• Back • Up • Next •
On the 20th. April
a delegation from the Ramblers' Association of Malta made up of the Mr. Lino
Bugeja, Mr. Joe Bugeja, Mr. Alex Vella and Ms Annalise Falzon met up with the
Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi at the Auberge de Castille.
The objectives of the Ramblers' Association of Malta were amplified and the
pitiful state of affairs facing ramblers in the Maltese countryside was
highlighted with visual aids by the delegation. The PM expressed interest,
indeed concern, at the sad state of affairs prevailing mainly due the general
attitude apart from lack of adequate legislation. He emphasised that Maltese
mentality needs to be educated before the natural beauty and rich heritage of
the Maltese Islands could be saved from further degradation, and matters turned
around to start obtaining appreciable improvement.
We pointed out that Malta is the only EU country not to have legislation
covering accessibility to the countryside and he agreed saying that successive
governments avoided it for "fear of stirring up a hornets' nest". Experience has
shown however that such procrastination has brought about only injustice and
abuse, defilement and irreversible damage, indeed loss and extinction.
We put across our belief that legislating to open
up the countryside for all is
the only way to bring about such a mentality change and of ascertaining its
total protection from all forms of abuse. Our axiom stands for the fair and
equitable enjoyment of the countryside by all as a natural safeguard against
excesses of any kind.
The Ramblers' Association is optimistic to go along with the initiative of the
Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Dr. C. Mifsud Bonnici, to
start the process of legislating in this direction in order to remedy the malady
before it becomes incurable.
Indeed this will taking the bull by the horns, and shows determination and
courage in an arena where such virtues are life-saving.
• Back • Up • Next •
