Caravans at Little Armier told to move
Mellieħa local council has served 12 caravan owners in Little Armier with notices giving them until the end of this week to leave the area which they are occupying illegally.
However, Mellieħa mayor Robert Cutajar said it was not clear whether the caravans would actually move since the owners were claiming they were protected under a political agreement reached with boathouse owners in Armier.
Ever since a botched attempt by the government to demolish the illegal boathouses in 1991, the issue resurfaces at every election with boathouse owners reaching agreements with government and opposition on ways to regularise their position.
According to a new by-law that came into force a few months ago, the Mellieħa council could finally take matters into its hands to rid the bay of Little Armier of the caravans that have become a fixture, Mr Cutajar said, adding this was a separate issue to the boathouses.
For this reason, the council last week fixed notices to the caravans giving them a week to vacate the area. However, he said, the owners were insisting they formed part of the agreement reached with boathouses.
Mr Cutajar, who is abroad until tomorrow, said he would look into the issue when he returned to try and find a solution. He said he was willing to give the caravans an alternative site some 300 metres away.
Over the past two years the government has refrained from taking action to remove the 800-boathouse community from Armier despite a crusade by the Land Department against illegal encroachment of public land.
In 2005, Armier Developments Ltd, a company set up by the Armier boathouse community, submitted a development application to turn the shanty town into an organised cluster of beach houses.
However, the application cannot be determined by the planning authority before the Marfa Action Plan is approved.
Until April, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was still waiting for the Marfa Action Plan to be approved by the Prime Minister before any decisions can be taken on the Armier boathouses, which are still in a state of illegality.
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S. Zammit
Jul 6th 2010, 07:34
Jien ma nafx kif jirnexxilhom joqghodu hemm go xulxin bhal kocc tigieg go gallinar. Min jaf x'konfuzjoni. U dawn hadd minnhom ma jmur ghax-xoghol? ghax nahseb hemm at least xi irgiel li jridu jmorru ghax-xoghol. Nahseb aqta kemm jidhlu puliti meta qas hemm facilitajiet decenti go caravan. Dan il-pajjiz dejjem hekk nafu, DEJJEM JAQA BICCIET. Kulhadd isuq kif irid, jaghmel storbju kemm irid, ma jirrispetta lil hadd, jokkupa fejn irid, nies iridu jipparkjaw fejn iridu u isir taghhom. Din ezatt bhal xi hadd johrog xi siggu quddiem il-bieb biex ma jipparkjawlux. Imkien ma tara dawn il-hmerijiet. Aqbad bulldozer u iknes kull mhemm Sur Gonzi KOLLOX POSSIBLI!!!! At leasty ghamel xi haga worth it-taxxi li qed inhallsu..... Nahseb ghal go l-interessi tieghek kollox possibli mhux ghalina cittadini komuni li taghmlulna hajjitna infern biex niehdu roqa u nibnu dar ghal familja taghna fuqha.
Stefan Portelli
Jul 1st 2010, 12:52
1. Caravans Are told to move from Little Armier. So where can their owners use caravans? Or Caravan owners are being forced to scrap or sell their caravans?
2. What About Camping? Where can we camp??? Or Campers have to sell or throw away camps???
What's going on this country??????
Can we come to a solution quickly???
H. Galea
Jan 5th, 12:17
Before deciding to invest and become a caravan owner, the individual must have done his homework ! If not ... then it is his pigeon !
He would have immediately discovered that in order to use his caravan, he would have no option except to utilize land to which he had no legal rights to ! .... in other words he is opting to gamble !
Right ... now he has lost the game .... the gamble is over and he will be expected, like a magician, to make his caravan disappear from sight .... and this under an official directive involving handsome daily fines until he fully complies, and to the full satisfaction of the authority concerned
c.t. busuttil
Jun 30th 2010, 21:57
For the pleasure of one BBQ I need permits, when all these people hog public land for years and refuse to conform. They are being offered land close by, by the way. When will you and I get a chance?
Raymond Sammut
Jun 30th 2010, 06:37
They look like a boatload of illegal immigrants from Sicily. I reckon they should be deported to where they came from.
Don Corleone
Jun 30th 2010, 15:10
Yeah man back to Sicily. Maybe we should make them an offer they just can't refuse.
