I cannot believe that the spectre of a Marina complex in Hondoq is once again on the books. Apart from the marina and tourist complex, I now hear that a so-called ‘temporary’ road is going to be built at the end of the Immaculate Conception Sanctuary, passing up to the left in front of the existing block of flats leading to the quarry. According to the Hondoq Project Environment Impact Study (EIS), this is being done in order to minimize the inconvenience of trucks laden with rubble passing through the Kuncizzjoni Hamlet!
Are the inhabitants of Malta and Gozo aware of the destruction that even this little road would do – there are tombs under the street next to the church, a wall constructed with huge stones is also buried there, probably the remains of a pagan temple which, according to local tradition, existed there. Cart ruts can be seen nearby, as well as tombs dating to the Paleo-Christian period that have not yet even been investigated, ancient huts and oval-shaped girna, caves which were once inhabited by religious hermits, the list is endless.
We are not talking about a little stony field for goodness sake, but an area in an Outside Development Zone that is known to be rich in archaeological remains!
I do feel that it is about time that the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage be called in to give an independent assessment of this terribly sensitive part of the Gozo coastline, where so much has already been destroyed. Unfortunately, this department seems to often react at the eleventh hour, or even when it may be too late, thus risking the loss of so many incredible archaeological sites in the Maltese archipelago. Being an independent organisation, the country relies on them to help where others have failed. I a aware that the islands have an enormous wealth of cultural/historical/archaeological sites and that it is simply not feasible to attempt to preserve every single one, but surely, where it is not absolutely necessary to destroy such sites, they should be preserved for future generations.
The Hondoq Project Environment Impact Study (EIS) is most illuminating and the experts who compiled it found many remains in the area where the construction of a hotel, 25 villas and 260 flats has been proposed. These range from archaeological ones, possibly dating back to the Bronze Age, to relatively recent relics from the period of the Order of St. John. The developers’ study also states clearly that there are probably many other archaeological deposits that have not yet been uncovered.
Unfortunately, due to quarrying in the area, the huge sea cave known as Ta’ l-Ghassa, as well as two amazing fougasses used to protect the Comino channel have already been lost for ever. Who knows what other gems will just disappear under the rubble of the road and project? This EIS alone is proof enough that the whole area should be protected as part of a future Maltese National Park system. If this is not done in the very near future, then what is left of this wonderful heritage will be lost forever and not only to the Qala community, but to all generations to come.

Lesley G. Kreupl
Gharb

I refer to Fr George Dalli’s interview (MaltaToday 23 December 2007) in which he stated “obliging priests to be celibate is a wrong discipline within the Church – if I were to be elected Pope I would certainly change it”.
First and foremost, I assume that Fr Dalli does agree that the decisions of every Pope on matters of Discipline are led by the Spirit with a process of deep discernment and prayer by the Pope himself, after wide consultations with learned members of the clergy and lay persons.
Secondly, I would like to refer Fr Dalli to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Ref 1579) which states “all ordained ministers, with the exception of permanent deacons, are normally chosen from among men of faith who live a celibate life and who intend to remain celibate ‘for the sake of the kingdom of heaven’. Called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to ‘the affairs of the Lord’, they give themselves entirely to God and to men. Celibacy is a sign of this new life to the service of which the Church’s minister is consecrated; accepted with a joyous heart celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God.”
Thirdly, I am sure that during his years of committed pastoral work as Rector of the community of Ta’ L-Ibrag, Fr Dalli had the opportunity of understanding better the heavy commitment demanded of a person who is truly devoted to his wife and children and the general well-being of the family. A man and a woman who respect the sacrament of matrimony, likewise, consecrate themselves ‘till death does them part’ with undivided heart to each other for the sake of God’s kingdom.
I would suggest to Fr Dalli to approach the subject of celibacy in a different way. This I suggest he does, by asking married men, whether, if they are given the opportunity to join the priesthood, they would be able to cope with their responsibilities as heads of a family and those demanded by the Church/community without sacrificing one for the other.
My personal answer to such a question, in my capacity as a responsible husband, father and grandfather, will be a definite NO.

