28th October 2002

Environment Minister should support the environment

- Reports about golf should be published

Tourism Minister Michael Refalo has once again made public his support for golf courses. His words only remind us of what a weak environment minister we have and of how he never defends the environment when our coast and countryside are at stake.

Francis Zammit Dimech should start to lobby for sustainable development. The setting up of commissions will never be enough. If Malta needs a golf course, and this has never been shown by any study that we have seen, then the government should push for a golf course on the most suitable site given Malta’s circumstances.

Minister Refalo referred to the setting up of a committee to evaluate proposals for golf courses. We ask minister Refalo to publish the terms of reference of the study, the names and positions of those that were chosen to sit on the committee, and the criteria for their choice. We call on Minister Refalo to publish the evaluation, as these have not been seen by the general public.

It seems as if those supporting golf courses have something to hide by continually referring to studies and reports that never see the light of day.

It is completely unacceptable that we have an environment minister that, time and again, fails to defend the environment when controversial proposals affecting our countryside and coast are made.