Roderick Micallef
Jun 30th 2010, 06:12
Dear Mellieha Mayor and Authorities,
Once again we have a situation that can easily be turned into an opportunity, a designated area should be found for campers and caravan owners alike to use. This area should be developed and catered with public amenities, parking, drainage, water and electricity supply and ideally even graded especially if in the future more than one area is allocated.
HOWEVER, any one using this area will have to incur a rate say daily, weekly, monthly or annually depending on the availabiliy. With the funds collected the council / government will be able to have enough funds for the upkeep of the place.
I find it EXTREMELY unfair that normal law abiding citizens like myself have to fork out quite a lot of money to go on holiday or to rent a holiday apartment when at the same time you have tens or hundreds of people occupying public areas illegally without paying a dime.
I sympathize with caravan owners that they need an area for them to enjoy their activities but that doesn't mean that they can occupy anywhere just because they own a caraven or just because they have been doing so for decades!
Joe Bartolo
Jun 30th 2010, 03:01
When would the government own up to its responsibility and make a decision that these people are breaking the law and they should not be there. They are turning these beautiful places into shanty town. These places have no adequate high gene provision such as sewers, and as a consequence they are bringing all sorts of vermin. Do I need to spell out and go on with all the disadvantages these shanty towns create?
It is high time that the government acts now and take decisive action immaterial of any political treats and consequences.
L.Farrugia
Jun 30th 2010, 00:51
@P.Muscat big shame mhux lil P.N. imma lil PL li xi whud min dawn u dawk li hemm anki l-Ghadira fosthom sindki u kunsilliera gew regolizzati. Jiena naqbel li dawn il-kmamar li bidlu parti mill-bajjiet taghna f'Banana republic hemm bzonn li jitnehhew. F'dan i-kaz ma ghandux ikun hemm political lobbying. Zgur li daqs kemm hemm laboristi hemm nazzjonalisti. Għal darba dawn l-individwi meta il-gvern ikun se jiehu passi kontrihom jinghaqdu u jinsew il-politika u l-gvern u kunsill lokali hekk ghandu jaghmelu. Nappella ukoll lin-nature trust u lil FAA sabiex jibdew kampanja kontra dawn l-illegalitajiet jekk veru irriduna nemnuhom li ghandhom ghal qalbhom l-ambjent. Jekk jaghmlu hekk ikun qed jghinu liz-zewg partiti u mhux il-wiehed jew l-iehor. Jason Azzopardi bhal ma ghamilt f'postijiet oħra ghamel hawn ukoll ghati lil poplu Malti dak li huwa tieghu bi dritt. ma ghandux ikun hemm kompromessi ma hadd. Il-ligi ghal kulhadd qeda u ghanda tigi osservata.
Claire Busuttil
Jun 29th 2010, 20:31
Veru li hadd ma ghandu jokkupa art publika, imma allura nahseb ghandu isir post ghal camping, fejn min ghandu caravan jista juzah.....il bahar hu l uniku mezz kif jiehdu gost hafna nies li ma ghandhomx possibilta li ihalsu ghal tip ta divertiment iehor.....u allura ghandu ikollom cans, fejn anke huma jiehdu gost u jidevertu.....ovvjament b mod civili....imma ma ghandux mal hazin jehel t tajeb ux!
j n ebejer
Jun 29th 2010, 20:11
There should be regulations to control the import of caravans and to hav caravans on the roads.
Such regulations should be issued according to the capacity of approved caravan site and the allottment of numbered spaces within these.
The mentality the on this island we caqn emulate what e se on TV should b educated. No , we cannot have all the rights other people have in other countries because living on such an island asks for a different way of life. No we cannot have the right to camp at will because there is no space for all to do that like in other largwer countries.
It is about time our politicians be honest with themselves and their consttuents.
Mr Cutajar Major of Mellieha is a courageous in coming out with such a wish to do what needs to be one.
