“I think an environmental disaster is wrong, immaterial of the type of project or who the applicant is.”
This is what Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono told MaltaToday in reaction to allegations by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was discriminating between Church and tourist developments.
“Whether it is a hotel or any other amenity, it is of no difference. The government set up MEPA to evaluate if projects proposed would in effect cause an environmental disaster and decide accordingly,” Debono said.
Bishop Grech’s homily on the feast of the Assumption last week raised eyebrows for his mention that hotels were being favoured over “spiritual sanctuaries, cemeteries and projects to enhance accessibility to churches”, which he claimed were being denied permits “because some people are arguing they are an environmental disaster.”
He was referring to the proposed Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, the Nadur cemetery, the Xaghra cemetery and a car park next to the Cittadella bastions.
All of these projects lie outside development zones and in sensitive environmental areas.
But none of these projects have been turned down by MEPA so far. The controversial Nadur cemetery was actually approved despite being considered “objectionable in principle” by MEPA’s planning experts. Works were later stopped by the courts after farmers filed for an injunction, claiming the cemetery would pollute the natural springs used to irrigate their crops.
The most sensitive of the Curia developments is certainly the 100-car park earmarked for 6,000 square metres of land next to the Citadella bastions. MEPA has demanded archaeological, geological and traffic impact assessments.
Minister Giovanna Debono would not express her opinion on the projects, insisting her opinion was beside the point since it’s MEPA’s role to evaluate them. “We stand by the decisions of the authority. That is why government set up the authority in the first place.”

MLP makes political capital
Gozitan Labour MP Justyn Caruana however said she was not sure on which developments the Bishop spoke about during the 15 August homily – instead welcoming the fact that Grech had spoken in favour of the environment.
In the past days, the Labour media have exploited the Bishop’s declarations without shedding any light on the developments proposed by the ecclesiastical authorities.
A leader in maltastar.com praised Grech for exposing “the moral situation in the country in a manner which unites the religious and material aspects…”
“He also questioned how permits are issued for several types of development but not for the needs of the Church implying very clearly that the Church is being discriminated against and also that the persons who push for certain types of development are not always doing this in the best interest of the community,” the leader continued – praising Grech for his “very clear, unequivocal statement about the Church’s commitment to defending what he called the country’s environmental heritage.”

Greens demand commission
Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, has been a vocal critic of the Nadur cemetery and has now called on the Gozo diocese to establish an environmental commission similar to the one in the Maltese archdiocese.
Another option is for the Maltese commission to take responsibility of both dioceses.
AD’s spokesperson for Gozo said it was imperative for the Gozo Curia to take action, in the face of various Church applications from parishes and organisations, outside development zones.
“AD sees the need for the Gozo diocese, together with other interested entities, to be vocal about issues that concern Gozitans deeply, such as the pending issues of Ramla l-Hamra, Hondoq ir-Rummien, and Ta’ Cenc, as well as other issues such as the exaggerated prices of properties for first-time buyers and young people,” Victor Galea said.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt