When silence means consent

In his play A Man For All Seasons, Robert Bolt makes an interesting point about citizens who do not take a firm stand against injustice. This craven fence-sitting in the name of expediency is thus described by Bolt "... the maxim is qui tacet consentire. The maxim of the law is silence gives consent. If, therefore, you wish to construe what my silence 'betokened', you must construe that I consented not that I denied".

The lack of outrage from constituted bodies in many localities against the rape of our countryside and coastal zones is tantamount to tacit consent.

Regrettably, not all of us are aware that the greatest challenges facing our incipient nation-state are not economical but environmental... how to strike a fine balance so that the rapid "uglification" of our "fair land", that of turning Malta into a desolate wasteland, is immediately reversed.

The pregnant words depicting the apocalyptic state of our islands by Jeremy Boissevain, at a recent seminar, a general indictment particularly against our political leaders, still ring in my ears: "One problem in particular has struck me most forcefully. This is the massive destruction of the environment since you became independent. Your countryside and architectural heritage, your coastal zone, the sea surrounding you.... quite literally have been and still are being raped..... they are being exploited for private gain". This is the unpalatable truth confirmed by the deafening silence that ensued.

The Ramblers Association of Malta, in its massive campaign to open up the countryside and coastal zones in line with international law and Mepa regulations, is monitoring developments in the south of the island. It takes heart from the fact that the Marsascala local council has issued statements airing its concern about the accessibility to the ex- Jerma Hotel foreshore. In conjunction with the Ramblers' Association they are still vigilant about the future of Munxar in St Thomas Bay, sounding the red alert, loud and clear enough for the responsible authorities to stop the rot.

With the extension of the Vittoriosa Waterfront and the rehabilitation of Fort St Angelo, the Vittoriosa local council left no stone unturned to ensure accessibility to the foreshore below this historic fort and a walkway along the moat leading to Kalkara Creek.

Accessibility to Bighi foreshore along Ta' Bruno stores has been assured by the Kalkara local council.

Unfortunately, the commendable stand taken by the foregoing Labour councils has not yet found an echo in the corridors of power of the Malta Labour Party with an unequivocal commitment to open up the countryside, even if it means the acquisition of private paths (not property) for the common good. This silence is also worrying.

That so little has been written by so few about the state of the Tignè seafront is indeed very intriguing. As far as I am aware no statement has been issued by the Sliema local council about the future of the beautiful Tignè foreshore. Can we be given an assurance that, whatever the development in the area, the foreshore remains accessible to all? This deafening silence from the most articulate area in these islands is symptomatic of a terminal malaise displaying the emotional weariness of an impotent nation.

Again, does this silence mean consent? Is Sliema's reputation for eloquence and civic consciousness as feeble as Shakespeare's Iago's self-serving denunciation "reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit, and lost without deserving"?

On several occasions we pleaded with the government to implement the recommendations as outlined in the report by the National Commission for a Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands 2006-2016.

Under section iii Managing The Environment And Resources, the report states inter alia: "The enjoyment of coastal areas depends on accessibility. Some areas are not accessible due to land ownership issues... Measures need to be taken so that access to the coast is possible, whether the land is private or owned by government".

In another section, the report states: "It is, therefore, desirable that footpaths are identified in the countryside and false claims to land title checked. Paths that are abusively closed to the public should be opened".

While RAM welcomes the government's bold decision to declare Ix-Xaghra l-Hamra and beyond as a nature park, it urges the Lands Department to ensure that pathways leading to the foreshore and coastal zone are opened up with immediate effect.

Mr Bugeja is president of the Ramblers Association.