Irrespective of his political creed or ours, such persons should be supported. Let's have a new generatio of politicians who spell guts to tell all what really needs to be told and do what really needs to be done.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 29th 2010, 18:49
Camping grounds in Malta? Take a drive on any Monday in Summer from the Armier turn to the Point of l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, to the little church near the end of the cliffs. Look to the right side of the road towards the trees and you can see the garbage and debri left by the campers. I suggest you don't walk into these areas because, besides being used as a dump for discards, these grounds are also used as public facilities and they reek of urine and human feces. Pardon the language but that's the only way to explain it all. So maybe we do have camping grounds in Malta but not the kind you are thinking about. OIM
sandro magri
Jun 29th 2010, 18:42
a boat house is there to keep the boat as far as i know and is not allowed to sleep and make bbqs and use it as a residence.
j.spiteri
Jun 29th 2010, 18:00
Mr. Par Idejn Sodi, can you make public the agreement you made with these squatters for x number of decades just before the last general election? It would make some interesting reading in regards to 'Flimkien Kollox Possibli'.
K Vella
Jun 29th 2010, 19:36
Kollox hu possibli basta li ma taghmlux din il-kwistjoni politika bhal ma dejjem issir....
Dak li hu illegali kollu ghandu jispicca, l-art hi PUBBLIKA.
Joe Fenech
Jun 29th 2010, 17:48
What's that? The Palestine flag?
Ron Galea
Jun 29th 2010, 19:33
No NO thats not a Palestinian flag, look closely and you see alot more like it. they are actually discarded English flags thrown away after England lost 4-1 against Germany.
Lino Farrugia
Jun 29th 2010, 20:30
Well wwwwwwa ha ha ha haaaaaaaa. funny haha. i like it.
Joe Fenech
Jun 29th 2010, 17:47
MOVE you .....!!!!!!!
C.F. Tabone
Jun 29th 2010, 17:27
No there is not a legal camping site in Malta, as far as I know. There is a private caravan/camping site, which you can use against a payment. All you have to do is to book a tent in this site or else when the local importer of the tents and accessories organizes the annual fair just go and buy one and you can use it in this camp site, as I have already wrote further up, against a moderate! payment. Or else you can pass the summer camping in one site, and when you are ordered to move, just move to another site. In this manner you can enjoy the sea-side much more than to remain in the same spot all summer
Terrence Gatt
Jun 29th 2010, 16:56
This is getting ridiculous.
With all these national laws, bye laws, health and safety regulations, sanitary regulations, the lot.... and yet the farce at Little Armier and other places by the sea goes on.
This is a problem that the central government problem must tackle without further hesitation.
Come on dear Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi.... do your bit with all the means at your disposal .....give us back the land deserved to be enjyoyed all law abiding citizens and future generations.
Joseph Calleja
Jun 29th 2010, 17:24
This is not just Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi's problem. This is the Health Department's problem, this is a Govenrment of Malta problem. But all keep pointing fingers hoping the problem will go away . Now they want to use the Mellieha Local Council to do the dirty work for them. What about the same infractions happening all around the islands? Oh yes, evict a few caravans and everything will be fine. NO, everything is not fine. If it is legal, then let it sit but if it's not, do something about it. Stop the talk and do the walk. Everything we do in Malta comes down to Politics, Votes and popularity. Sounds familiar? OIM
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Jun 29th 2010, 16:41
Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside
I do like to be beside the sea!
I do like to stroll upon the Prom, Prom, Prom!
Where the brass bands play: "Tiddely-om-pom-pom!"
So just let me be beside the seaside
I'll be beside myself with glee
For there's lots of girls besides,
I should like to be beside
Beside the seaside!
Ruby Jenner
Jun 29th 2010, 16:40
It's not like you have far to travel before you get to the sea in Malta, being a small island so where is the need to make ghetto's in the summer. Surely it can't be much fun living in such a place unless they are expressing empathy with countries in the 3rd world. Are there any legal camping sites with facilities in Malta?
JAFarrugia
Jun 29th 2010, 16:03
These people are just having a good time by the sea, are they on the beach ?? are they building a hotel and taking 1/2 the beach ?? look a little further at whats going on in Malta there are far worse things than a bunch of caravans on the road by the sea. How about the umbrellas taking over 90% of the beach, hotels taking over the coastline or private lidos charging a fortune to enter.
