Construction 'still going on in tourist areas'

Construction work is carrying on in tourist areas at the height of the tourism season despite a supposed ban, Labour's tourism spokesman Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca charged yesterday.

"What takes place in Malta is unfortunately different from other countries, where building sites are closed off for health and safety reasons, and even decorated so as not to mar the surroundings," Ms Coleiro Preca said.

She said tourism operators were disappointed by the current state of affairs and concerned over its impact on the industry.

The continuation of construction works meant not only that regulations were being blatantly ignored but that there was no law enforcement by the authorities, she said.

The Labour spokesman said the rules needed to be improved and enforced, particularly in tourist zones.

Comments

Emanuel Bajada (on 20/8/08)

LN 295 /2007 is just a sick joke on the decent citizen of these Islands.

Franco Farrugia (on 20/8/08)

I fully agree. If we respect the tourist industry, we should do everything in our power to ensure that we offer our guests a clean environment. And we know that this can never be achieved with construction taking place!

Many would claim that stopping construction in tourist areas would mean workers without a job. Well, I have no doubt that the conglomerates and companies in charge of construction sites in tourist areas have other means of keeping their workers occupied.

And anyway, as I said before elsewhere, when the hunting period begins, you will see many construction sites empty, with workers off to pursue their 'sport' in the countryside!