MLP against proposed plans for Għadira road
The Labour Party does not agree with the proposed road at Għadira and believes there are alternatives to the project.
Party leader Joseph Muscat said during a meeting with the environmental organisation Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar that safeguarding the environment was to be one of the party’s principles following the approval of an amendment to its statute.
He said that the party was environmentally worried about this road which would pass through Foresta 2000. And while the Infrastructure Minister said that the road was to be developed, the Environment Minister said that no decisions had been taken.
The party, Dr Muscat said, was also worried about the development of a museum for St John’s CoCathedral saying that the Labour Party had questions about this development.
He referred to the controversy between Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and the Co-Cathedral’s Foundation in which the foundation appealed to the MP not to criticise it. This, Dr Muscat said, was not the way to tackle a debate in a democratic country.
Dr Muscat said it was worrying that these two projects would benefit from EU funds when such funds were supposed to be used to improve environmental standards.
He also reiterated the party’s disapproval to development at the Ramla l-Ħamra and called for the appeal to be refused.
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James Sultana
Nov 29th 2008, 18:40
It takes a Joe Vella to show exactly what the apologists and spin-doctors of the instructed-kind really are: if his party says one thing today and changes its mind completely tomorrow, then it shows that his favourite party "is a flexible Party that is ready to listen and to change if circunstances call for" ... if the other party does the same then its what his similar fellow Mr. Martinelli calls a magnificent U-turn !
I know that one lives in Malta and the other only wants to teach us how things should be done in Malta, but at least you can manage to find out a common version for the same thing, no ?
Joe Vella
Nov 29th 2008, 02:24
@ James Sultana
I could not comment on your remarks address to Joe Martinelli. By your adminision you just proved that the PN is a flexible Party that is ready to listen and to change if circunstances call for. The real loser in all of this has been Joseph Muscat and the MLP. The real Opposition to the Government is turing to be the unions and not the MLP.
Joe Vella
Nov 29th 2008, 02:19
@ l.Abela
EU Funds have been voted for this project well before Austin Gatt came to the schene. So please do not talk aout of ignorance. We Mellehin do not interfere with your necks of the wood so tI kindky ask leave e\us Mellehin to decide what is good for our Village and the sorrounding environment.
Mellieha bay is our heritage, and we know best what is good to preserve the Bay for future generations.
Joe Vella
Nov 29th 2008, 02:15
@ l.Abela
Why don't you all Maltese born foreigner and living in malta leave us Mellehin to look after our own background. The one big mistake was not to stand up to up to you all in the '70's; but then who would dare to do so when you had Mintoff on your side. Things have changed now, We are living in a democracy and have the EU on our side to protedct these rights. So leaves us Mellehin alone and quite frankly go to hell. This is how much we are fed up with your invasion. Il Bajja tal Mellieha is a lovelly song , but i think the original words shoud have been kept Which went to say Mellehin Imkabrind B'din Il veduta tassew Sabiha and not Maltin. Perhaps Blue Riviera Blue speaks more to how we feel about the invasion of the rest of maltese of our natural heritage which is so dear to us Mellehin.
The only trouble we have in mellieha is during the summer when those who have a summer residence have all the disregard interms of garbage collection and specially tas Sellun area is as filty as Broklyn, New York
Joe Vella
Nov 29th 2008, 02:03
@ james Sultana
From what I could getter fromyour post, it quite clear you do not remember what Mellieha bay used to look like in the sixties and early seventies.
Minister, please, I beg you get on with this project for the sake of Mellieha Bay
D.Micallef
Nov 29th 2008, 01:36
@those in favour of new road.
Are you all justifying this road just because of the allocated funds?!?!?!
6 NGO's expressed themselves against this road.
Nobody expects a serious Opposition to agree with the Government all the time, let alone now with the unacceptable arrogance of GonziGattPN
D. Abdilla
Nov 29th 2008, 00:22
To All Anti-Road, Did you at least care to see the document with the propositions? Yes it does make sense
1. Connecting the beach to the valley as it's a scientifical fact that Sand comes from the Valley, as each sandy beach has a valley behind it sustaing it...
