Call for protests over Ta' Cenc (1)

I have just returned from my fifth annual two-week holiday to the wonderful island of Gozo. Sadly Gozo may not be quite so wonderful for very much longer if Victor Borg and his company Real Finanz ag get their way and despoil the beautiful Ta' Cenc plateau with Mr Borg's misguided intent to develop 38 holiday villas above Mgarr Ix-Xini.

I would strongly urge the Ramblers Association of Malta, Din I-Art Helwa, the people of Gozo and any other relevant groups and organisations to peacefully demonstrate outside the appropriate government offices to demand banning Mr Borg from going ahead with his plan.

I would also suggest that any right-minded Gozitans who value their stunning natural landscape should set up peaceful protest pickets outside Mr Borg's Ta' Cenc Hotel. Placards in hand, they should do their best to embarrass Mr Borg in front of his paying hotel guests. Why not distribute politely hand-printed leaflets, explaining this appalling situation to all Ta' Cenc hotel guests as they drive in and out?

I fear that mere letters like this will not save Ta' Cenc. Those who value the Ta' Cenc plateau need to take peaceful direct action now. If that means lying in the path of Mr Borg's advancing bulldozers, so be it (hopefully with TV news cameras present).

The very best thing for the Ta' Cenc plateau would of course be for the Maltese government to compulsorily purchase the area (at a sensible market rate) from Mr Borg and to enshrine its future for all time by turning the area into a National Park, with free access for all and free from any future development or commercial mismanagement. The Ta' Cenc plateau is the birthright of all and not just of Mr Borg. Once the family silver is sold off, it can never be re-bought!