Once building commences

Romano Cassar, Naxxar.

Paul Abela of the GRTU (August 17) is highly presumptuous in stating that "Most of these people hardly knew that Xaghra l-Hamra ever existed". If he did not know it existed, this gives him no reason to assume the same lack of knowledge among other people, especially those against the proposed golf course in this site. He is urging the government to "push on with the golf course", without providing any supporting evidence that this golf course will be of benefit to the public.

Conrad Vella (August 17) is also in favour of the golf course, again without any hard facts to support his case, simply hoping that "tourists will come here to play golf". Do we know how many tourists come to Malta specifically to play golf at Marsa?

Will tourists come here for the golf when they can go to Tunisia, for example, and have a choice of at least 10 golf courses, or Tenerife with six courses, Mallorca with 12 courses, not to mention France, Spain, Portugal, Gran Canaria, Madeira, Cyprus, Turkey, etc.?

Mr Vella also says that Alan Deidun "objects to absolutely everything". Mr Deidun is simply vocalising the fears of many Maltese citizens who see this project for what it really is: a get-rich-quick scheme for a chosen few, to the detriment of most of the population.

If this proposal goes ahead, the only benefit will be to those "entrepreneurs", as Mr Abela calls them, who are always ready to pounce and build on pristine countryside, in the process destroying the natural beauty for everyone. We all know what will happen - the golf course is built, along with a club house and other facilities. Then several apartments are built, ostensibly to support the golf course. Then, since the area is built up anyway, and the golf course itself is not making enough money, why not continue building?

After all, the land provides a good foundation, unlike the Maghtab dump site! Before you know it, an area the size of Sliema, one of the last few "wild" places on the Maltese islands, will become just another built-up area. Do we really want this? Don't people see what has happened to most of Malta and Gozo? What will our descendants say of our legacy?

One last question: What is the official position of the opposition on this "project"?

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