Tomorrow, we’ll march just like we’ve marched with other NGOs in 2006, when George Pullicino opened the floodgates for the development industry to take over. We’ll march like we’ve marched in favour of the farmers in Baħrija, or against the Verdala Golf Course. Like we’ve marched for the rights of women, migrants, and the LGBTI community.
Tomorrow we march against the DEVELOPMENT LOBBY that has taken over the country, enslaving the AUTHORITIES with the end result of leaving our citizens homeless and traumatised.
But tomorrow is not our protest.
It’s the protest of the residents of PIETA’, the residents of MELLIEĦA, the residents of ĦAMRUN who have been hit by their respective tragedies.
It’s the protest of the people of PEMBROKE as we continue to resist the monstrosity of Silvio Debono’s oversized, hideous monument to himself, which will bury a town and with it the standard of life of its residents.
It’s the protest of the people of XGĦAJRA and MARSASKALA, threatened by the ugly head of land reclamation – where Sandro Chetcuti’s lobby gets to dump its waste in the sea, to build marinas and properties we don’t afford.
Tomorrow it’s the protest of the people of ŻEBBUĠ, threatened by Michael Attard’s tower.
Tomorrow it’s the protest of the people of L-IMBORDIN, NADUR, MANIKATA, and XEMXIJA, threatened by a senseless underground tunnel to Gozo which will see excavation works happening under their houses – and we know how good we are at excavations in this country.
Tomorrow it’s the protest of the people of MOSTA, NAXXAR, SWATAR, whose open spaces are under threat from development and zoning applications – one of which carries the name of Sandro Chetcuti himself.
Tomorrow it’s the protest of the people of GŻIRA, SLIEMA, SWIEQI, ST. JULIAN’S, caught under a merciless, permanent construction siege.
Tomorrow it’s the protest of those who are fed up with the arrogance and BULLYING of the development lobby. It’s the protest of those who are fed up of ODZ fuel stations. It’s the protest of those who are fed up of PLANNING CORRUPTION and the utter disrespect of planning policies. It’s the protest of those who are sick and tired of being ignored by the planning boards, which constantly favour developers over residents.
Tomorrow, it’s your protest. If you’ve had enough of the development lobby and their arrogant control over the islands, walk with us. Otherwise, typing away at home won’t help you. See you at 6PM, ST. LUKE’S HOSPITAL, GWARDAMANĠIA