Remember not all can afford a holiday away from the island and this is what they look forward too all year. If they dirty and cause trouble fair enough but jesus people enjoy summer a quit moaning all the time.
axuereb
Jun 29th 2010, 18:37
ipprova mur int b xi caravan magenbhom jew tella xi boathouse ha tara. qas tipparkja magenbhom ma jhalluk ghax johorgu ghalik.mhux sew l-anqas li l-bajjiet minn kmieni filghodu ssibhom ippakkjati bl umbrellel u deck chairs ta xi kuntrattur lanqas.bhalma mhux sew li l-lukandi qed jithallew jiehdu partijiet mill-bajjiet. b din ir-rata ma tantx se jifdlilna fejn nistaw imorru ngawdu s-sajf!
Joseph Calleja
Jun 29th 2010, 16:00
A picture tells a thousand words. These caravans, boathouses, whatever you want to call them look like something very disorganized and out of control. The first thing one might ask is, where does all the drainage go? Where are the public toilets and are there enough toilets to accommodate all these people? Most of the raw sewage ends up in the sea. Please don't argue this point, because you can see this happening all around the island. A lot of people use the sea or the fields around as a public convenience and that is not what I call healthy. This problem about boathouses, caravans, umbrellas etc comes up every Summer and after the Summer, everything settles down. In all fairness this is not a Mellieha Local Council decision, but a government decision except as we have seen in the past, the government is asleep with the enemy and refuses to make a decision one way or the other. It's unfair to ask a boy to do a mans job, the law of nature does not allow it. That's like sending David to fight Goliath, it worked in the fairy tale story but not too realistic in real life.
r.cutajar
Jun 29th 2010, 15:51
The politicians are indeed Generous! With People's money and property!!
Get a REFERENDUM ---------SHAME and disgusting at such reasoning by none other than Yours Truly Who is /are supposed to LEAD a country
And be quick with IT fullstop
John Harrington
Jun 29th 2010, 15:46
Welcome to Afghanistan by the sea. all that is missing are the taliban, oh sorry they are swimming with their clobber somewhere in little Armier. John Harrington LONDON
R.Thomas
Jun 29th 2010, 19:41
Whats the difference between the taliban and the Maltese then John, escept that the taliban wear a turbin and the Maltese well....i leave that to your imagination. Richard Thomas (also from London on Holis).
Tony berkeley
Jun 29th 2010, 14:57
What is the point of passing law and setting up bye-laws, if those who are expected to enforce the haven't got the guts to follow through and put the law into practice. Anyone who break the law will then have the right to a judical judgement. I say send in the bulldozers and clear out the beaches for the sake of the ordinary beach visitors and in the name of tourism.
schembri ml
Jun 29th 2010, 14:35
My son son just bought a the flat in the middle of Zabbar for 120,000euros.No sea view,no parking space and still has to furnish and complete the habitat.Yet these selfish people,build ,construct to their likings on the property of the whole nation on the foreshore of the Maltese Islands,restricting excess to the sea,as if they own the place.Where is my family plot by the sea shore? I am entitled for one after 40 years of paying taxes or shall we vacate these illegal boathouses (mansions) so that the families that had never the chance could occupy these dwellings for a deserved break by the sea? free of charge.
J Farrugia
Jun 29th 2010, 13:08
remove this shabby town of illegality. decent citizens demand that these caravans are removed together with all shanty towns which have risen out of nothing. Otherwise there will be retribution on all political parties. We cannot allow this illegality to continue. Remove all shanty towns from our country. They have no rights more than we do.
Joe Morana
Jun 29th 2010, 13:05
Malta is riddled with sqautters. Frankly the authorities 'must' answer to the teh law abiding taxpayers why such shameful and socially unjust precidament has been allowed to prevail for so long with impunity. The ideal or 'promise' to sanction such abuse is ubsurd to say the least. Favoring law abusers, is charcteristic of a banana republic and not to an EU member State. Is this this leap in the quality of life that we were promised ?
Political parties may wish to note that, it is not only sqautters that have the right to vote!!!.
Andrew Camilleri
Jun 29th 2010, 13:00
This is all Lawrence Gonzi's doing. Just to gain a few more votes for his party, he'sold' public land to these people. He even entered a secret agreement with them which we came to know about only after the elections. And in the meantime, he was assuring us that he was taking MEPA under his wing, giving the impression that the environment was going to improve. Well, as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. When it comes to the enironment, Gionzi does not care one small bit. Do not trust Gonzi any more.
