Front Harsien ODZ urges Church to reconsider Ghaxaq schools

Front Harsien ODZ has called on the Church to abandon its MEPA applications to construct two Church schools in land outside development zones in Ghaxaq.

“While we welcome the fact the Church will be committing itself to a land protection policy as regards any future development on its part, this project would obliterate more than 77,000 square metres of agricultural land, including rubble walls and mature trees, and is only marginally smaller than the Zonqor Point development,” the FHO said in a statement. “There is still time to save this land, and the Church has an opportunity to give a powerful example to the rest of society, strengthening the environmental conscience of the nation on environmental and also ethical and moral grounds.”

The Front added that the Church should instead construct schools within development zones or negotiate with the government to occupy a presently empty public school.

“We shall remain vigilant of and seek to protect all ODZ indiscriminately,” the Front said, adding that they will soon announce the replies they have received from MPs and party leaders regarding ODZ and next week’s protest on the proposed Żonqor university development.