‘My family has worked these fields for 150 years but it could all end soon’

the land he works, but he says this is not a solution because every field is being cultivated with different crops.

“I am a part-time farmer who is close to retirement age. This job is already hard enough and I only do it because it is something that I love. But this is all going to change. I might as well abandon agriculture completely and go to the beach instead,” he says, adding that many other farmers in the area feel the same way. “The entire Maltese agricultural sector will suffer.”

Camilleri has attended several meetings and has never been afraid to voice his concerns. But he is reserved and asks us not to photograph him, explaining that he does not want to make a show of the situation, but is only interested in speaking on behalf of farmers in the area.

He says there is still a lot of confusion surrounding the project plans, and the government has now told farmers that it wants to listen to their concerns. Camilleri, however, does not believe that this will really happen. He mentions that no one has spoken to him about the project up until now. A meeting will be held on Tuesday but Camilleri comments that the permit for the project has already been issued.

He also questions why the idea of boring a tunnel for traffic was deemed unviable when similar projects will be taking place in Pembroke and Santa Luċija. “And why was the proposal to build a raised road connecting the Mrieħel and Żebbuġ bypasses completely ignored?”

“They think they are taking it out on us but in reality the entire country will suffer,” he says.