An urgent appeal to safeguard the Santa Verna archaeological area in Xagħra, Gozo, was made this weekend during an awareness-raising activity attended by civil society groups, historians, and political representatives. Campaigners warned that unchecked development is threatening one of the island’s oldest yet least-protected prehistoric sites.
ADPD – The Green Party chairperson Sandra Gauci argued that Malta and Gozo risk losing their identity if the country’s historical fabric continues to be sacrificed in the name of economic profit. “Those who cannot care for their past should not be entrusted with the future,” Gauci said, warning that a culture of greed is reducing heritage to a commodity with a price tag rather than a shared legacy with intrinsic value.
She described the current construction boom as a process that is stripping communities of both character and memory. Gauci contrasted the traditional Gozitan village streetscape – stone houses, colourful wooden balconies, and social spaces – with the rise of grey concrete blocks devoid of heritage and identity. “If we allow Gozo to become a miniature copy of Malta, we risk losing our soul. Safeguarding sites like Santa Verna is not a luxury – it is fundamental to our quality of life,” she said, calling for an immediate conservation order, detailed studies, an extension of the protected zone, and independent archaeological monitoring.
Momentum chairperson Arnold Cassola also pressed authorities to act, accusing them of turning a “blind eye” to bulldozing that has already damaged parts of the Santa Verna area. He recalled that skulls of at least seven children were recovered from a single burial pit on site, underscoring the site’s unique archaeological importance. Cassola warned that short-term profits from building 18 luxury houses and swimming pools threaten to obliterate what could be a long-term cultural and economic asset for Gozo.
“Just look at how much the Ġgantija Temples have contributed to Gozo’s economy through cultural tourism,” Cassola said, adding that Santa Verna forms part of a rich archaeological cluster including the Xagħra Circle, Ninu’s Cave, and Ta’ Xerri Grotto. “The potential for niche archaeological tourism here is immense, yet we are throwing it away.” Momentum reiterated its demand for an emergency conservation order covering both the Santa Verna site and the surrounding caves, urging the public to support their parliamentary petition.
The debate around Santa Verna highlights broader concerns about the balance between development and heritage in Malta and Gozo. While developers argue for the need to meet housing and investment demand, heritage advocates insist that once cultural landscapes are lost, they are gone forever. The calls for action at Santa Verna highlight a growing consensus that Gozo’s distinct character – historical, cultural, and environmental – must not be eroded in the pursuit of short-term gain.
News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster
Leave a Reply