Gozitan farmers say they are being kept in the dark over the provision of essential services because of the siting of a new courthouse.
Animal breeders and milk producers have complained to this newspaper that while plans were announced for a court building in an area between Victoria and Xewkija, they were not informed about the future of the abattoir and the cold store plant there.
“While we have nothing against a new courthouse, we should also be informed about the future we face. The site identified by the Gozo Minister is where we take our milk products to be stored and where the abattoir operates,” one farmer said.
The site identified by the Gozo Minister is where we take our milk products to be stored and where the abattoir operates
“All we need is an assurance that we will still be getting our services and, if they are to be relocated, where will the new facilities go,” another remarked, complaining that questions put to the Gozo Ministry remained without any replies. Questions on the matter were sent to the ministry by the Times of Malta but these too remained unanswered.
Following years of talks, drawing up of plans and geological studies costing hundreds of thousands of euros, the Gozo Ministry last year obtained the necessary permits to build a state-of-the-art courthouse with an iconic design in central Victoria.
A call for tenders was made for the first phase of the project but all was put on hold after the last election when Anton Refalo was replaced by Justyne Caruana as Gozo Minister. Dr Caruana suspended the tendering process and drew up new plans to have the new courthouse located in an area away the Gozitan capital’s centre.
Dr Caruana announced only last week that an area where the MDP milk factory used to be had been earmarked for the new Gozo building project. She launched a month-long consultation process leading to the final decision being made.
She said the project could not happen as originally planned because the area on which a development permit had already been approved by the Planning Authority lacked the right geological features.
The ministry did not reply when asked how much money had already been spent on the now defunct project and what the relocation of the abattoir and the cold stores would cost.