2. The Road is not goin to pass trough the marshes, over them or beneath them, neither trough the Danish village.
All the propositions tell of a road way behind them.
lgalea
Nov 28th 2008, 22:15
G .Mangion et al
It is better to lose eu funds (giving us back some of the money which the Gonzipn sends to it every month (presently €140,000 daily, €153,800 daily from 1 January 2009) than lose more land for useless projects that destroy our environment for the benefit of friends or friends of friends (contractors etc).
I Abela
Why bother with him. He just relies on the PN Goebbels propaganda machine. He will only be credible if he leaves Canada and comes to live in Malta which according to him is Nirvana.
Albert Calleja
Nov 28th 2008, 19:41
Politicians on both sides may win or lose EU funds or votes, but we (or shall I say our children?) stand to lose yet another site that should be protected. The existing road caused enough damage when it was done in the 60's. We should just upgrade it with minimum funds. Hundreds of kilometres of Maltese roads are crying to be resurfaced. Let us not waste more land and money. We borrowed both from our children.
I Abela
Nov 28th 2008, 19:32
@ J Martinelli - Why don't you just mind Canada's business and leave us locals minding our own business? X'tahseb?
@ All Pro-Ghadira Road - Can any one of you kindly point us to any scientific study which says that we will lose Ghadira Beach if we don't replace the current road? Did Austin Gatt become a scientist all of a sudden? Unless you point out a scientific study, kindly shut up, your case is lost.
The excuse of losing EU funds for Ghadira Road is lame. Find another one Dr. Gatt.
Anzi while you're at it, why don't you simply apply for EU funds for various other roads across Malta and Gozo which are crying to be fixed. Dr. Gatt, did you ever think about changing the names of our major roads so that they make more sense for their present state? Such as Triq il-Qamar, Triq Air Pockets, Triq it-Turbolenzi, Triq Rollercoaster, Triq il-Vibrations etc etc. And while you're at it, why not add some new traffic signs as well, such as "Caution: Risk of Windscreen Damage in 100m", Warning: Enourmous Pot Holes Ahead". X'tahseb Onorevoli ma jamix wahda sew Austin Gatt.
G .Mangion
Nov 28th 2008, 19:26
@ J. Mifsud
SURE NO DIFFERECE FROM, MLP/LP !!
As always No is thier motto !! Any way this aint no new New's to hear from the Kindergarding Party !!
James Sultana
Nov 28th 2008, 19:23
@ J.Martinelli
U-turns you said? Such as:
Gheddafi and "tal-habbaziz"? - Now we send the President to beg them to let us drill for oil
"Bolla Balla"? - so huge that we increased it !
"Sewage Charge anti-social"? - now it is necessary
"Surcharge system to stay"? - 5 months later it was scrapped
"New car tax will not effect licences of old-system cars"? - yes of course!
"Dr. Gatt publishes final W & E rates. Dr.Fenech justifies" - Dr. Gonzi meets the unions without the other two and changes them
"Govt spends the people`s taxes to change buses" - Dr. Gatt will scrap them since they are not good for us.
Mr. Martinelli - you are as "credible" as a doctor who tells a patient to stop smoking as it is bad for his health and yet he has an ashtray full of cigarette-butts and a lot of smoke in his clinic. The proof of the pudding is in the eating: when YOU COME TO LIVE HERE WE WILL BELEIVE THAT WE HAVE THE HEAVEN YOU ARE CLAIMING. (unless you want to make sure that Canada is on our level before you come here!)
J Busuttil
Nov 28th 2008, 19:02
Come on Dr Sant.....o sorry Dr Muscat please put foward alternatives or else shut you mouth.
This is like the W/E tariffs where no alternative proposal was put foward. EU funds must be used to fight against the global economic dounturn and not be lost. Keep investing Dr.Gonzi for the good of our country.
P.Schembri
Nov 28th 2008, 18:51
Dr. Gatt has suddenly woke up from his daydreaming after Joseph Muscat uncovered their dirty secret that the country has been losing EU funds. Now that time is running out, the Hon. Minister is doing his best to show that he's doing something. But again, what he's proposing is something which is detrimental to the environment on the excuse that Ghadira Bay has to be rescued from certain disaster. But what. Rescue the beach, so that the friends of friends can cantinue fattening themselves, and ruin, the one of the few pieces of untarnished areas in Malta. And what an excuse! If we don't do it, we'll lose the EU funding! Smacks like w&e all over again.
