġu jagħtu l-appoġġ lir-residenti li ma jaqblux ma dan l-iżvilupp. Ma jgħidulhomx lir-residenti li huma kienu jiffurmaw parti minn dak il-Parlament li approva dan l-iżvilupp fil-prinċipju.

Illum il-Bord tal-MEPA iddeċieda li jirrifjuta l-applikazzjoni tas-sidien. Imma kien ċar li dawn għandhom dritt li jerġgħu japplikaw. Kull ma ġara hu li d-deċiżjoni forsi tittieħed darba oħra, fix-xhur li ġejjin.

Il-dmugħ tal-kukkudrill, iżda, jkompli.

Smajna illum lill-Onorevoli David Agius jispjega lill-Bord tal-MEPA kemm huwa kien kontra li din l–art tista’ tinbena. Kieku seta, qal, ivvota kontra. Imma ma setax! Anzi. Qal li issa lest li jippreżenta mozzjoni fil-Parlament biex din l-art ma tinbeniex.

Ovvjament b’dan il-bluff kollu l-Onorevoli David Agius kien qed jilgħab għall-gallarija. Għax jibqa’ l-fatt illi ma jista’ jiċħdu ħadd illi fis-siegħa tal-prova, fl-2006, l-Onorevoli David Agius  kien jifforma parti mill-grupp parlamentari li appoġġa l-proposta li l-art f’Ħ’Attard b’faċċata fuq Triq Dun Mikiel Scerri u Triq Dun Ġwann Theuma tkun tista’ tkun żviluppata.

Id-dmugħ tal-kukkudrilli illum ma jibdilx id-deċiżjoni tal-bieraħ.

 

Ir-referendum dwar id-divorzju : Riflessjonijiet (5) Anke’ Machiavelli kien jistħi

 Meta Lawrence Gonzi għamel il-proposta oriġinali illi d-divorzju jkun soġġett għal referendum huwa iġġustifika ruħu billi qal li l-ebda wieħed mill-partiti fil-Parlament ma kellu l-mandat elettorali fuq il-materja. Kien qal kliem fis-sens li mhux sewwa illi l-Parlament japprova leġislazzjoni li dwarha l-poplu ma kellux ċans jesprimi ruħu.

Il-pjan dakinnhar kien illi jekk il-Parlament japprova l-liġi tad-divorzju proposta minn JPO, qabel ma din tidħol fis-seħħ kien meħtieġ li jkun hemm referendum biex dak li jkun approva l-Parlament jesprimi ruħu fuqu l-poplu.

Alternattiva Demokratika dakinnhar qalet li ma taqbilx li deċiżjoni dwar drittijiet ċivili jkunu soġġetti għal referendum. Għax dawn huma drittijiet ta’ minoranzi li għandhom ikunu affermati anke’ jekk il-maġġoranza ma tkunx trid.

Lawrence Gonzi dakinhar skandalizza ruħu kif seta’ jkun hawn xi ħadd f’dan il-pajjiż li ma jaqbilx mal-użu tal-għodda demokratika tar-referendum.

Joseph Muscat għamel il-kontijiet u rrealizza li Gonzi kien qed jipprova jaħdmu. Għax ir-referendum li ried Gonzi kien isir biss jekk il-Parlament japprova l-liġi tad-divorzju proposta minn JPO. Muscat kien jaf li kien hemm numru ta’ Membri Parlamentari Laburisti li kienu kontra l-proposta ta’ JPO u Varist Bartolo. Dan il-fatt kien jassigura li l-pjan ta’ Gonzi jaħdem u r-referendum għalkemm imwiegħed  ma jkunx jista’ jsir.

Il-manuvri interni fil-Partit Laburista wasslu biex minflok ma Gonzi ħadem lil Muscat, għal darba Muscat ħadem lil Gonzi (bil-għajnuna ta’ JPO u Jesmond Mugliette). Għax il-Parlament approva mozzjoni imressqa mill-Kap tal-Opposizzjoni li l-ewwel immorru għal referendum, u mbagħad, wara, jekk dan ikun approvat, tkun tista’ tibda d-diskussjoni fil-Parlament dwar l-abbozz ta’ JPO u Varist Bartolo.

Issa Muscat kien jaħseb li r-referendum m’hux ser jgħaddi . Ta’ l-anqas hekk stqarr f’wieħed mill-edizzjonijiet ta’ Inkontri immexxi min Joe Grima fuq Super One! 

Issa billi r-referendum approva d-dħul tad-divorzju f’Malta, dak li Gonzi u Muscat ilhom jipposponu irid jiġi ffaċċjat.

Muscat u l-parti l-kbira tal-Opposizzjoni jidher li ser jivvutaw favur (Marie Louis Coleiro ser tastjeni u Adrian Vassallo ser jivvota kontra). Carmelo Abela taż-Zejtun, to his credit iddeċieda li jbaxxi rasu għar-rieda popolari u ser jivvota favur.

Il-backbench tal-Gvern imħawwad. Skond Beppe Fenech Adami qed jitkellem waħdu. Ma jafx x’ser jaqbad jagħmel. Jekk tissejjaħ division l-ewwel isem min-naħa tal-Gvern li jissejjaħ hu dak tal-Onor David Agius. Ikollu jiddeċiedi waħdu x’ser jagħmel. Għax ma jistax jagħmel bħal ta’ qablu. Għax dak li jiġi qablu alfabetikament hu l-MP tal-Labour Carmelo Abela. Għalhekk din il-ġimgħa kiteb fin-Nazzjon u qal li ser jivvota  favur.

Dawk li qed jgħidu li ser jivvutaw kontra qed iwaħħlu fil-kuxjenza. Lil dawn jiena ngħidihom li l-kuxjenza issa ma tidħolx. Il-kuxjenza kellha sehem importanti sakemm il-Parlament iddeċied li jaħsel idejh bħal Ponzu Pilatu u flok ma jieħu deċiżjoni huwa talab lill-poplu jespimi ruħu f’referendum.

Il-kuxjenza kienet importanti nhar is-Sibt 28 ta’ Mejju.

Imma malli ħareġ ir-riżultat tar-referendum issa m’huwiex iżjed kaz ta’ kuxjenza iżda tal-kredenzjali demokratiċi tal-membri parlamentari. Min m’huwiex lest li jivvota IVA  dwar il-liġi tad-divorzju qed juri disprezz lejn il-volonta tal-poplu u m’huwiex kapaċi jkun rappreżentant tal-poplu fil-Parlament.

L-għażla hi waħda sempliċi jew jivvutaw IVA kif ġew inkarigati jagħmlu mill-poplu permezz tar-referendum inkella jirreżenjaw. L-appoġġ għall-volonta’ popolari trid tkun totali, bla kundizzjoni.  Hekk intqal fl-2003 meta sar ir-referendum dwar is-sħubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Dakinnhar konna korretti. Hekk ukoll għandu jingħad u jsir illum.

Bil-gabrijoli bil-kuxjenza li qed jagħmlu Gatt, Gonzi u l-bqija naħseb li anke Machiavelli kien jistħi !