by Fred Pepper
When I look around me at our beautiful, unspoilt island, I am in constant wonder and admiration for those far-seeing developers, who have made it the paradise it is today.
Indeed, I am forever taking to task those among us who, for reasons best known to themselves, are critical of this great jewel in the Mediterranean that we call home.
What we have here is a unique earthly paradise, hosting some of the greatest building developments in the free world. I get sick and tired of hearing people complain about these structures.
Why can't we appreciate what we have?
Why can't tourists appreciate what we have?
Why can't the rest of Malta be just like the area around Port Tomasso? Here, indeed, are some of the finest quality building developments on the planet. And at, what I consider, very reasonable prices. So why are people always moaning about them?
And another thing... What's all this fuss about the new - sorry - proposed golf course. Of course (no pun intended) it must be built at Verdala. And of course the farmers thereabouts will moan and groan.
Some people have no sense of civic responsibility. Don't those stupid (and I use the word in its loosest possible sense) peasants realise what a goldmine they are sitting on?
Most sensible people understand that, by turning that rather tedious agricultural area into a first-class golf course, they would bring untold wealth to the untold wealthy. But do those farmers care? Oh no, they'd rather see this beautiful island of ours, slip back into an undeveloped quagmire.
What has made the Maltese great is the ability to recognise change for what it is and to embrace it with open arms... even if this does mean losing your livelihood. It is still a great opportunity, and should be seen as such.
And another thing... Why aren't the tourists flocking here in vast numbers any more? We have a great product; indeed we can offer the discriminating tourist, with eyes to see, a great choice of some of the finest concrete structures in the universe... and all at, what I consider to be, very reasonable prices. (Some even have bathrooms ensuite.)
Honestly I am sick and tired of all that negative talk about what some rather stupid people refer to as "those lovely old houses that once lined Tower Road". What you have there today is, in my opinion, infinitely superior... and a good deal more expensive.
Tell me, how many families could you house in those old Tower Road mansions? I'll tell you, far fewer than you can accommodate in an apartment building, comprising of(sic) breeze blocks, aluminium and tinted glass.
That's the trouble with this island. People are always going to be ready to criticise and just sit back and take the profits. (rather like you're doing... Ed) But how many do you hear sticking up for this great island of ours? Not many... unfortunately.
When I was chairman of that prestigious quango: the Malta and Gozo Heritage Touristic Acquisition Board, known by the acronym MAGHTAB, we regularly had to put people right, when they complained that their holiday in Malta had been ruined by 24-hour construction work on the building site next door to their hotel.
We had to explain, more than once, that this minor irritation was necessary to prepare the ground for yet more family hotels, so that yet more tourists could come here and enjoy our great island, with all its great developments... and still greater potential for even more... development.
So come on, wake up, all of you! We're here to make Malta great... and to make a nice fat living in the process.
We are a nation of entrepreneurs: Businessmen of the highest calibre and of unshakeable moral standards. So let's stop complaining about all this attractive concrete and learn to love our island, which I can only describe as... er... great.