Il-protezzjoni tal-ftit art agrikola li għandna mhijiex kapriċċ, iżda responsabbiltà nazzjonali. Ir-regolamenti eżistenti huma raġonevoli bħala linja ta’ difiża kontra pressjonijiet li qed jheddu li jdgħajfu l-potenzjal tal-pajjiż tagħna għall-produzzjoni lokali, is-sigurtà tal-ikel u l-futur tal-biedja. Illum sfortunatament Deputati Nazzjonalisti ppreżentaw emendi għal regolamenti biex idgħajfu l-protezzjoni tal-art agrikola.

Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Carmel Cacopardo qal:”Sfortunatament, l-emendi ppreżentati mill-Partit Nazzjonalista ghall-Avviż Legali 150 tal-2025 imorru f’direzzjoni kompletament opposta. Minflok ma tissaħħaħ il-protezzjoni tal-ftit art agrikola li fadlilna, il-PN jipproponi tibdil li jnaqqas l-effettività tar-regolamenti u jiftaħ il-bieb għal aktar abbużi fuq l-ambjent rurali tagħna. Dan iseħħ waqt li l-PN jibqa’ jipprijoritizza interessi oħra, fosthom iċedi għal pressjonijiet relatati mal-kaċċa u l-insib, għas-skapitu dirett tal-biedja u tal-bdiewa li jaħdmu kuljum biex iżommu l-pajjiż għaddej. Dan hu l-istess partit li ftit tal-gimghat ilu pprova jgħaddina biż-żmien billi ippropona ħarsien kostituzzjonali tal-ambjent.

ADPD-The Green Party jisħaq li l-biedja mhijiex passatemp u lanqas attività sekondarja li tista’ tiġi sagrifikata għall-hekk imsejħa ‘delizzji’ jew l-egoiżmu ta’ wħud. Hija pedament importanti tal-identità tagħna, tal-ekonomija tagħna u tal-ikel li npoġġu fuq il-mejda kuljum. Meta partit politiku jipproteġi interessi ta’ lobby bħal dak tal-kaċċa u l-insib, filwaqt li jdgħajjef il-protezzjoni tal-art agrikola, ikun qed jagħti prijorità lill-ftit kontra l-ġid komuni.”

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci qalet:”Il-PN iħobb jippoża ta’ patrijott u ambjentalist, iżda meta jasal il-mument li juri verament li għandu għal qalbu l-ambjent u l-futur rurali tal-pajjiż, jagħżel li jaġevola lil min jagħmel pressjoni fuqu, anke jekk dan imur kontra l-interessi tal-biedja u tal-ambjent Malti.

Il-pajjiż għandu jkun magħqud fil-messaġġ ċar li l-art agrikola għandha valur li ma jistax jitkejjel bil-prezz tal-proprjetà jew skont l-interessi ta’ lobby partikolari. Il-valur tagħha jinsab fil-futur tagħna u ta’ uliedna stess.”

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When push comes to shove Nationalists work against the interests of Maltese agriculture and the environment

Protecting the little agricultural land we have is a national responsibility. Existing regulations are reasonable as a first line of defence against pressures that are threatening to undermine our country’s potential for local production, food security and the future of agriculture. Today during a press conference, unfortunately, Nationalist MPs presented amendments to regulations to weaken the protection of agricultural land.

ADPD-The Green Party Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said:”Unfortunately, the amendments presented by the PN to legal Notice 150 of 2025 go in a completely opposite direction. Instead of strengthening the protection of our little remaining agricultural land, the PN proposes changes that reduce the effectiveness of existing regulations and open the door to further abuse of our rural environment. In the meantime the PN continues to prioritise other interests, including succumbing to pressures related to hunting and trapping, at the direct expense of farming and of farmers whose work keeps the supply of fresh produce going. This is the same party which tried to convince people of its environmental credentials a few weeks ago by proposing constitutional protection of the environment. What a farce!

ADPD-The Green Party stresses that farming is not a hobby nor a secondary activity that can be sacrificed for so-called “hobbies” or for the selfishness of some. It is an important foundation of our identity, of our economy and of the provision of fresh food on our tables daily. When a political party protects the interests of lobbies such as that of hunting and trapping, while undermining the protection of agricultural land, it is prioritising the few against the common good.”

ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci said:”The PN likes to pose as ‘patriotic’ and also as ‘environmentalist’, but when push comes to shove it chooses to succumb to strong vested interests and the egoism of the few, even if this goes against the interests of agriculture and the Maltese environment.

The country should be united in the clear message that agricultural land has an unmeasurable value, far beyond the monetary value of property, or the false ‘value’ ascribed to it by a particular self-serving lobby. Its value lies in our future and that of our own children.”