A public protest against the proposed development at Żonqor Point will be held in Valletta on June 20, Front Ħarsien ODZ announced this morning.
“The protest will call on government to abide to the local plan for the south of Malta and reconfirm the designation of the entire Żonqor area as a national park where no development is allowed and where the livelihood of farmers is protected,” said spokesman and academic Shaun Grech.
The movement said the protest was organised by citizens and did not represent any single political party or non-governmental organisation. Civil society and all social and environmental organisations are being invited to participate.
Front Ħarsien ODZ was established last month as a “citizen’s movement” in response to plans to site the new American University on ODZ land at Marsaskala’s Żonqor Point.
Former Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Michael Briguglio said there could be no compromise on building outside development zones.
He called on the government to seriously explore the alternative sites that have been proposed, assessing the environmental impact as well as issues such as transport and public health.
Desiree Attard, the Labour deputy mayor of Marsaskala, said residents were shocked to hear the local council state last week that there was no opposition to the project in the locality.
She said the feedback she had received from residents indicated that people were highly concerned about the environmental and financial implications of the project on the locality.
Also present was PN councillor Charlot Cassar, who reiterated the opposition to the project among those who earned their livelihood in the area.
In a statement, Alternativa Demokratika reiterated its support for the Front Ħarsien ODZ and said it would be taking part in the protest.
AD said it would like to show its solidarity towards the farmers whose land would be taken away, the residents who would be deprived of a public open space that served as a green lung for Marsascala residents and the Front Ħarsien ODZ for the sterling work they were doing to safeguard the few opens space left in the country for present and future generations.