‘Għajjejtuna’: Residents Flood Aaron Farrugia’s Page With Pics Of Decimated Mature ‘Invasive’ Trees
Backlash over Infrastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia’s reasoning why 30 trees near Fgura needed to be removed has seen his Facebook page flooded with images from the scene – with many questioning whether the action really was justified when you actually look at it.
The story, revealed by Lovin Malta on Friday, saw Climate Campaign Coordinator for Friends of the Earth Suzanne Maas raising the alarm after reporting the scene in Vjal il-Kottoner, a road between Żabbar and Fgura.
Infrastructure Malta told Lovin Malta the trees were removed as they were either “invasive, damaged, or dead trees, all covered by necessary permits, if/when required”; Farrugia himself said he had been given “advice from a botanical expert” for the trees to be removed, noting 90 saplings would be replacing the 30 mature trees.
Taking to social media, Farrugia posted an image of the story emblazoned with a big red FAKE.
“Lovin Malta published this story implying we butchered trees for no reason. Typical spin,” he said.
However, many among the 233 comments under his post at time of publishing just weren’t buying it.
“All of the trees were dead?” asked one man, sharing a before pic of the road.
“There may have been one or two, but surely not all. Dead trees aren’t covered in leaves. Thanks for destroying another road. What’s the value in planting the small ones when you chop down the big ones? We need accountability.”
“I was born where the invasive trees are and they are older than you (or were, before you butchered them). That tree was born before you, and it isn’t true that it was sick, Minister,” said another, sharing a photo of the trunk of the freshly chopped mature tree. “
“You could have at least tried removing it and replanting it… nsomma erġajt waqajt għaċ ċajt għax kullħadd għandu għajnejh f’wiċċu…”
The comments kept coming in.
“Dead and they’re still green Minister? So what colour is alive then… red? Prosit ministru.”
“Those trees have been there since Dom Mintoff’s time.”
“Are you mad, or just living on the moon? X’mejtin l-Alla.”
“Minister, who is this botanical expert you spoke to?”
“Minister, you are invasive, not the trees that have been there for 50 years. You’ve invaded a nation with amateurism and mediocrity, typical of young ministers who went from the każin tar-raħal to a seat of power.”
“If this is a what a dead tree looks like, what does a live tree look like?”
Malta Ranger Unit’s Cami Appelgren also entered the comments section, with advice for Farrugia – and asking for the process over why the trees were removed to be made public and more transparent.
“Just a suggestion – when large trees are scheduled to be removed (which will ALWAYS be followed by public outcry), why isn’t the department responsible putting such info up for everyone to see BEFOREHAND? It would save you a lot of headache. And bluntly, I think the public has the right to such info…”
“And even with ERA permit, doesn’t always make it right… Can the discussion about these trees’ removal be made public to see what the full reasoning was?”
On the ERA permit – on Friday, when the story broke, Friends Of The Earth’s Suzanne Maas told Lovin Malta that the activist group was unable to find a permit when searching for it online.
“Who in today’s age of climate crisis and air pollution can think it is right to remove mature trees? Furthermore, we cannot find a relevant permit online nor on-site by the authority commissioning the works, Infrastructure Malta.”
And when Lovin Malta checked on Friday as well, no permit was found.
However, on Saturday, a permit appeared online, admitting the works targeting “protected” trees.
Independent politician Arnold Cassola did not mince words across two posts he made on the matter on his Facebook page.
“Aaron Farrugia: who is the liar?”
“Farrugia tells us we are all stupid idiots. It is not true that mature trees have been chopped down between Żabbar and Fgura. Aaron Farrugia tells us that if we saw this, it is because we are all stupid. Unlike the illuminated ministru/minestru.”
Lovin Malta obtained the letter advising Farrugia to remove the trees from Horticultural Consultant Peter Calleja.
And you can take a scroll for yourself through Farrugia’s comment section below.
Read the original story below.
View this post on Instagram
Do you think Malta’s infrastructure planning has hit rock bottom?
READ NEXT: Exclusive: AFM Soldier Prohibited From Using Medical Cannabis - Instructed To Take Xanax Instead