Godfrey Leone Ganado
Madliena

Zminijietna - Voice of the Left is calling on all Maltese political parties and civil society organisations to start a national debate on the need of a referendum for the EU Treaty.
The process for a referendum in Malta on the EU Treaty will enable the Maltese public to discuss and decide upon such a fundamental issue that forms part of everyday democracy. It is shameful that the Nationalist and Labour Parties are not discussing the need for such a referendum. The same can be said as regards various opinionists and civil society organisations who had campaigned for a referendum upon Malta’s accession to the EU.
On the other hand, Zminijietna welcomes the fact that Alternattiva Demokratika, Azzjoni
Nazzjonali, Campaign for National Independence, Labour MEP John Attard Montalto and Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil have spoken about the need for the public to decide on this issue.
However, we do not agree with AD on the need for a single European-wide referendum. We believe that each member state is to hold its own referendum, as each member state entered the EU as an individual country.
The attempt by the EU Commission and various national governments – including Malta’s – to stifle debate is unacceptable and is a profound disrespect for democracy and for the verdict expressed by the French and Dutch peoples in the 2005 referendums which rejected the proposed EU Constitution.
The cryptic words of Valery Giscard d’Estaing, who was the architect of the EU Constitution (and who visited Malta a few days ago) show a profound disrespect for democracy. In an open letter to Le Monde and a few other European newspapers a few weeks ago, he said that the EU’s new treaty is the same as the rejected constitution and that it is only the format that has been changed, in order that referendums may be avoided.
Zminijietna – Voice of the Left is supporting various campaigns within the EU for a
referendum on the Treaty, and urged those in favour of a referendum to sign
the petition at http://x09.eu. More info on Zminijietna’s stance can be obtained at www.zminijietna.org.

Michael Briguglio,
PRO, Zminijietna - Voice of the Left

We have heard and/or read that, a particular local council mayor was caught tampering with the electricity meter in his local council’s office;
An other local council mayor as caught making costly personal telephone calls overseas from the telephone of the council’s office;
A third mayor – the three come from the south of Malta – employed a relative with the local council when such practice is considered a criminal offence;
The MLP has been making use of a truck which has been on the road without a valid road licence and without insurance premium;
Fireworks were illegally let off in a public square in Rabat in broad daylight;
Several local councils with labour majority, undertook road works without the necessary permits; and we were assured that the police were actively investigating all the above allegations. Do such investigations have to take that long?

Giov. DeMartino
Mosta

As service providers, notaries have been obliged to keep au courant with developments regarding the Euro and its implications at least for the past six months. In fact, various issues with regards to same have been with tackled by the Notarial council within the legal sector of the NECC framework, with parliamentary secretary Carm Mifsud Bonnici and with various officials within the Ministry of Finance and the Inland Revenue Department over this time, and the results of such meetings have been communicated to the members of the Notariat from time to time by email.
Hence, I on behalf of the Notariat object to the conclusions of the recent article appearing last Sunday regarding the Euro and Notaries, since MaltaToday based its article on a private email sent by the undersigned to its members which was misunderstood by the journalist. The private email sent by the undersigned referred to the fact that the Notarial council had made a recommendation to a Ministry of Finance official so that within the context of calculation of stamp duty tax instead of the words “Lm5 for every Lm100 or part thereof” reflecting a 5% stamp duty on the value of a transfer of property, the words of “5 Euros for every 100 Euros or part thereof” should be accepted as a correct conversion thereof thus reflecting the 5% tax, and which wording would avoid the complications relating to where a transfer price needed to be rounded up to the nearest Lm100 equivalent to rounding up to the nearest €232.94.
The email referred to the fact that although I had been verbally assured that such an amendment should be accepted, the undersigned did not know when the relevant legislation was to be issued and this is what was the “unknown” issue within the context of the email in question. In actual fact the relevant legislation was issued on the 21 December, 2008 and that is before the article which appeared in this newspaper on the 23 December.
Hence the newspaper article in question is an example of sensationalist journalism, based on misinterpreted information, based on a private email, and even had the facts been as incorrectly interpreted, the article should nevertheless not have been published since the fact was superseded by events, namely the issue of the relevant legal notices.
I hope that future blunders will be avoided by appropriate communication with the relevant members of the Notarial Council on any important subject matter.

Dr Roland Wadge
President, Notarial Council

Karl Schembri’s article in Malta Today entitled “Cacopardo shoots himself in the foot” (16 December 2007) applies today’s attitudes and sensibilities to the very different situation prevalent in the mid-1990s.
The 1995 application which I presented on behalf of clients and to which Schembri refers in his article, was the logical conclusion of the use of two weights and two measures by the then Planning Authority. After the development of a garage on adjacent land was sanctioned by the Authority my clients could not understand how this garage was acceptable development whilst that of residential units was not. In view of the Authority’s ambivalent position on development outside schemes my clients were reluctant to accept advice that the site being agricultural was not suitable for development. They preferred to have a formal decision, hence the application.
Contrary to what is stated in Karl Schembri’s article I have not changed tune. I was of the opinion then and am still of the opinion now that the site at Kirkop/Safi was not suitable for development. With hindsight I accept that twelve years ago I could have tackled the matter differently thereby reducing the possibility of misinterpretation of my actions today. The extent of overdevelopment in the past twelve years as well as my recent exposure to the internal workings of MEPA at its Audit Office make it incumbent upon me to actively oppose such developments Outside Development Zone as I have done with regard to the supermarket development in hand at Safi.

