Anglo Xuereb is nothing if not persevering. He is unlikely to get anywhere, though, with his intended appeal against the decision of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to reject his company's application to fashion an 18-hole golf course on the Verdala slopes. Will the country get anywhere over the issue of having or not having more golf courses?

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has nailed his colours to the mast of those who feel that enhancing the tourist product requires more and better golf-coursing opportunities. The Tourism Minister, Francis Zammit Dimech, hot on the heels of Mepa's decision on Thursday to throw out the Xuereb initiative, reiterated that it was government policy that Malta should have two more golf courses, one in Malta, the other in Gozo. The Prime Minister also emphasised that on Saturday.

Joe Brincat, the opposition member on the Mepa board, before casting his vote against Mr Xuereb's application as all the other members did, made his position carefully and appropriately clear. He declared he would be voting against the project on account of the proposed site, not because he was against the construction of golf courses. That may be presumed to confirm the opposition's view.

There remains, therefore, a fundamental division in the country. Those responsible for administering it, the sitting government and the alternative to it, agree with those in the tourist industry who stress that the facilities of the Maltese islands' amenities have to be enhanced with further golfing facilities. Environmentalists and part of the farming community feel golf courses take up or destabilise too much land and gulp down more water than we can afford to be absorbed for that purpose.

There can never be consensus on such an issue. Wherever any golf course is sited it will take up land and impact on the natural environment. Water will be required irrespective of the selected locality, however it is supplied. Unless there is to be a famous perpetual stalemate the matter has to be re-addressed in a focused manner, within a set timeframe.

There should be a fresh authoritative position statement, based on updated research, of the likely beneficial impact on the tourist flow, of providing more and better golf coursing facilities, and of the socio-economic cost in terms of inputs of land, water and disrupting the natural environment. If the balance of considerations confirms that there should be another one or two golf courses, then the proposal made by Minister Zammit Dimech on Thursday, should be taken up. There was more to it than the Prime Minister's subsequent directive to Mepa.

In essence, it was that Mepa itself should identify one or two sites, in line with the Prime Minister's directive. But the tourism minister also suggested that the government should then call for bids to develop them. Implicitly - one should think - the sites would not be attached to any hotels, even if there were any that had or could acquire the necessary extensive space. To let it be otherwise - not only Angelo Xuereb will hold - would not be cricket.

The golf courses can be stand-alone projects, possibly including other amenities. The Malta Sports Club was an early model. One could draw on the experience of other tourist resorts for new inputs.

The essential point is to move on. If it is established that there is a clear need for more golf courses, the proposal by Minister Zammit Dimech should be taken up by the government itself, with proper action triggered to set it in motion for completion within a clear milestone plan. If the balance of considerations tips against more golf courses, then make that clear and say that no applications will be entertained.