The PN is insisting that Valletta must not be stripped of a centuries-old tree that has been enjoyed by generations, just to make way for a substation.
It was reacting to an article by MaltaToday, which reported that one of the majestic trees on the side of the parvis of St John’s Co-Cathedral is facing the chop. It later reported that the St John Cathedral Foundation has written to the Environment and Resources Authority to propose the transplantation of the tree.
The PN said it calls for “sensible solutions, not easy ones at the expense of our heritage and environment. The PN’s Local Councillors in Valletta strongly oppose the removal of the Ficus tree located in the parvis of St John’s Co-Cathedral to allow the construction of a substation underneath it. Removing this protected tree requires an environmental permit which has not yet been issued by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).”
“While the Councillors understand the need for a substation, they stress that the trees in front of the Co-Cathedral have more than one significance: they are a symbol of continuity in our historic city and serve an important ecological function. Every year, thousands of White Wagtails, birds which sleep in these trees between October and March, take refuge there. Around 15,000 White Wagtails roost in Valletta’s trees annually. This is the same species that was adversely affected when the Ficus Trees were removed in Mosta Square.”
“The removal of even one of these trees would mean the permanent destruction of part of the Co-Cathedral’s surroundings, the loss of a roosting site for thousands of birds, and the further depletion of greenery in our country,” the party said.
While the PN supports any strengthening of our electricity supply, this cannot come at the cost of defacing what is part of the soul of our capital city, it said.
“Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and any intervention must be carried out with care and vision.”
The PN called on the authorities to reconsider the plan and find an alternative solution that safeguards both our heritage and green spaces. The Party believes this is possible through greater creativity and proper planning.
The PN Councillors said they remain committed to a policy that respects history and protects the environment for future generations.
“This is not a decision about a single tree – it is a decision about the kind of country we want to live in.”
The statement was signed by Liam Sciberras, President of the PN College of Local Councillors, Ylenia Montfort, Minority Leader and PN Local Councillor in Valletta, Roberta Bonello, PN Local Councillor in Valletta, Vince Fabri, PN Local Councillor in Valletta.