Government whip Godfrey Farrugia stood on the frontlines of a new environmental movement yesterday to oppose plans to build outside development zones.

“The government has a mandate to ‘truly’ protect the environment, this must be done and I believe it will be done,” the former health minister said, making a reference to the Labour Party’s electoral pledge to respect development boundaries.

The new movement, called Front Ħarsien ODZ, made up of a collective of conscientious objectors and NGOs, gathered some 50 people outside the new Parliament building and urged the government to find an alternative site for the proposed development at Żonqor Point.

Founder members of Front Ħarsien ODZ Michael Briguglio (grey jacket) and Shaun Grech (black shirt). Photos: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Dr Farrugia, who held up a large banner together with other objectors, was joined by his partner and government MP Marlene Farrugia. Ms Farrugia has frequently spoken out against the proposal to build a private campus on green land in Żonqor, however, it was the first public statement Dr Farrugia has made on the issue.

Asked why he decided to attend yesterday’s event, Dr Farrugia said he had spoken out several times in the past, whenever he felt the environment was at risk. As government whip, Dr Farrugia’s main responsibility is to ensure MPs toe the government line when issues boil down to a vote.

Asked how he would vote if the university development came to a parliamentary motion, Dr Farrugia said the government believed in allowing MPs to make up their own mind on issues, however, he felt the issue would never come to a vote.

The government has a mandate to ‘truly’ protect the environment

“As a parliamentary group we believe in pluralistic expression and that is what distinguishes us. But, we are a team and we should find this balance and present a solution. We will find an alternative solution,” he said. Dr Farrugia said one of the best solutions would be to spread the proposed campus across a number of different locations. On Thursday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the government was considering spreading the project across a number of sites in the south.

“Every economic development needs to respect the delicate balance between investment and environmental consciousness. The reality is that Malta is at a saturation point when it comes to development but we cannot turn away investment either,” he said, as a bystander walked past and said that “people need investment to live, not the environment”.

Michael Briguglio, who addressed the rally on behalf of the newly set up Front Ħarsien ODZ, along with fellow academic Shaun Grech said the designated outside development zones should be respected at all costs.

The solution, he said, was to carry out proper studies and find alternatives. He pointed out that a third of buildings in Malta remained uninhabited and these could be better utilised.

He said that never in his many years of campaigning in favour of the environment had he seen such a strong public outcry against a project and he was confident that this wave of support would continue to grow.