Updated: AD blames government as weevil decimates palm trees - ministry replies

Alternattiva Demokratika has blamed government policies on the importation of trees for the introduction in Malta of the Red Palm Weevil, which is decimating palm trees all over Malta.

"Alternattiva Democratika cannot but put the blame on the government for the way it is handling afforestation and tree protection in the Maltese Islands, without any policy and without any strategy whatsoever.  If one looks at government projects, one cannot but notice the great percentage of imported trees which are being planted.  And imported trees are the source and potential for carrying diseases and introducing new species to the Maltese Islands, as in the case of the Red Palm Weevil," the party said.

Its spokesman on the environment,  Ralph Cassar, said the Red Palm Weevil had eliminated scores of palm trees at Salina, St. Paul's Bay, Mosta, Attard and Ta' Xbiex  and this was "just the beginning" of environmental damage, as more and better established  palm trees would fall victim to this weevil in all parts of Malta.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo appealed to the government to handle afforestation in a professional way, by putting ecological protection before profit motives. 

The Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs said in a counter statement this afternoon, however, that no palm trees were planted as part of government afforestation projects.

The ministry said it was disappointed that Alternativa Demokratika had sought to make political capital from a disease recently discovered on palm trees, without checking the facts.

The ministry said this weevel only grew on palm  trees and could not, therefore, have been imported on other trees such as those used in government afforestation projects.

 Furthermore, most trees used in afforestation projects were not imported but grown in local nurseries.

 Whenever palm trees were imported for government embellishment projects, they were always accompanied by the necessary certificates.

 The ministry said this disease had cropped up in several European countries and the EU's Plant Food Committee in May urged member states to take emergency action to counter it. In Malta, the Plant Health Department was taking all necessary measures to control the weevil. Inspections were being made every day and advice was being given to the owners of palm trees on how to counter the disease.  

 Anybody needing help should phone on 23397205 ot 23397223.