Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa and Moviment Graffitti are calling for the immediate suspension of operations at the tuna recycling plant in Birżebbuġa.
The two organisations addressed a letter to Dr Miriam Dalli, Minister for Environment, Energy and Enterprise and to Mr Silvio Schembri, Minister for Economy, EU Funds and Lands (read the letter) about the unbearable situation faced by residents and workers around Birżebbuġa, Bengħisa and Ħal Far who are having to live in extremely dire conditions due to the unbearable stench and sewage leaks coming from the new tuna recycling factory owned by Aquaculture Resources Ltd. in Ħal Far. Moreover, roads in a Birżebbuġa neighbourhood have recently been flooded with fish remains and the ensuing stench has made life miserable for the people having to live with it.
This factory has brought about squalid conditions previously inexistent in the neighbourhood of Birżebbuġa.
The two organisations take note of the statement released by the Local Council of Birżebbuġa about a meeting that took place between ERA and Water Services Corporation and appreciate the Council’s efforts to resolve the situation. However, they insist that the action taken by the authorities is insufficient to curb the problems that residents are daily and unjustly having to face because of this tuna plant. They are therefore calling for the immediate suspension of operations at the plant and insist it is back in action only when it can eradicate the odour pollution it is currently emitting.
Għaqda Storja u Kultura Birżebbuġa and Moviment Graffitti insist that the profits of the tuna industry can never come before the health and safety of residents and the environments in which they live. This simple and logical call for action must be heard and if it falls on deaf ears, the organisations pledge to take all necessary action to ensure that the health and quality of life of the people are given the priority they deserve.
F’ittra konġunta lill-Onorevoli Dr Miriam Dalli, Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża, kif ukoll lill-Onorevoli Silvio Schembri, Ministru għall-Ekonomija, il-Fondi Ewropej u l-Artijiet, (aqra l-ittra) iż-żewg għaqdiet elenkaw l-inkonvenjenzi kbar li qed ikollhom iħabbtu wiċċhom magħhom ir-residenti u l-ħaddiema fl-inħawi diversi ta’ Birżebbuġa, Bengħisa u Ħal Far, minħabba l-irwejjaħ insapportabbli u d-dranaġġ li qed tarmi l-fabbrika l-ġdida tal- Aquaculture Resources Ltd. li tipproċessa l-fdalijiet tat-tonn f’Ħal Far. F’diversi okkażjonijiet fil-jiem li għaddew, it-toroq spiċċaw saħansitra mgħarrqa bl-iskart tal-ħut u l-madwar imtela’ bi rwejjaħ tal-biża’.
Dawn l-irwejjaħ kienu ineżistenti fl-inħawi kollha ta’ Birżebbuġa u l-madwar sakemm bdiet topera din il-fabbrika.
Filwaqt li ż-żewġ għaqdiet innutaw l-istqarrija maħruġa mill-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Birżebbuġa rigward laqgħa li saret mal-ERA u mal-Water Services Corporation, u japprezzaw l-isforzi tal-Kunsill sabiex tinstab soluzzjoni għal din il-problema, huma jinsistu li l-azzjonijiet li ttieħdu mill-awtoritajiet mhux se jsolvu din il-problema kbira li intortament ir-residenti u l-ħaddiema milquta qed ikollhom iħabbtu wiċċhom magħha. Għalhekk f’din l-ittra talbu għas-sospensjoni tal-operat tal-fabbirka u saħqu li għandha terġa’ tibda topera biss meta u jekk ikun żgurat li mhux se tibqa’ tħalli l-irwejjaħ li qed tipproduċi bħalissa.
L-għaqdiet qalu wkoll li l-qligħ tal-industrija tat-tonn qatt m’għandu jitpoġġa qabel is-saħħa tagħna u l-ambjent li ngħixu fih. Huma wissew li jekk din it-talba sempliċi u ta’ sens komun ma tingħatax widen, ser ikollhom jieħdu azzjonijiet oħra sabiex jaraw li s-saħħa u l-kwalità tal-ħajja tal-poplu jingħataw il-prijorità li tistħoqqilhom.