Ron Saliba
Jun 29th 2010, 14:16
Well, i bet my bottom euro that if Gonzi decides to go back on his word and tries to remove the boathouses, Joseph Muscat would jump to the defence of the 'owners'.
That is the state of politics in Malta
Charles Muscat
Jun 29th 2010, 12:58
It's a shambles.
John Micallef
Jun 29th 2010, 12:49
This proves what i always said, that the local councils are serving only as a spring board to the Local government.
I cannot understand on which grounds Jason Azzopardi has n0t take action.
From the other end i hope that they are not politically protected as well, as this will be very bad. As it will be like other thinks in the country. Same propblem but it action taken depends on the coloir of your eyes.
Hope not
Anthony Briffa
Jun 29th 2010, 12:45
And what about the shanty town beneath Upper St. Elmo, which greets the cruise liners with the thousands of tourists on board as they come into the Grand Harbour?
K Vella
Jun 29th 2010, 12:27
Well Done, what about St. Thomas Bay and Gnejna, it looks more like a mandragg rather than a beach!!!!
Is this Brand Malta?
Anne Farrugia
Jun 29th 2010, 11:41
Armier or Little Armier - whichever looks worse than a refugee camp!
axuereb
Jun 29th 2010, 11:41
Prosit lis sindku li qed jipprova jghamel xi haga biex jitnehhew dawn il-hnizrijiet.dawn bliema jedd jokkupaw art pubblika u dan xi ftehim ghamlu mal-gvern?caravan mhux boathouse, u jekk nigu f dan anke l-boathouses ghandhom jitnehhew.jien ipparkjajt mal-genb ta wahda minnhom u hareg ghaliha s sid u qalli biex ineehihilu ghax hemm tieghu!!!!!!!Kelli nnehija ghax ma ridtx nixpicca b xi girfa fuq il-karozza.Ghamlu kul m hemm taghhom.Min jaf kieku kulhadd jithajjar jghamel bhalhom u ntellaw xi boathouse jew imorru b xi caravan, ha naraw jilqawniex b idejhom miftuhin!
B Sant
Jun 29th 2010, 11:59
ahna hekk ghamlulna wkoll - konna qedin ikkampjati iktar minn 200 metur il boghod minnhom. Cemplu il pulizija u gew ikeccuna. dik Vilta!!!!! il gustizza tipprotegihom
onlyinmalta.com
axuereb
Jun 29th 2010, 12:59
ghax il-kampijiet eyesore imma s-shanty town li jghixu fih huma le ghalhekk keccewkhom ta!ara Bahar ic-caghaq nehhewhom, imma dawn hadd ma jista ghalihom.
M Mealclaff
Jun 29th 2010, 11:40
I Quite like these Caravans etc.
It does give the place an Earthly Feel They also keep Local prices down for drinks, ice cream,grocery etc as shopkeepers,bar owners dare not rip them off.
I've seen letters on Here saying These caravans etc are an Eyesore...
EYESORE !!! you got to be joking !!
The Eyesore in malta is the Disgusting Ugly Buildings going up in every Nook and Cranny.
The Eyesore is the Hundreds of Beach Umbrellas covery 99 percent of every beach.
Dont talk to me about Eyesore in Malta !!
Carmel Gatt
Jun 29th 2010, 11:37
Why will I not be surprised when these people, illegally occupying public land, will be told that they can stay after all, and that it was all a mistake asking them to move? The mind boggles: 800 squatters occupying land unlawfully reaching an agreement with both the government and the opposition to continue with their illegality. Go away, please, all you MP's will you?
S. Calleja
Jun 29th 2010, 11:28
I am also concerned about the umbrella bases left there during the evening. They are like pieces of metal jutting out of the sand a foot or so, and may go quite unnoticed especially when it's dark. They can be fatal if somebody is unlucky enough to fall on them. I don't know why the authorities never took action against this danger.
Mr.Brian Jones (wales)
Jun 29th 2010, 19:38
I think the authorities are waiting for a n accident to happen, if god forbid a tourist or a child falls on them at night and a metal bar penetrate the flesh or any part of the body, ir eyes, heart and lungs, they will no doubt be taken to the cleaners and it won't be peanuts i can assure you.
