Residents demand immediate removal of campers
Residents of Marsaxlokk said today that they have written to Jason Azzopardi, the minister responsible for lands, and Mario de Marco, minister responsible for the environment, insisting that campers at Maraxlokk must be removed immediately.
In a press conference, the residents said that the fact that the campers had been served with a Mepa enforcement notice to leave Marsaxlokk by the end of the month sent a bad signal and appeared to encourage abuse.
They said campers were occupying public land at Il-Magħluq, il-Ponta ta' qrejten u l-Għar l-aħmar.
Public areas should be returned to the public immediately, the residents said.
The letter was signed by Jean-Claude Micallef.
The residents on Sunday held a protest at Il-Maghluq, Marsaxlokk. The protest turned violent when a group of campers assaulted one of those taking part, punching him several times around the head.
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58 Comments
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J Cauchi
Aug 16th 2012, 17:47
What aboutMarsaskala? Go to St Thomas Bay and you will see for yourselves. Nobody seems to bother in spite ofr the numerous complaints. Marsaskala is totally in a derelict state. The ex Jerma Palace Hotel, the Il-MAGHLUQ, the SANT'[ANTNIN RECYCLING PLANT etc etc.
E. De Marco
Aug 16th 2012, 12:19
Fat chance!
D. Darmanin
Aug 16th 2012, 12:03
Sign this petition NOW to take back our land from all illegal squatters:
https://www.change.org/petitions/malta-remove-illegal-boathouses-from-our-island
Francesca Abela
Aug 16th 2012, 09:48
This inaction is because it is in the south of Malta and the Police have no gts to take action, it it against the law to remain on a public beach overnight as all tents . caravans should be removed after sundown according to a law. Now if people camped at Mellieha bay - would the Police take action??? The mind boggles!! The Police seem quick to take action against nudists or skinny dippers but cannot remove illegal tents from a public beach?? Come on!! Only in Malta do we see these farces happen all over again. If you take a dog to the beach or have a dog without a microchip you are fined more then the campers.
anthony sultana
Aug 16th 2012, 09:03
Last time I had camped on a beach, the police came and told to remove the camp within one hour, or he will charge me with disobedience.This happen in Malsalforn.No MEPA was needed to help the police.At the moment some thing is not right.We need Franco Debono to comment on this situation.
Mr mario aquilina
Aug 16th 2012, 08:58
Some are petitioning the removal of the illegal boat house, while the tents are increasing in their hundreds.
Zero Tolerance is what is needed to sort out the Maltese. Heavy fines imposed, and confiscation of assets if not paid within a set time. Easier said than done, as our government and it's authorities sets very bad examples.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry knows the above, and they abuse the system, as they very well know that they will get away with it.
E Schembri
Aug 16th 2012, 08:53
WHAT A JOKE!
This means that now have the blessing of MEPA to camp (now no longer illegally) till the end of August, that is, till the end of summer!
No wonder the famous five were so happy outside the law courts, and all this for €60.
Well done MEPA, I think next summer I will do some illegal stuff myself and if anyone tries to stop me, a few punches and some violence will surly solve my problems.
In Malta, criminals are glorified while victims are punished.
Joseph Aquilina
Aug 16th 2012, 08:50
I would like to know the opinion of the opposition regarding these illegal camps; I expect them to back the people of Maraxlokk and ask the government for the immediate removal of such camps ...
kenneth formosa
Aug 16th 2012, 09:04
Joe issa titkellimlek l-opposizzjoni dik ghal gallerija qieghda ibqa cert li ma ghandna programm ta xejn ....gvern iggranfat mal-poter oppositizzjoni ghattxana ghal poter wara 25 sena ....ma hemmx x'taghzel !!!
Philip Mizzi
Aug 16th 2012, 08:49
"Zmien il-buffunati spicca". .....Tiftakruwa din is-song? -- Parole parole parole?
Talk is cheap -- action is what makes substance Mr Gatt!
Peter Murray
Aug 16th 2012, 08:45
Also what about the" public areas being returned the public" as demanded by the residents -being enacted just across the bay from this site along the promendade.As access and a clear passage is denied to the public due to all the restaurant street furniture occupying this land
brian farrugia
Aug 16th 2012, 08:34
They should be removed immediately, they are breaking the law, expropriating land and space for thier own selfish enjoyment, to the detriment of others. this should apply to all areas, in Qajjenza one family has taken over nearly half a whole beach!
