Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1536520
INCOMING Lands Minister Owen Bonnici has defended a road that is to be constructed by a private developer on pub- lic agricultural land in Żurrieq. The issue concerns a pro- posed residential development on a private plot of land and a request by one of the devel- opers to have a new road built through a government-owned field in an area known as Tal-Bebbux. Bonnici was handed the lands portfolio last month, taking over from Stefan Zrinzo Azzo- pardi, who was handed the EU funds portfolio. Żurrieq is part of the fifth electoral district, where both ministers were elected from. The field in question has been tilled by two young farmers with a strong connection to the area. The case has angered many in the Żurrieq community. Activists, farmers, and resident groups blasted the Lands Authority for agreeing to terminate the agricultural lease to satis- fy the request made by the private devel- oper in the zoning application. When doorstepped by Mal- taToday outside parliament, Bonnici stated that he had spo- ken with one of the farmers who works the land, but add- ed that there was no change in government's stance on the development. CONTINUES ON PAGE 5 WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 18 JUNE 2025 • ISSUE 945 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Mandatory charge proposed on plastic takeaway containers Variable interest rate of 2.80% * Low contribution Low collateral requirements *Business Lending Bank Base Rate presently at 2.15%, Interest Margin and EIF Guarantee Fee. The BOV SME Grow and the BOV SME Grow Green are funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund with the financial backing of the Republic of Malta under the InvestEU Member State Compartment for Malta. All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, il-Belt Valletta, VLT 1130. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited company regulated by the MFSA and is licenced to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the laws of Malta). Grow green BOV SME Supporting Your Vision CONTACT US Public consultation launched on new rules for catering establishments and use of single-use plastics A mandatory charge on plas- tic-lined food takeaway boxes is being proposed as part of guide- lines to cut down on single-use plastic. Another proposal is to ban sin- gle-use plastics (SUPs) for food and beverages consumed on site. The Environment and Re- sources Authority (ERA) has launched a public consultation on these guidelines, which aim to significantly reduce plastic pollution by SUPs. The consultation is open until 25 July, inviting feedback from catering businesses and the pub- lic before the guidelines are fi- nalised and enforced. The guidelines apply to all ca- tering establishments in Malta that prepare food on site and sell it to customers. CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 Lands minister defends proposed road on Zurrieq agricultural land at Tal-Bebbux