Aldo Busuttil (not the Singer)
Jun 29th 2010, 11:25
Can I have a piece of land and turn it into my Summer Vacation spot. I am willing to do my best not to ruin the environment, but please give me a piece of land for free.... I think everyone would like to have it... so please or make it legal for everyone or remove them (no matter which colour - red or blue)... If yo do not loose the votes of the occupiers you will lose those of the non-occupiers... YOU SEE MY POINT.... So remove them (they are occupying my - as a citizen - land) or else give a piece to everyone.
l fenech
Jun 29th 2010, 11:16
Kieku nithajjar nitfa caravan hemm faccata tal-bahar ghas-sajf.
maria curmi
Jun 29th 2010, 11:10
DEAR JASON AZZOPARDI CAN I BUILD A B/HSE AT ARMIER NOW ? OR MIN HATAF HATAF DIK LIGI TAL JUNGLA
M Vella
Jun 29th 2010, 11:09
those green shacks in mellieha bay should be removed too,they are ruining the most beautiful bay in Malta.that green wooden slum site should go
victor vella
Jun 29th 2010, 11:49
The shabby look is noit what really annoys me, it is the drainage going into the sea which is really a problem as it is in Armier.My kids both got an ear infection the next day after swimming at it torri l abjad, and the doctor to whom I took them told me immediately where they swam.Are we waiting for a cholera case to look into the matter? The easiest way is to lay a drainage system and make the illegal buildings owners pay for it at commercial rates.The sum would surely run into hundreds of thousands euros and they would simply abandon the houses, and enact a law stating that these illegal houses cannot be sold or passed onto others in any way even by inheritance.That way withen a few summers the place would be down without any problems and fighting.
R.Abela
Jun 29th 2010, 11:07
The Donkey told his tail ( how ugly you are). HAha ha ha haha!
jjzammit
Jun 29th 2010, 10:56
Kif ahna il maltin dejjem inmaqdru ,aqtawa daqxejn,,dejjem tridu issibu xitghajdu,ghax ma tgharawx il gelusija li ghandkom ghal haddiehor,,ahjar tgharaw kemm ghawn villel u stabilimenti ta panpaluni mibnija bla permess.
Robert Cuschieri
Jun 29th 2010, 11:16
Jien la ghandi villel u wisq anqas dghajjes, caravans jew boathouses.
Jien niehu lit-tfal tieghi jghowmu fuq bajja imma l-anqas dik ma tista taghmel issa ghax kif tasal l-ghadira fid-9 ta fil-ghodu issibha mimlija umbrellel u deckchairs vojta minghajr ma jkunu mikrijin u ma ssiebx post fejn toqoghod bit-tfal.
Nasikurak li din miex ghira izda bzonn li ngawdi naqra bahar u ramel, xi haga li ghandi kull dritt bhal kul cittadin iehor.
B Sant
Jun 29th 2010, 11:17
din mhux gelosija - int jekk jidhol xi hadd id dar jisraqlek xi haga tghir alih? jew tirrabja ghalih?
Ruby Jenner
Jun 29th 2010, 10:55
What a mess! It seems in Malta one can erect any structure on the sea front and live in it. How selfish are some people that they make this lovely Island such an eyesore.
Anthony Agius
Jun 29th 2010, 10:53
This shanty town ala South Africa shouldnt be there , it makes us look like a 3 rd world country , no wonder the boat people when they come here , they feel right at home , Please get some legistlation with a bit of teeth and somebody with enough political strenght to get it thru parlament ,,
It begs the question to be asked if any political favours or votes it translates into if left there ad infinatum.
Maria Buttigieg
Jun 29th 2010, 19:29
Did U say makes LOOK like a third world country, friend with pcitures like the one above in the article we are a third world country, at least in the eyes of the people outside these shores, who never been to Malta o even ever heared of Malta.
I Abela
Jun 29th 2010, 10:50
Since when can a Prime Minister or a Minister break the law? These boat houses where built illegally and nobody is above the law in a modern society. People can't do illegalities and Politicians can't sanction such illegalities. So such a political agreement is illegal and should be stopped at once.