S. Zahra
Aug 16th 2012, 08:34
end of August == end of summer! haha very funny!!
Mark Demicoli
Aug 16th 2012, 08:01
jilhaq jispicca is-sajf u jkunu gawdew kemm riedu illegalment! Kamp bhal dak izzarmah f'nofs ta nhar, maximum!
Jay Oatmon
Aug 16th 2012, 07:50
I think to avoid this squatting on public land in future there needs to be new legislation.
Malta needs a new law stating (for example|) that a minimum fine of 100 euros per day will apply per vehicle, temporary or permanent structure or tent etc., failure to pay results in confiscation of the said vehicle, temporary or permanent structure or tent, or other property for payment of the fine.
H. Galea (NRK)
Aug 16th 2012, 08:12
Which decent, law-abiding, peace-loving and respectable citizen would dare disagree with you ?
Mr Mario Gauci
Aug 16th 2012, 08:35
In the mean time let it be clearly understood that there is a huge need for a piece of recreational land that the locals can enjoy and make use of for such activities. A designated place that is run professionally, even at an affordable cost. Only than will these illegalities stop.
H. Galea (NRK)
Aug 16th 2012, 09:18
@ Mr Mario Gauci - "such illegalities" would not even start to exist under a watchful administration - irrespective of whether alternative facilities are available or not !!!!
H. Galea (NRK)
Aug 16th 2012, 07:48
Should MEPA's decision reflect its integrity ??????
M. Ellul
Aug 16th 2012, 07:15
I can't help but laugh... summer will be over in a month so they would have packed up their things and left anyway.. Until next year that is!
They should have given them, at most, 1 week.. the least 48 hours and huge fines there after.
mark borg
Aug 16th 2012, 06:59
tajjruwhom min hemm u wahhluwhom multa kbira ...qed nintlew b dawn il kampijiet mal bahhar jikapparraw kullmhemm....
hemm bhalhom wkoll il qajjenza sa zewgt tankijiet tal 45 tefghu fuq il bajja ..incredibbli l-awtorita kemm huma passivi fejn iridu !!!!!
John Attard
Aug 16th 2012, 06:28
They should be removed NOWWwww. If one is breaking the law we cannot be this lenient. Leniency in law enforcement results in a bad message to society. Emma Jason , get a move on , or are these campers from your voting district?
Anthony Camilleri
Aug 16th 2012, 05:41
Sa l-ahhar ta xaghar is sajf jkun kwazi spicca, so what's the point. Ax jkunu ser jitilqu anyway. Biex jibatu it tfal l-iskola (sic!)
Geof Lester
Aug 16th 2012, 01:10
Thats ok come to Birzebbugia in Pretty Bay (not so pretty) we have campers here also.One big eyesore no saniary facilities after 2200hrs.I thought camping on beach illegal
George Lewis
Aug 16th 2012, 00:57
the mepa board who has issued an order for such an extended removal should all resign.In 15 or so days one would dismantle a fifty storey building not a few tents.Not only the courts ha ve become a farce but mepa and other such departments.The message which is constantly being given is "break the law ,we are behind you"We have become the laughing stock not only of Europe but also of third world countries.
Mark Spiteri
Aug 16th 2012, 00:08
What was witnessed by one and all was barbarian. A bunch of bullies rounding up a man who rightly so protested against a group of people who took over "public" property.
The 60 euro fine was a joke, no wonder one of them stuck his tongue at the TV cameras !!!
I am very surprised that the goverment or opposition did not issue a comment about the farce, maybe they do not want to rock the election boat by getting involved (shame on you both).
Giving the "campers" till the end of the month to move out was another ridicilous solution ! Be responsible and show we are not living in the jungle.
Charles Micallef
Aug 16th 2012, 00:07
They filled the place full of scrap metal and canvas, it is worse than Tent City
c scudi
Aug 16th 2012, 00:07
Well done for the residents of marsaxlokk to demand the removal of these squatters.how convenient to tell them to remove themselves by the end of the month!!The season will than be over and they will return to the hovels they come from..so as usual,no political risks taken..how Brilliant is that...It,s the same in Qajjenzia where there are families camped there since the begining of May,taking all the available land..
