MEPA removes concrete structures at Kemmunett

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday said that last Friday it removed some concrete structures and a gate which was barring the entrance to a cave on Kemmunett.

The cave was being used as a store for deckchairs and umbrellas.

The authority also removed jetskis that were being rented without a permit from the scheduled part of Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo and an illegal boat house at Mistra.

The operations were carried out with the assistance of the administrative law enforcement police and the Gaia Foundation.

In a statement, the authority referred to the quay at Blue Lagoon in Comino that was also removed on Friday.

It said the quay had been built without the required permits a year ago. It had issued an enforcement notice in October but works continued.

On Saturday, Stephen Farrugia MEPA assistant director, development services, said the quay had been built by the firm Alliance Cruises about a year ago.

Captain Morgan Cruises gave a news conference on Saturday to say that if the MEPA demolished the quays where the company's pleasure cruise boats berthed at Comino, the livelihood of their 80 employees would be jeopardised.

The authority yesterday said Comino was a natural reserve of utmost importance and it was its responsibility to act according to the managerial plan being drawn up by the committee for the management of the environment of this island and to remove all illegal development.

It said that up to now, no enforcement notice had been issued on the quays Captain Morgan referred to, so no action could be taken "at this stage".

The MEPA said it demolished illegal structures according to procedures established by law and only after an enforcement notice is issued to the person or persons concerned.

The complete list of enforcement notices may be found on the MEPA website.

Captain Morgan Cruises yesterday issued a statement replying to the MEPA in which it condemned the way its competitors' berthing places had been pulled down on Friday before hundreds of tourists, adding it was not the right season or moment to do so.

"I appreciate that the authorities are not going to take further action at Blue Lagoon, especially at the berths used by Captain Morgan which were constructed in 1982 on an order of the government carried out by Col. Raymond Cutajar and the army," managing director Michael Zammit Tabona said.

Referring to the authority's plans for Comino, Mr Zammit Tabona said it was most important for the future of tourism that discussions were first held with the main cruise boat companies.

He said Captain Morgan Cruises was ready to contribute, and called for dialogue instead of what he called "dictatorial and arrogant" decisions.

"On the basis of the MEPA's statement, the jobs of Captain Morgan Cruises workers are safeguarded," he added.