Inhabitants, rather than “creative, responsible and free” citizens, were being churned by the educational system, government whip Godfrey Farrugia said this evening.

Speaking during the adjournment in Parliament, Dr Farrugia shared his disappointment that schools were not fostering a healthy patriotic attitude leading to an appreciation of natural beauty.

This was leading to a belief that money was the most important value.

Quipping that probably the national “cult of stone” could trace its origins to the prehistoric temples, Dr Farrugia spoke about the Maltese “obsession with stone”, a commodity that had almost been destroyed.

This ‘cult’ was borne by the exaggerated size of Maltese homes and the constant shrinkage of open spaces both in the urban and rural areas.

In this regard, the Public Domain Act was “a gigantic leap” that, however, still needed to address the subterranean levels and airspace.  The latter was a common good that had to be safeguarded.

Given Malta’s size, the country had to be more prudent before taking any development decisions, in particular given the emerging ‘interest’ in towers and high rise buildings.

Dr Farrugia thanked environment non-governmental organisations for their commitment and made an impassioned plea for the protection of the country’s natural beauty.

He tabled three photos of a quarry in Qrendi that had developed in a tipping site, “a gaping wound that is ironically next to a quarry rehabilitated into a field”.

“The Qrendi council has been protesting about this situation.  I ask whether there is a permit for this activity that results from the cult of stone.  As a member of the House, I condemn those who believe that they may harm others because they may be stronger.”