This is Madness and no doubt they will return enxt year to plague all of us again
Wilfred Camilleri
Aug 15th 2012, 23:58
I guess MEPA doesn’t want to spoil theie summer holidays so they gave them enough time to finish summer off before school starts. MEPA and those responsible for the agency are a joke. Both parties must condemn this abuse. The government because they're in power but the opposition must also condemn these shenanigans. Strangely I haven't heard Muscat say anything about this. Is he afraid of loosing some votes or of upsetting some of his supporters? Just wondering!
Michael Camileri
Aug 15th 2012, 23:45
MOVE THE CAMPERS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!
What is wrong with our system!??
Alfred Spiteri
Aug 15th 2012, 23:40
People don't vote for people like these they don't care about the public places and well done to Mepa for Extended their illegal holiday camp
N Mifsud
Aug 15th 2012, 23:24
What I cannot understand is, why do you need a MEPA enforcement notice to remove something which movable, like a tent or a van? Isn't this against the law and therefore why doesn't the police have legal power to act? We need to distinguish what is movable like tents & cars and immovable - like stone and concrete structures.
Therefore if I drive my car or van down a beach, would I expect to wait for a MEPA enforcement notice to be moved from there?
E Schembri
Aug 16th 2012, 09:50
Very good point!
To my knowledge, the police have the authority to order an illegal camper off. When I had set up a kids camp that was slightly over the allowable height, I was order to remove it by the beach official on patrol. Not even the police were required. So why all this fuss? A few police officers (in riot gear) should be dispatched to clear up these low-feeding squatters!
MEPA should not get involved in such issues as a camp is not a building.
P Bonnici
Aug 15th 2012, 22:58
Why do they have to move by the end of August, why not immediately? It takes a few minutes to take the tent down pack up and leave. It sounds that these campers are there on a permanent basis.
Marie Borg
Aug 15th 2012, 22:44
Good Luck Residents of Marsaxlokk, don't hold your breath.
Joe Vella
Aug 15th 2012, 22:34
In Mellieha there are squatters / campers / 'sejhilhom li trid' that occupied the Armier zone for more than 30 years now.... they even have the church now backing them by doing the Holy Mass (what a mess!!). Not to mention that there is also a feast of our lady at Armier!!.... I call it the feast of the illegal!!
I don't think these people will do the same................
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 15th 2012, 22:23
Imma kif certi nies ma jistghux (jew ma jridux) jifmhu li min ma jaghmel xejn biex ma jitlifx voti, aktar jitlef!
Charles Zahra
Aug 15th 2012, 21:35
Come on PN. Time to stand up and be counted. No if's or but's pleaSE.
mark johnson
Aug 15th 2012, 21:24
So they leave on the 31st and return on sept 1st for the whole charade to start again ha ha.
Philip Mizzi
Aug 15th 2012, 21:21
Il- kampijiet ghadhom hemm .......... In the meantime, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING! Especially EU countries. This is the biggest advantage of being a member state!! We are not just accountable to ourselves anymore. Apparti min hekk, Facebook and other social media is bursting with this whole incident, which is a good thing because what happens in one country is easily seen in real time in other countries! Perhaps whoever is at the helm will pull up his socks and wake up!! The world is changing, have you noticed?
Anki jekk ma ahna niksru l-ebda direttiva ewropeja, zgur li il-gvern u l-MEP's ma jridux li nidru qisna xi pajjiz tat-tielet dinja (mhux ghax ma sirniex) jekk ghad fadal ftit decor fihom!
Who said we do not need 'Big brother'?! I say we need not just one.
Jimmy Magro
Aug 15th 2012, 21:20
I cannot understand why people always write to the Ministers in this perfect Island.
Such decisions must be taken at the Permanent Secretary level since the law imposes the duty on such persons to take immediate action where the law is not being followed.
The intervention by MEPA was uncalled for as the action should have been taken by the District Police Officers.
Remember.....decisions should be taken at their own level ....decentralisation and democratisation.....
