Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party expressed its satisfaction towards the re-allocation of Funny Farm to new premises in Siggiewi. “NGOs involved in Animal Welfare such as Funny Farm contribute directly towards such a good cause and definitely deserve the state’s full support. Providing access to abandoned stables by the government is positive news not only for the fact in itself of providing premises but also because we are reusing such a building.” said Simon Galea, AD spokesperson Agriculture & Animal Welfare.
Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “Making the best use of our resources, particularly land, is of extreme importance. The Maltese islands are highly populated and land is a very limited resource which deserves protection and conservation. Re-use of abandoned buildings was always a priority for AD and such policy should be adopted in all sectors, including agriculture. AD stresses the need for the authorities to conduct a stock taking exercise of all abandoned buildings before embarking onto any process of introducing new ODZ policy and design guidelines which unfortunately include new development in arable land. We cannot afford to continue taking up more of our countryside whilst letting derelict buildings lie vacant.”

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Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party uriet is-sodisfazzjon tagħha għall-pass li sar biex il-Funny Farm imur f’post ġdid fis-Siggiewi. “NGOs involuti fil-ħarsien tal-annimali bħal Funny Farm jikkontribwixxu direttament lejn kawża tajba bħal din u żgur li ħaqqhom l-appoġġ sħiħ tal-istat. Li jingħata access mill-gvern għal stalel abbandunati hija aħbar pożittiva mhux biss għall-fatt fih innifsu li ġie ipprovdut il-post imma wkoll għax binja bħal din qiegħda terga’ tintuża.’ qal Simon Galea, il-kelliem ta’ AD ghall-Agrikoltura u l-Ħarsien tal-Annimali.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Li tagħmel l-aħjar użu mir-riżorsi, speċjalment tal-art, huwa ferm importanti. Il-gżejjer Maltin huma wisq popolati u l-art hija rizorsa limitata ħafna li ħaqqha tkun imħarsa u konservata. Li jerġa’ jkun użat bini abbandunat dejjem kienet priorita tal-AD u din il-politika jeħtieg tkun tapplika għas-setturi kollha, inkluża l-agrikoltura. AD tisħaq dwar il-ħtieġa li l-awtoritajiet jagħmlu eżerċizzju biex jieħdu rekord ta’ binjiet abbandunati qabel ma jibdew proċessi ġodda biex jintroduċu politika ta’ żvilupp barra z-zoni immarkati għal bini u qabel ma jifasslu linji gwida li sfortunatament jinkludu żvilupp ġdid f’art għammiela. Ma nistgħu nibqgħu innaqqru biċċiet mill-kampanja tagħha waqt li nħallu bini żdingat vojt.”