Farrugia asks Archbishop to retract ODZ church school applications

Labour MP Marlene Farrugia calls on Charles Scicluna to 'lead by example' and retract a MEPA application to construct church schools on virgin land. 

Labour MP Marlene Farrugia
Labour MP Marlene Farrugia

Maverick Labour MP Marlene Farrugia has asked Archbishop Charles Scicluna to retract a MEPA application to construct two Church schools in land outside development zones in Ghaxaq.

“You have already proven that you are not afraid to take clear stances on issues that you believe to be in the public interest,” Scicluna wrote in her letter to Scicluna. “I know that you can feel the public’s pulse throbbing heavily on issues related to our national natural heritage and our agricultural land.”

“While I don’t have the words to thank you in the names in of the thousands of people who have been educated so impressively by Church schools over the years, I ask you to lead this country by example and promise the public that the Church will not request MEPA to sanction further development in ODZ areas."

Farrugia shared her entire letter to Scicluna on her Facebook wall. 

“I believe that you will do a great service to Malta and the Church if you were to retract the current applications for the construction of Church schools and seek alternative land that is already developed.”

Farrugia added that she has similarly requested Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to guarantee that a future PN government will protect ODZ land.

“The Labour government must be urged to move towards a sustainable form of investment that safeguards our natural national heritage and the precious agricultural activity that remains.”   

Ghaziz Monsinjur Arcisqof,Qed niktiblek dalghodu ghax inhoss li l-kitba ghandha wisq iktar sahha mill-kelma li tixref...

Posted by Marlene Farrugia on Saturday, 30 May 2015

Farrugia against Gozo marina in former quarry

In a separate Facebook post, Farrugia hit out at a recently announced proposal to construct a yacht marina and cruise terminal at a former limestone quarry in Qala.

“Some quarries should never have been given permits in the first place, let alone permits to extend and grow and grow,” Farrugia wrote. “Does rehabilitating quarries justify more and more development in ODZ areas? Is this the new way of rehabilitating quarries? Will this be the precedent?”

She argued that the construction of a yacht marina and cruise terminal, but not of a massive development, were included in the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto.

“We are the same people who spoke out against the development in Hondoq, Chambray and Ta’ Cenc,” she wrote. “What is happening to the Labour government?”