S. Grech
Jun 29th 2010, 10:46
And the Marsascala council proposed to have a caravan site in St Thomas Bay. Instead the government has earmarked one in Zonqor Point area. The difference between one council and another.
THE MELLIEHA COUNCIL FOR THE PEOPLE , THE MARSASCALA COUNCIL FOR THE CONTRUCTORS.
Two extremes not only where the localities are situated but moreso the mentality of the respective Mayors and councillors vis-a-vis their residents.
R Cuschieri
Jun 29th 2010, 10:42
Will the Mellieha Local council do something about Ghadira Bay ?
Last year it was hell. Every Sunday morning by 9 o'clock, the beach was riddled by umbrellas and deckchairs placed there by the operators eventhough they are not being used by any customers.They just spread them around and "illegally occupy" the beach.
Is this legal? Will the Mellieha local council do something about this problem this summer and will they ignore certain "illegalities"?
maria curmi
Jun 29th 2010, 10:33
DEMOLISH ALL ILLEGAL BUILDINGS IN ARMIER MARFA GHADIRA JASON AZZOPARDI ? TO MANY FRIENDS OF FRIENDS IF IT WAS A LABOUR PARTY CLUB YES PAJJIZ TAL MICKEY MOUSE
desiree falzon
Jun 29th 2010, 10:29
If ever this farce of a 'town', including both caravans and 'boathouses', is swept clean and Armier restored to former natural glory, I might start believing in this country's legal system again.
A schembri
Jun 29th 2010, 10:13
JAI HO!!!!!!!! SLUMDOGS MILLIONAIRE. LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT FROM MUMBAI.AND APART FORM ILLEGAL, UNHYGIENIC. WHERE DO THEY DUMP THE DUMP? IN THE SEA THEY SWIM IN? JUST LIKE THE CARAVANS AND TENTS IN ST THOMAS BAY ZEJTUN
victor rodenas
Jun 29th 2010, 10:10
Nothing will happen,...........too many votes involved.
p.azzopardi
Jun 29th 2010, 10:29
Hey Teacher leave those kids alone.
H Galea
Jun 29th 2010, 10:04
It is a good advert, MTA should use it for tourists to camp in the area. My suggestion, confiscate and destroy, this is how we maltese learn, otherwise these eye catching caravans will be used again in other locations. This is down grading the way maltese live.
How about hygine in the area!!!!Does the EU know, perhaps we get first position in how maltese live.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 29th 2010, 09:49
Quote: 'a political agreement reached with boathouse owners in Armier.'
Perhaps the Maltese people should be informed what this 'political agreement' is all about, who made this 'agreement' and whether such an 'agreement' is binding by law. Let us see the strong arm of the law here as well, in removing this slum-like area, or are the Police flexing their muscles only at twerps belonging to Graffiti?
B Sant
Jun 29th 2010, 10:48
perhaps they should get us in a referendum adn sew what the whol population thinks abt them
E. Abela
Jun 29th 2010, 09:47
What about those horrible green shacks at Mellieha Bay ? Are they untouchable ? Do they pay any rent for building on the land, do they pay water & electricity, etc. If not, then some people are more equal than others and the whole situation is quite unfair.
Charles Micallef
Jun 29th 2010, 09:39
What an eyesore.....why is it that the authorities uses two weights and two measures for re-gaining abused public land?...Is there any Government who is prepared to enforce the law equally to all...or are they afraid of losing support, hence politics comes before EQUAL JUSTICE ?
karmenu Vella
Jun 29th 2010, 09:38
Dear Mellieha Mayor (1) what is illegal is illegal, who in this country going to put his foot down and demolish all boat house always trying to find excuses.It is your business Dr Jason Azzopardi to do it if you are not afraid of votes. BY putting away some chair in sliema was not a big deal.
Stephen Koludrovic
Jun 29th 2010, 09:38
Looking at the picture it does remind me of the Rom camps one sees in Italy and Spain.
R. Mifsud
Jun 29th 2010, 09:36
This issue should be delt with, and with great urgency and close a chapter that has been on the agenda for far too long. A caravan site should be found, so no one will have any excuse that there are no facilities available. This way no one will be breaking the LAW!!. I hope that no one pretends that the site should be by the sea.
