Signatures against landfill presented to Parliament

Submitted by PaulM on Tuesday, 14 October 2003 Page Views: 983

**Mnajdra** submitted by riotgibbon : (Vote or comment on this photo)

Only a handful of protesters gathered outside parliament yesterday to express their anger at the proposed interim landfills near the Neolithic temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra.

Government back-bencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando spaeks to the press outside parliamentThere was no cat-calling or loud chanting; just simple placards saying that in the opinion of the protesters, the proposals were a crime against culture.

Government back-bencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando presented over 10,000 signatures collected against the proposals in parliament yesterday. Speaking to the media prior to entering the building, Mr Pullicino Orlando said that if the proposals went ahead “It would be an embarrassment to my political party, the government and my country”

He said: “All I ask is to imaging the outrage if someone in the UK made a similar proposal to create a landfill near Stonehenge. They would call them barbarians !”

Mr Pullicino Orlando said he did not have any figures, but had the support of some government MPs. He said he hoped the voice of reason would prevail. “I must congratulate and thank those people who collected over 10,000 signatures over the past few weeks. But I there is more support that does not show.”

Asked whether he was planning ulterior action if the petition attempt failed, Mr Pullicino Orlando said that he personally did not have anything planned.

The protesters distributed leaflets to ministers, MPs and passers-by. They said they were against project because they felt it would cause aesthetic and physical harm to the temples and surrounding area.

They also claimed it would contaminate the ground waters. The leaflet said that not enough study had gone into the project and that if it went ahead, it would damage Malta’s most important industry, tourism.

But most of all, the project would give the impression that Malta would give the impression that its people did not care about its treasures. As a final sting in the tail, the leaflet read: “In a few months, our people will take up their deserved place in Europe. We appeal for nothing to go ahead that would embarrass us at such an important moment in our history.”

Mr Pullicino Orlando then presented the petition at the beginning of yesterday evening’s sitting.

He said the petition was signed by residents of Siggiewi, the Qrendi local council, Friends of the Earth, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and residents of Zebbug, whose signatures were collected by Gavin Gulia.

The petition is addressed to the Speaker and to all MPs: it pleads with them not to allow landfills to be created in the vicinity of Mnajdra.

Evarist Bartolo, from the Opposition benches, said he associated himself with the protest.

Source: The Malta Independent 14/10/2003

Contributor Bio for PaulM: Based in Macclesfield, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Hordron Edge. Occupation: Something in waste and recycling.

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