J Martinelli
Nov 28th 2008, 18:46
@ J Mifsud
There is a major difference.'
The ones who automatically say NO to everything usually make magnificent U-turns and change their mind later.
Example: Anti-EU - now (make-belief) champions of EU
Anti-Euro - now agree joining Eurozone was a good idea.
Won Referendum - admit they lost EU referendum
New Beginning - they invite relics of 70s and 80s back!
And the list goes on...
Those who say Yes are the ones whose sight is beyond the tips of their noses.
See the difference?
James Sultana
Nov 28th 2008, 18:44
Those who today are slamming the MLP for not providing an alternative to this project (as if its just the MLP that is against it), DID THEY OFFER ANY ALTERNATIVES WHEN LORRY SANT WANTED TO DO THE SAME PROJECT YEARS BACK? Or when Dr. Caruana wanted to do it in the 60`s?
Also, since many are quoting "parrot-like" what Austin Gatt is saying, can they explain how a road several hundred meters BEHIND the beach will AVOID THE EROSION BEING DONE BY THE SEA CURRENTS COMING FROM THE FRONT ?? If anything, removing the present road will simply uncover additional beach area which will by time be eroded again.
The only ways to keep the beach to its size is to either top-up with sand every year, or to install wave breakers far out in the sea.
Or all this project`s intentions are to reduce the value of Danish Village (a project between the Danish unions and the GWU) and the green boathouses all at one go with the excuse of the TEN-T funds? By the new roads` standard (example Hal Far / Qormi / Mosta) the present Ghadira road is already much much wider!!
mark tanti
Nov 28th 2008, 18:35
If EU funds are going to be lost than I agree that this road should be built with the least possible damage to the env. If Dr. Muscat have alternatives then he should make them public. If it the road is not build and EU funds are lost then Dr.Muscat will say that the govt. is throwing down the drain EU funds. If rhere is money for this road we must use them but very carefully
Maria Falzon
Nov 28th 2008, 18:33
from the comments on previous articles, it seems that everyone except austin gatt (and a handful of yes to whatever you say minister) is in against the proposal of the new ghadira road. Looks like we're heading again to cacophony of contradicting messages from different ministers within the same government.
kenneth Roberts
Nov 28th 2008, 18:25
surprise surprise, the MLP is against what the government is proposing.... well its very easy to say you are against something, but please provide a alternative..... on one hand we can leave the place as is, and risk losing the beach etc.... or on the other, we can sacrifice a small portion of the foresta 2000 land (a small part) possible extend it where the road used to be, and increase the quality of the beach as well as saving it...... and with the amount of other unused sites in malta we can create another foresta 2000 site as well if it is so much of a issue....
J. Mifsud
Nov 28th 2008, 18:12
@ G. Mangion, A. Vassallo
Some say no to everything and some say yes to everything.
ANY DIFFERENCE?
Please point out.
G .Mangion
Nov 28th 2008, 17:56
AS USUAL ! The Labour Party does not agree with the proposed road at Għadira and believes there are alternatives to the project.
What does the mlp/lp agree on ??!!! come onnnnnn Shame on you J.M
If malta loses the E.U funds for this Ghadira road project, you are simply the worst mlp leader, the mlp / pl Ever Had..........
Chris Borg
Nov 28th 2008, 17:56
Alternatives to building villas at Ramla? Should there be any alternatives? What about leaving Ramla as it is?
D. Abdilla
Nov 28th 2008, 17:51
You have got to say that as an OPPOSITION Leader, he is doing his job well!
A. Vassallo
Nov 28th 2008, 17:38
If the leader of the PL Dr. Joseph Muscat believes there are alternatives to the Ghadira Road project, can he be so kind as to give a helping hand and unveil these alternatives?
As far as the development of a museum for St John’s CoCathedral, can Dr. Muscat do the same?
He also made reference to his party’s disapproval of the development at ir-Ramla l-Ħamra. Does he or his party have alternatives, or he is like his predecessor, he says NO to everything?