Respect the Qala referendum
Published on The Sunday Times of Malta on 4th February, 2007 by Mr Angelo Xerri, Qala.
The Qala Creek Project consists of a five-star hotel, apartments, villas, time share units, yacht marina, restaurants and other buildings. This beautiful area of Gozo, with its crystal clear waters (right), has been enjoyed by Qala and Gozo residents, many Maltese, and tourists long before bathing suits were invented.
It was promised that this area was to be refurbished and designated as a park, with a barbecue pit and trees planted in the old quarry and surrounding area. It would be the first bathing and leisure park in Gozo.
If permits to build Qala Creek are issued this will be gone forever. Qala residents were against this project from the start. The opposition to the project was so intense among the residents, that Qala council decided to hold a referendum on this issue. The result was 85 per cent against and 15 per cent in favour; 75 per cent of residents participated. This overwhelming result should have been more than enough for this project to be considered dead by the authorities.
Now, four years later, the Qala Creek project has come to life again. The plans have been slightly changed but it is the same magnitude and size. Some politicians have gone on record as saying that the project is good for Qala and Gozo.
The referendum result and the will of the people of Qala have to be respected, and not trampled upon as if nothing ever happened.
Today all Qala councillors claim that in their hearts they are 100 per cent against this project. This is not good enough. First, Qala councillors should ask the political parties they belong to whether they are in favour of the project - before the looming local and national elections. If their parties are in favour of the project, then their councillors should take action, follow their hearts and resign. They should stand up and be counted: nobody can sit on both sides of the fence. Then they should run independently or for a party that is against this project.
The Qala referendum must be honoured and respected by all political parties. Otherwise democracy has been slapped in the face. If this is allowed to go on we are nothing short of a caper republic.
The Qala Creek Project consists of a five-star hotel, apartments, villas, time share units, yacht marina, restaurants and other buildings. This beautiful area of Gozo, with its crystal clear waters (right), has been enjoyed by Qala and Gozo residents, many Maltese, and tourists long before bathing suits were invented.
It was promised that this area was to be refurbished and designated as a park, with a barbecue pit and trees planted in the old quarry and surrounding area. It would be the first bathing and leisure park in Gozo.
If permits to build Qala Creek are issued this will be gone forever. Qala residents were against this project from the start. The opposition to the project was so intense among the residents, that Qala council decided to hold a referendum on this issue. The result was 85 per cent against and 15 per cent in favour; 75 per cent of residents participated. This overwhelming result should have been more than enough for this project to be considered dead by the authorities.
Now, four years later, the Qala Creek project has come to life again. The plans have been slightly changed but it is the same magnitude and size. Some politicians have gone on record as saying that the project is good for Qala and Gozo.
The referendum result and the will of the people of Qala have to be respected, and not trampled upon as if nothing ever happened.
Today all Qala councillors claim that in their hearts they are 100 per cent against this project. This is not good enough. First, Qala councillors should ask the political parties they belong to whether they are in favour of the project - before the looming local and national elections. If their parties are in favour of the project, then their councillors should take action, follow their hearts and resign. They should stand up and be counted: nobody can sit on both sides of the fence. Then they should run independently or for a party that is against this project.
The Qala referendum must be honoured and respected by all political parties. Otherwise democracy has been slapped in the face. If this is allowed to go on we are nothing short of a caper republic.
posted by Hondoq at
1:55 PM
