I refer to the construction of the fish-packaging factory adjacent to a Natura 2000 site at Selmun, close to the garigues famous for their traditional threshing floor activities until the recent past.

I have already amply expressed myself in the press against the inevitable ruining of the site’s natural and cultural heritage and the environmental problems it poses for the future.

This is what happened with the building of the hotel up the hill, the destruction of the Mistra fortress, the destruction of the original internal architectural features of the palace, and so forth.

However, at a press conference by the Mellieħa council it was stated that the fish factory will be included in an Mġiebaħ heritage trail to be generously funded by the EU.

Needless to say, I have nothing against this trail and I will never have enough words to praise and thank the Mellieħa council for such an initiative. After all, many years ago I suggested such preservation projects at Selmun and other areas.

But with all due respect, I must say that the projected fish-packaging factory and the resulting activity generated at that site have absolutely nothing to do with the nature of the heritage of the place. Not only do we have the present dilapidated condition of Mistra Battery and its surroundings to go by to forsee the future at Selmun, but the nature of the fish factory activity has no heritage relevance, no traditional link to the agricultural activity barely two metres away from the threshing sites on the garigues, home of Mediterranean fauna and flora.

I am afraid that conditions I heard mentioned in the Mellieħa council’s conference report (trees, aquarium, and so on), only expose and confirm an honest attempt by the council in its dire need to in­clude cosmetic items to hide the known environmental, natural and cultural incongruity and minimise its inevitable environmental perils.

The factory’s projected inclusion in the heritage trail is indeed simply a poor attempt to somehow accommodate its unrelated presence. The absolute need to camouflage it is indeed very understandable and stresses and confirms its inappropriate location.

However, the Prime Minister himself found no reason to revoke the permit. Everything is in perfect order according to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the environmental assessors, the entrepreneur, and everyone else.

Indeed, no one has done anything out of order in this case. Unfortunately only the voiceless environment is the helpless sufferer.

It is always like that in Malta where space is so limited and environmental sensitivity so rare.

So the show must go on, and of course, Mother Earth keeps on turning notwithstanding, showing (me) once again that it is futile to fight powerful windmills.