Il-Marsaskala Residents’ Network (MRN) tixtieq tikkjarifika l-pożizzjoni tagħha fid-dawl tad-dikjarazzjoni pubblika maħruġa mill-Kunsillieri Lokali tal-Partit Nazzjonalista ta’ Marsaskala nhar it-12 ta’ Novembru , li talbu garanzija bil-miktub mingħand il-Ministru Chris Bonett li l-proġett tal-fast ferry mhux ser jagħmel ħsara lill-Bajja ta’ Marsaskala, kif ukoll dwar l-istqarrija maħruġa fl-istess jum mill-Ministeru għat-Trasport, l-Infrastruttura u x-Xogħlijiet Pubbliċi dwar il-proġett tal-fast ferry.
Pożizzjoni tal-MRN
Fl-istqarrija maħruġa mill-Ministeru, issir referenza għal-laqgħat li l-Ministru kellu ma’ entitajiet differenti dwar dan il-proġett; laqgħat mal-kunsilli lokali u numru ta’ NGOs. MRN kienet preżenti fi tnejn minn dawn il-laqgħat, kif diġà semmejna waqt il-press conference li għamilna nhar l-1 ta’ Novembru.
L-ewwel laqgħa tista’ tiġi deskritta bħala waħda ta’ informazzjoni mill-Ministru dwar deċiżjonijiet li biċ-ċar kienu diġà ttieħdu. Dakinhar ukoll, il-Ministru sema’ l-oġġezzjonijiet u s-suġġerimenti tagħna, iżda minkejja li dawn jirriflettu l-fehmiet ta’ ħafna Skaliżi, s’issa ma ġewx ikkunsidrati.
Fit-tieni laqgħa, fejn konna preżenti flimkien ma’ rappreżentanti ta’ numru ta’ NGOs oħra, il-Ministru reġa’ għadda informazzjoni dwar deċiżjonijiet li kienu diġà ttieħdu. Meta ġie mistoqsi sabiex jippubblika r-riċerka u l-istudji li hemm dwar il-proġett tal-fast ferry, qal li se jikkunsidra dan. Sa issa dan għadu ma seħħx. MRN qatt ma kienet involuta fit-tfassil jew fil-pjanifikazzjoni tal-proġett tal-fast ferry.
Fl-istqarrija il-Ministru semma li hu ser ikompli jiddjaloga mar-residenti u l-partijiet interessati kollha. Djalogu jfisser li ż-żewġ naħat jiġu mismugħa u meqjusa. Għal MRN, konsultazzjoni u djalogu veru mar-residenti jseħħu meta r-residenti jkunu parti mit-tfassil ta’ kull proġett li jolqot il-lokalità tagħhom mill-bidu nett.
L-Impenn Tagħna
MRN tixtieq tiddikjara b’mod ċar li jekk għall-kunsilliera lokali tal-Partit Nazzjonalista ġewwa Marsaskala l-istqarrija tal-Ministeru hija biżżejjed biex iserrħu moħħhom, għalina - bħala residenti li nemmnu fl-identità u s-salvagwardja naturali ta’ Marsaskala - linka fuq karta mhix biżżejjed. Dan mhuwiex każ ta’ min ħa pożizzjoni jew min “għenna” b’dik il-pożizzjoni. MRN tinsab ferm diżappuntata bil-mod kif qed tiġi politiċizzata l-kwistjoni u għalhekk se tkompli tinsisti fuq:
Trasparenza,
Konsultazzjoni ġenwina, u
Impenn serju lejn l-ambjent u l-komunità.
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The Marsaskala Residents’ Network (MRN) would like to clarify its position in light of the public statement issued on the 12th of November by the Nationalist Party Local Councillors of Marsaskala, who requested written guarantees from Minister Chris Bonett that the fast ferry project will not cause harm to Marsaskala Bay, as well as in relation to the statement issued on the same day by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works regarding the fast ferry project.
MRN’s Position
In the statement issued by the Ministry, reference is made to the meetings that the Minister held with various entities regarding this project; meetings with local councils and a number of NGOs. MRN was present at two of these meetings, as we already mentioned during the press conference we held on the 1st of November. The first meeting can be described as an information session during which the Minister presented decisions that had clearly already been taken. On that day as well, the Minister heard our objections and suggestions, but although these reflect the views of many Marsaskala residents, they have not been taken into consideration so far.
In the second meeting, where we were present together with representatives of several other NGOs, the Minister once again provided information about decisions that had already been taken. When asked to publish the research and studies related to the fast ferry project, he replied that he would consider doing so. To date, this has not happened. MRN was never involved in the drafting or planning of the fast ferry project.
The statement continued by saying that the Minister will continue to engage in dialogue with residents and all stakeholders. Dialogue means that both sides are heard and taken into account. For MRN, true consultation and dialogue with residents take place when residents are part of the planning of any project that affects their locality from the very start.
Our Commitment
MRN wishes to state clearly that if for the Nationalist Party Local Councillors of Marsaskala, the Ministry’s statement is sufficient to reassure them, for us - residents who truly believe in the identity and natural safeguarding of Marsaskala - ink on paper is not enough. This is not a question of political positioning or of who may have “helped” by taking a certain stance. MRN is deeply disappointed by the way in which this issue is being politicised, and will therefore continue to insist on:
Transparency,
Genuine consultation, and
A serious commitment towards the environment and the community