The power to stop the Qala project

Published on the Malta Independent by Leo Attard.

Rumours have it that the Hondoq ir-Rummien project will get Mepa’s blessing because leading PN politicians and/or their children are involved in it. Would Mepa dare bite the hand that feeds it? Can anyone confirm or deny this rumour?

And I still can’t see how such a project can be considered an investment in eco-Gozo. Do we need more empty flats? Just look at the Duke complex in Victoria and that of Fort Chambray – both have, as yet, sold no more than four each! In fact, the Villa Rundle project, which was tangent to that of the Duke’s, seems to have been dropped, as I no longer see the billboard of the proposed project. And why should one assume that the Hondoq hotel will succeed when grand hotels like the Mgarr have been demolished to make room for flats. What happened to the Mgarr’s ex-employees? The Hondoq project will only succeed in creating a ‘ghost town’ and the projected yacht marina will turn Hondoq into another Zewwieqa, which is adjacent to Mgarr harbour and its yacht marina and which was once fit for swimming but is now a polluted pool of green alga and diesel.

At the local Qala meeting on Hondoq, Dr Vassallo claimed that sample surveys showed that the majority of Gozitans were in favour of the project – was such a survey biased? Who carried out the survey? Was a survey even carried out? I want proof, not just a person’s word! In fact, the only people who seem to be in favour are those with direct financial interests – building contractors, and those who don’t frequent Hondoq and wouldn’t care less if Hondoq became a cesspool, as long as they build and build; then they can brag that they created another ghost town like Fort Chambray!

I do not blame the realtors behind the project if it is approved; I blame Mepa and the Prime Minister because they both have the power to stop it.

And I would like to ask Mepa one thing: why is it that if I cut a few sprigs of thyme on my private property you can take legal action against me, yet you’re ready to give your blessing to an ecologically disastrous project like this? (Answer: refer to paragraph 1 above)