Is it really in the national interest?

Is the proposed extension of the development zones in the national interest? If there were need of further proof that the present government does not give a hoot to the national interest, then the proposed destruction of a further 2.3 per cent of our territory should leave no doubts.

The isolation in which the government found itself in as a result of the planned extension of the development zones clearly shows that the whole country is against this initiative. The media, political parties and movements, NGOs, and, indeed, the vast majority of the people living in this country are totally against this further rape of a good chunk of what remains of virgin land. Only those few that stand to gain financially - the land owners, the speculators, and the building contractors - have shown enthusiasm for the initiative.

Unfortunately, we common citizens do not matter because if we did, the government would have first and foremost engaged in proper consultations with all stakeholders rather than so suspiciously rush the whole process through. It is, in fact, the speed with which things are moving that makes the whole issue so astounding. Normally it takes years for the government to take decisions and in certain cases even decades and nothing is concluded, as is the case of the infamous former Opera House, in Valletta. Yet, all of a sudden, the government feels the urge to push this "brilliant" idea through because we are told that the exercise has a social dimension. What a joke - a bad joke I would add.

Does Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi believe that in 2006 the Maltese are as gullible as they were in the 1960s? Doesn't it occur to him that the Maltese are now fed up of his Cabinet's theatricals? Why does he think that, according to a recent survey by The Sunday Times, fewer than nine per cent of the people are pleased with the government's performance while 80 per cent, including many Nationalists, are not satisfied? Will Dr Gonzi now tell us that the new development zones are aimed at making us better off?

Dr Gonzi must believe that his "benevolent" leadership is a God-given grace to Malta and for this very reason he believes that his infallible wisdom is steering the country on the right course. Dr Gonzi must think that citizens are not up to it to have any say in the future of their country and the way his government has acted vis-à-vis the proposed development zones so far proves the point.

The Prime Minister does not accept criticism. His ministers have gone as far as calling certain opponents of the development zones, ignorant and even described them as insane. A poster in the recent pro-environmental rally irked Dr Gonzi to such an extent that he actually put pressure on the organisers and what he himself called the serious NGOs to disassociate themselves from that "incriminating" message. Indeed, the right of freedom of expression is more and more reminiscent of the so-called "golden 1980s".

The irony of ironies is that Dr Gonzi hails from the party that was once a staunch defender of the national interest. Nerik Mizzi and Gorg Borg Olivier, who were indeed true nationalists, people that believed in real democratic principles and who truly loved their country, would have acted in a very different manner.

It is a pity that Malta has to suffer for another year or two the misguided policies of what is probably the least popular Prime Minister in Malta's history and if the projected extension of the development zones will go through, then Dr Gonzi's legacy will be a living reminder of this tragedy.