Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/731331
2 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2016 News Manoel Island protest garners popular support YANNICK PACE KAMP Emergenza Ambjent kept up their pressure for access to Manoel Island, by holding a protest yester- day, demanding once again that the public be granted full access to the island's foreshore. They were joined in the protest by AD chairman Ar- nold Cassola and opposition whip David Agius. On Friday, members of KEA to- gether with the mayor of Gzira, Conrad Borg Manché, sailed to Manoel Island from Marsamxett in what they described as a "symbolic" move intended to highlight the ab- surdity of the situation in which the public can only access Manoel Is- land's foreshore by sea. Activists camped on the island and early yesterday morning cut through a number of fences that were block- ing access to parts of the island. Speaking at the protest, Andre Callus from Kamp Emergenza Am- bjent, said that the group takes full responsibility for cutting the fence as they had promised to do last week if the gates were not opened. Callus reiterated KEA's asser- tion that by blocking access to the island, MIDI, the consortium that was given a 99-year concession to develop the island, was breaking the law as well as the terms of their agreement with the government. Callus also thanked Borg Manché for reviving this issue after all this time. "During the last 16 years people have gotten used to this situation but now that they have been re- minded they are no longer passive," Callus said. He added that while he welcomed that the government and the Plan- ning Authority had taken steps in court to correct this issue, more pressure needed to be applied by the public as matters can take a long time to be settled in court, and it is imperative that access be grant- ed immediately. This was echoed by Borg Manché who said that he would continue to explore every option that is lawful in order to safeguard the interests of the residents of Gzira as well as the Maltese in general. "16 years is long enough. MIDI have had ample time to do some- thing with this space however they have not done anything because they are not truly interested in this place," he said. Present at the protest was also Pawlu Buttigieg from Moviment Harsien Hondoq who thanked An- dre Callus for support in saving Hondoq ir-Rummien, which he said would have also been closed off to- day had people not rallied together to stop it. He urged Gzira residents to continue supporting their mayor and all those who wanted what was good for the people. "Only in this way can the people enjoy the country's heritage and prevent it from becoming the prop- erty of a handful of individuals," said Buttigieg. After the protest the Nationalist Party said that the issue regarding access to the Manoel Island fore- shore could only be resolved if the Prime Minister were to discuss the MIRIAM DALLI OVER 56,000 pupils and 10,000 educators will be returning to school in the coming days as the new scholastic year gets underway. A total of 31,873 students will commence their scholastic year in primary and secondary state schools tomorrow, together with 3,713 teachers and 2,143 learning support assistants. In a statement, the Ministry for Education listed the number of major infrastructural projects in schools which were undertaken for this scholastic year. The ministry referred to the new €8 million school in Swatar, limits of Dingli, which will cater for 500 students and which will include science laboratories, ICT rooms, a large multi-purpose sports ground and an underground car park for 80 vehicles. A new €8 million middle school was developed in Kirkop, catering for 500 students and will include a history room overlooking archae- ological finds, and two outdoor sports grounds. The school in Haz-Zebbug, once a secondary school, is being com- pletely refurbished and will house a new childcare centre, to open in December. This will also cater for 500 students. The total investment for this project was €1 million. The ministry also referred to a €2.14 million project at the Dun Manwel Attard Young Adult Re- source Centre in Wardija. The project involved the construction of an additional floor as well as the construction of an entire new lec- ture block. "This project means that the school can now cater for double the number of students," the min- istry said. The resource centre is aimed at young people, aged 16 to 22, with intellectual disabilities such as au- tism. The new areas consist of new classrooms, computer labs, Home Economics labs, science labs, a design & technology hub, drama rooms and a canteen. The Sir M. A. Refalo Sixth Form in Victoria has also undergone a €1.4 million investment. The pro- ject covered the construction of an entire lecture block, adjacent to the present school, consisting of seven lecture rooms, two Biology labs, two Physics labs, a Chemistry lab, four ICT labs and a hall. Xewkija Primary School has been completely refurbished, in- cluding the refurbishment of all classrooms, administration offices, toilet facilities and the hall. New classrooms for extra-curricular and supporting lectures were cre- ated. The investment for this pro- ject was €520,000. Another important milestone for this scholastic year is the next phase of the One Tablet per Child project for Year 4 students. Fol- lowing extensive training for edu- cators, the tablet is now in all Year 4 classrooms and teachers and learning support assistants will be using it in a live educational con- text. 56,000 students return to school next week Schools freephone The ministry will also be launching a number of customer care services for the upcoming scholastic year. Parents, students and members of the public can get in touch through the traditional channels such as email (education@gov.mt) and freephone number 1571 (Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm) as well as Facebook: fb.com/edukazzjoni and WhatsApp messaging (99914356). "16 years is long enough. MIDI have had ample time to do something with this space"