Momentum chairperson Arnold Cassola took part in an activity today aimed at safeguarding and preserving the Santa Verna archaeological area in Xaghra, Gozo.

Co-Founder of the organisation MALTA-ARCH Dawn Adrienne Saliba, organised a public gathering in Xaghra with guest speakers to advocate for the protection of the ancient landscape surrounding the Santa Verna temple site – “an extremely vital, but endangered part of Malta’s archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage.”

Speaking at the event, Prof. Cassola stated, “the authorities have closed a blind eye to the bulldozing of the archaeological remains in the Santa Verna area. At least the skulls of seven children were recovered from just one burial pit.”

He argued that “it is amazing how the authorities have allowed the Gozitan triad of Joseph Portelli-Mark Agius-Daniel Refalo to continue with their destructive plans in the area to build 18 houses with swimming pools.”

Cassola insisted that “this short term economic gain for a selected few is risking destroying the potential for a much higher long term economic and cultural gain for the community. Just think of the scores of millions that places like the Ggantija temples have generated for the Gozitan economy through foreign tourism along the years.”

He concluded by saying that “the potential of the Xaghra area for archaeological tourism is immense. Within a couple of kilometres, one can find the Ggantija Temples, the Xaghra Circle, Ninu’s Cave, Ta’ Xerri Grotto and…the Ta Verna archaeological area. The potential for niche archaeological tourism in the area is unlimited.”

Together with others, Momentum said it is therefore asking for “an immediate Emergency Conservation order for the whole area of the Santa Verna archaeological area, including the many surrounding caves.”

Also speaking at the event was Sandra Gauci, Chairperson of ADPD, who echoed the sentiments and said that , “those who are unable to take care of their past should not be trusted with your future. If we continue to ignore the importance of our history, we will end up living in a vacuum where we do not know where we came from.”

She stated that “the greed for money that is currently here and promoted at all costs will stop at nothing: deaths of people, history, quality of life and diseases. The best that builds and fattens your pocket.”

Gauci went on to say that, “we have a system where every day you almost hear citizens fighting and working for what the authorities are supposed to do – supposedly we have entities that recognise the importance of our history.”

“There is an immediate need for a conservation order on the area, a detailed study of the area, an extension of the protection zone for Santa Verna, and independent archaeological monitoring of the developers,” said Gauci.

She concluded that, “we need to protect the caves in the area, and to recover and study the archaeological and historical remains that have been found. This is what makes us a community – the capacity to see the value in these things. This is what will also help us have a better quality of life.”

MALTA-ARCH has also submitted a Parliamentary Petition, which it is urging the public to please sign. This can be done by clicking here.

Photos: Momentum

Permalink: Santa Verna: Let’s not destroy a multi-million economic resource – Momentum