Carmel Cacopardo
Marsa

Intellectual jails imprison countless millions. As one spent several semesters studying film, I keep up my interest in this field of communication studies, a field where intelligent debate and different opinions should be the order of the day. An industry where apart from being a venue for money invested with the intention to secure healthy returns is a sector which touches also on several other important spheres such as peoples’ values, the shaping of society’s mentality and how this impinges on what gets legislated, tolerated or outlawed. Filmmakers including Pullman should not be above corporate social responsibility.
After the atrocities of Nazism with its acts against humanity, it is right and proper for countries not to allow the making of films glorifying this nihilistic ideology. Unfortunately too many of the films critical of Nazism concentrate merely on the military defeat of Germany during WWII with not enough emphasis on the unspeakable experimentation and degradation of human beings reduced to wretches by Hitler’s henchmen. Or the similar practices copies and “perfected” in Soviet, Chinese, Cuban, North Korean, Cambodian, Viet Cong and several other countries under the sway of communism. Similarly, in a world cast mindlessly adrift and tending towards nuclear, environmental or biotechnological destruction or what have you, a steadying sane hand pointing out eternal truths, which liberate men and women, from savage passions should be praised not denigrated.
The movie “the Golden Compass” starring Nicole Kidman based on the trilogy of books by atheist Phillip Pullman of England is geared towards kids. For me it is scandalous and merits what the Gospel prescribes for hijacking innocent minds to truth bending. Through this film kids are enticed to denounce God and Heaven but does it in a very subtle way that parents may not pick up on what his true intentions are. In a 2003 interview, Pullman said, “my books are about killing God”.
I am saddened when reading SCS guide that none of this is reported thus not really being a guide on can trust.

J. Bonett Balzan
St Julians

We refer to an article carried in the MaltaToday issue of Sunday 16 December 2007, under the above heading, wherein it is stated that the Maltese film Qerq ‘succeeded in breaking all local box office cinema records leaving even such international mega-blockbusters as Titanic foundering in its wake.’
Whilst we are pleased to inform your journalist Mr Raphael Vassallo, that in this year’s box office chart ‘Qerq places at number 6, he is incorrect in stating that the film has managed to break all local box office records when in actual fact it is ranked at number 68 in the ‘All Time Box Office Chart’.

Charles Pace
Director, KRS Film Distributor

Farsons, Malta’s largest bottler, has announced that it is going to replace its glass bottles with plastic ones, a move that amounts to an environmental sacrilege given its likely impact.
It has been discovered that the world’s oceans are being polluted by plastic waste to a degree never before realised. In the middle of the Pacific in an area known as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, lies a floating garbage patch of plastic twice the size of Britain! And this is just the Pacific. All the world’s oceans contain Gyres, which are basically desert areas in the ocean. Due to their circular currents flotsam and jetsam have been accumulating there for decades.
The Australian environmentalist Ian Kiernan says he will never forget the first time he saw the gyre, saying: “It was just filled with things like furniture, fridges, plastic containers, cigarette lighters, plastic bottles, light globes, televisions and fishing nets.”
It is estimated there are more than 13,000 pieces of plastic litter on every square kilometre of the ocean surface. The United Nations Environment Program says plastic is accountable for the deaths of more than a million seabirds and more than 100,000 marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals every year. A Dutch study in the North Sea of fulmar seabirds concluded 95 per cent of the birds had plastic in their stomachs. More than 1,600 pieces were found in the stomach of one bird in Belgium.
The frightening thing here is that this only accounts for the plastic floating on the surface. It has been estimated that 70% of the plastic entering the ocean sinks to the bottom where it can smother marine life. As an example Dutch scientists recently found 600,000 tonnes of plastic waste on the bottom of the North Sea alone.
Even more frightening is that this plastic is entering our food chain. Plastic by its very nature is made to be very durable. It doesn’t biodegrade like normal waste, but photodegrades due to sunlight into smaller and smaller pieces. Birds such as the fleshy-footed shearwater swallow this in mistake for fish. They then regurgitate it down the necks of their fledglings, killing them.
It has also been found that plastic polymers act like a sponge for resilient poisons such as DDT and polychlorinated biphenyls. Non-water-soluble toxic chemicals can be found in plastic in levels as high as a million times their concentration in water. As small pieces of plastic are mistaken for fish eggs and other food by marine life, these toxins enter the food chain.
So is there anything that Farsons and General Soft Drinks can do to ensure that they do not add to this environmental disaster? The answer is yes; they can stick to re-usable glass or use this changeover to send a message to the world by changing from the use of traditional petrochemical-based plastics to bioplastics. Due to the increase in oil prices the use of bioplastic is now becoming quite cost-effective.
So what is bioplastic? To all intents and purposes, it looks like plastic and feels like plastic and does the same thing as plastic, except that it biodegrades in the presence of heat, moisture and bacteria. So it will do everything that the traditional petrochemical-based plastics will do with the added bonus that when it ends up in the sea or a landfill site it biodegrades. Already supermarkets in Britain, such as Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, have introduced bioplastic packaging, and food companies are embracing the concept.
This is a perfect opportunity for these companies in particular and Malta in general to show that they are a driving force in the world of environmentalism.

James A. Tyrrell
N. Ireland, UK