As for the boathouses (summer residence,) I wish that I broke the law and made government land available to my family. If the government will legalize an area for this community, I wonder whether other maltese citizens who did not built these structures on the best govt land, will be given the opportunity to do so.? After all we are EQUAL CITIZENS. But I already know the answer to that and I know that it would be impossible.
I hope that for the sake of our beautiful but limited coastline a solution would be found to get rid of the sore eye that is visable when going to Armier.
B SAnt
Jun 29th 2010, 09:24
it cant get any worse. I bet that the removal of caravans is coming from illegal boat house owners that want the place totally for themselves and wnat unobstructed views. To add insult to injury the politicians accomodate their requests and make the concrete builders a legal insitution
Shame on this country and its politicians for relaying a message of anarchy to the whole society.
Shame shame shame!!!!! Just for a handful votes
Peter Murray
Jun 29th 2010, 08:57
Just like MEPA all you have to do after breaking the law is apply retrospectively and all will be sanctioned and your needs accommodated.These people should be prosecuted and not protected.This whole area resembles a refugee camp and it appears as though illegal immiigrants have just landed there(the illegal part is true at least)..But what about the public beaches in Armier bay?These two pretty beaches are almost virtually taken over by the people selling sunbeds and umbrellasalong witth all the associated paraphenalia attached leaving little or no space for the general public.What is the Mellieha Local Council or the government Lands and Property Division doing about this misappropriation(theft) of public land?
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Jun 29th 2010, 08:46
if the illegal dumpsite in Armier is allowed to exist for the simple reason that they have a strong lobby, then to me it means that there is really no reason for any other illegal development to be removed, whether small or big.
The Armier boathouses are still being speculated, re-sold and the squatters benefiting from what should be public land. Whatever justification is made to hide the truth, this is a blatant abuse and is also a serious precedent to other similar cases. The argument of me and not them easily arises in such cases and honestly I can't see how even the most honest of politicians can answer this!
I seriously hope that the Marfa action plan does not consider giving the Armier boathouses some sort of legal title! Well we all know that these action plans are worth less than the paper they are written on! The Naxxar action plan also stated that once the Trade Fair ceases its operations from Naxxar the land cannot be used again as grounds for the fair but only for other developments - Mepa officials have recently stated that these action plans are not enforceable!
John Pace
Jun 29th 2010, 08:34
There we go again.
First and order to remove, then pressure mounts and the mayor is being quoted as saying:"he was willing to give the caravans an alternative site some 300 metres away''.... a move to appease and indirectly sanction this continued rape of public land.
I ask: on what grounds is one allowed to continue to occupy land illegally? Can the competent authorities be firm on this issue once and for all? The rest of the law abiding population is watching in earnest of how this FARCE is going to develop.
J oatmon
Jun 29th 2010, 08:16
What an eyesore this sorry collection of caravans and tents etc is.
If this government had any backbone it would table a law in parliament to clear all illegal buildings, rubbish, livestock, dumps, truck storage areas etc., from public land. Once approved that would be it for these 'illegals' once and for all time.
However knowing the lack of backbone with this government - it will not happen, and the 'shambolic muddle through' situation will continue with these eyesores etc, I can imagine what the tourists think of this disgracefull situation.
P Muscat
Jun 29th 2010, 08:07
This looks like a BafanaBafana slum area and not Malta.
Big shame to the occupiers, the Local Council, the local authorities and the PN representatives for having allowed this to happen in Armier!!
Anthony Briffa
Jun 29th 2010, 08:04
How can these families honestly say that they are enjoing themselves living by the sea under these conditions? For sure they must be living without proper hygienic conditions, privacy and confort. This is not the way to holiday. No standards at all.
Joseph Galea
Jun 29th 2010, 09:13
Yes Mr Briffa , don't forget that those living conditions and the land they are occupying are provided for free. :)
This explain why some of our fellow Maltese citizens are ready to live such a low life as long as they are getting it for free.
If I for myself will be offered a 3 month holiday for free in these living conditions I will surely be offended.
N.Lawrence
Jun 29th 2010, 08:02
Common theft is illegal. By virtue of the fact these people have stolen government property, it seems pretty obvious what the remedy is.