Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1342444
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 FEBRUARY 2021 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications A call to action: stop construction before it destroys our island THE planned development of a 71-room apartment building on the idyllic stretch of rural farmland on Triq il Qortin has Nadur residents up-in-arms against the destruction of their land. Numerous residents from Nadur and around Gozo have voiced their concerns and disapprovals about the planned construction that will lay waste to rural farmland and upset daily life. Develop- ment is planned on Triq il Qortin, the direct road to the beautiful beaches and bays of San Blas and Dahlet Qorrot. The land has never been developed; it is a prime example of the beauty of Gozo, with numerous vegetation, flowers, and scenery. Tourists and residents alike enjoy the peaceful setting, away from the hustle and bustle of Malta and the busy town of Victoria in Gozo. The Gozitan way of life is still very prevalent in this area and the natural wonders draw many admirers to the idyllic landscape. It has become almost common place to see a construction site boom across all corners of our island. The peaceful land- scape of Malta and Gozo has been deci- mated by incomplete construction sites, closed roads, congested traffic, aided and abetted by a government that favors the rights of developers over the lively hood of their residents. Residents fear that the construction will deeply impact their everyday lives, and evidence certainly supports their fears. Numerous construction sites in Malta that have collapsed due to poorly enforced infrastructure. One of the most heart-breaking cases was that of Miriam Pace of Hamrun, who was killed last March when her home collapse because of an excavation in neighbouring buildings. A worker in Zabbar and a worker in Mgarr also lost their lives due to construction accidents. Many of these sites go unfinished and pose additional safety risks as debris deteriorates from underuse. Construction across Malta has also impacted the cultural history of our island. A 17th century wall in San Anton Palace and an 18th century house near Cittadella were destroyed due to poor construction in neighbouring sites. Some argue that construction will benefit the country by bringing com- merce and additional job op-portunities to immigrant workers. However, the conditions these workers face is akin to domestic slavery; with poor work condi- tions and insufficient pay, many workers are afraid to speak out. These poor conditions were reported to news outlets, yet the workers withheld their names to avoid being fired. Devel- opers are not concerned with the better- ment of workers, the integrity of Maltese heritage, the beauty and importance of the landscape, or the opinions of the residents. They are only concerned with lining their own pockets and pillaging whatever land they can by any means necessary. Across Gozo, developers are infiltrat- ing once untouched areas, like Zebbug, Xlendi and Marsalforn. Before our very eyes, Gozo is turning into a battleground of empty buildings, halted construction areas and closed roads, with no end in sight. Unlike Malta, Gozo simply does not have the space for additional buildings. Traffic on the island has increased sig- nificantly, along with noise and air pol- lution. The significantly smaller island is not equipped to deal with growing traffic and commercial development, and de- velopers are pushing the limits of what the island can take. When discussing development in Gozo, we must think to the future; what will our island look like in 10 years? Will the beautiful landscapes we take for granted be destroyed to make way for new buildings? Will the bird's song and the church bells be blocked out by the sound of con- struction and falling debris? Will dust run through the once clean, sea-tinted air, and will we wake up to the smell of smoke and fumes? In order to preserve Gozo, we must stand up against unnecessary develop- ment that threatens the natural life and daily routine of residents. We must set the precedent for future developers, for codes to be enforced to ensure safe working conditions, and construction restricted to necessary projects only. We must set the precedent for the future, and demand our voices be heard. Catherine Camilleri Nadur