2 comments so far.“Qala Creek betrays critical trust at base of Tourism Policy”
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Readers Letter – “The 2012-2016 Tourism Policy (also referred to as a plan/programme or PP) had to go through a procedure called a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening. The outcome of this screening was that ‘An SEA is not required because the PP is unlikely to have significant environmental effects’ and was signed off by Mr Peter Portelli (Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Environment) in 2012.”
“In the document itself, it states in reply to the question ‘Is the PP likely to have a significant effect on the environment’ it says “No.” This is followed by “the policy itself is embedded on a critical trust which relates to the idea that long-term sustainable tourism cannot and should not destroy the assets that compose the tourism offer and which attracts tourists to Malta and Gozo in the first place. It is in our interest to safeguard the natural, marine and human environment and not to allow speculation.”
“The building of a hotel and a tourist village at Hondoq would be allowing both the destruction of assets which attract the tourist in the first place, and speculation – and goes directly against the Government’s own Tourism Policy for 2012-2016. Whichever party wins the election, they should abide by the Tourism Policy established for 2012-2016 – a policy based on – critical trust.”
Jane Carr,
Qala
Jane let`s see if Peter Portell`s signature is worth the paper it is written on.
Thank you for your continuous update on Hondoq .Does this have anything to do with the Green Integrated Community ??
Shame on those who want to ruin Hondoq.
I agree with you totally Jane but I think we should be far beyond the stage of having this continuous battle in order to prevent another part of the islands being destroyed. The Government, and let’s hope that is Labour because the PN have shown they don’t give a damn, really need to take on board the fact that certain areas of Malta and Gozo need legal protection from speculators. What we need is not just a promise that Hondoq will not be developed, this year, but legislation to protect it for future generations.