Isn't Mellieħa Bay a public beach?

I usually avoid popular beaches, especially on Sundays; however, one fine morning, my wife persuaded me to go.

Having arrived at Mellieħa Bay at 7.30 a.m., I chose a spot near the water line. No signs or umbrellas were set up.

As I was putting up my umbrella, a person with a spade in hand came up and told me that I had to move. I refused, to which he politely replied "no problem".

As time passed, the beach around me was covered with empty sunbeds and umbrellas.

Two men, a Maltese and a Briton, came up and said they had to move me to another part of the beach. I asked why, and the Maltese said he had a concession for this part of the beach and paid good money for it.

I asked him to show me the written document. The Englishman then interjected that I was damaging private property (I had dug a two-foot hole in the sand for my umbrella) and told me rather threateningly:"What would you say if someone damaged your car?". Still, I refused to budge and insisted on seeing the concession permit.

The odd couple left, with the Maltese saying something to the effect "we tried to reason, now we'll try something else".

A couple of hours later, a man in a straw hat, who identified himself as the beach manager from the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), arrived accompanied by a girl, whom he introduced as his supervisor.

He informed me that I must move, and that he came instead of the police. I replied that I would welcome the police at this stage, as I noticed that my son was getting uncomfortable and afraid. For the umpteenth time I asked to see the permit and some sort of identification document. Needless to say, he had neither.

By this time I thought I was on Candid Camera. At about 11.30 a.m., I left the 'friendly' blue-flagged beach, as planned.

A word to the mayor of Mellieħa: do not let thugs/beach bums ruin the show. I ask the relevant authorities: where is law enforcement?

I repeat, there were no signs indicating that I had entered a private beach, and I only occupied a small empty space on the beach.