Sorry...I was dreaming.
Francesca Abela
Aug 16th 2012, 09:52
Hekk suppost Jimmy, sa fejn naf jien dan kien kaz tal Pulizija li kellhom jhehhuhom mhux il MEPA, imma fin naha t'isfel ta' Malta kollox differenti jsir! Suppost kontra il ligi li tibqa b xi kamp jew struttura ohra fuq bajja pubblika, mur ghamel hekk l-Ghadira ara x'jigri. U alla jbierek go Maraxlokk kollox jghaddi. Vera pajjiz tac cajt bi Prim Ministru bla guts. Fejnu Franco Debono issa? Jew waqa fil Muta?? Jew ma johrogtx fuq M'Xlokk huwa?
Philip Mizzi
Aug 15th 2012, 21:08
In the meantime,
antonia mifsud
Aug 15th 2012, 21:03
Naqbel perfettament li ghandhom jitnehhew mil aktar fis possibbli mhux fl ahhar tax xahar .Macertu nies ma tistax tkun hanin dejjem.Jekk qeghdin kontra il ligi jitilqu mill aktar fis possibbli .Tas sanita fejn qeghdin? Nahseb wara li jitilqu se jaghtuna il blue flag ghal din il bajja!
Thomas Rubicon
Aug 15th 2012, 20:55
How convenient MEPA!
Extend their illegal holiday camp???
No way ... send law enforcement officials TOMORROW and tell them they have 24 hours to leave!
It's not that they have some multistory building to dismantle!!!
Show them who is in charge!
24 hours maximum.
Mr Anton Portelli
Aug 15th 2012, 23:15
Send the police NOW and tell them to leave within One Hour!!!
Rita D'Amato
Aug 16th 2012, 07:45
They already showed them who's in charge!!!!! Shame on MEPA, though can't believe how people on this island breach the law & the police can't intervene!! i really want to have some definition of the word 'ILLEGAL' coz it's interpreted wrongly i suppose!!! Above all given 15days to leave, of course an extension to enjoy all the summer there! Shameful............
Thelma Cilia
Aug 15th 2012, 20:51
Ths is a downright SHAME!! These horrendous structures should not even be allowed for one day, let alone for an indefinite period. Where are the people who are supposed to be responsible for the environment??? This abuse should have been stopped immediately by the authorities and not let it come to a point where the residents had to protest. These abusers are turning our country into a junkyard. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
Philip Mizzi
Aug 15th 2012, 20:50
Political parties should be wise enough to know that inaction will lose more votes than if action is taked to restore dignity back to Marsaxlokk! Any decent citizen wants these kinds of 'buffunati' to stop. Or is this not a 'buffunata' Dr Gatt?!
Stanley Vassallo
Aug 15th 2012, 20:38
They should be removed immediately and not end of the month.
The Mepa enforcement notice to leave Marsaxlokk by the end of the month means they can stay! nice message being sent out by MEPA.
kenneth formosa
Aug 15th 2012, 20:09
mela ma tafx li gejja l-elezzjoni ....xejn mhu ser jaghmel l-gvern issa jghaddi sajf u jitilqu wehedhom .
Punt delikat hafna ghal voti u lo-opposizzjoni gallerija tipprova tiggwadanja xi vot .
Ghamel bhali siehbi u halli l-vot dar l-elezzjoni li gejja ax ma hemx x'taghzel kollox ghal vot jaghmlu .
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Aug 15th 2012, 20:46
naqbel mieghek perfettament
Guido Farrugia
Aug 15th 2012, 20:49
Skuzi Ken, il-voti jintilfu u jintrebhu.Ir-responsabilita ewlenija hija tal gvern tal mument, mhux ta l-oppozizzjoni.Ma naqbilx mieghek, infatti immur nivotta, u bil-qalb. Does it ring a bell?
Ivan Calleja
Aug 15th 2012, 21:04
You are right Mr.Formosa! Unfortunately I am afraid there isn't much choice from our political parties! The government....no comment.....the opposition in total silence!! that is also an answer in my opinion!! Saddened by this type of reaction too!! Especially in a case where the law is being broken blatantly....not encouraging at all!
Mario Sammut
Aug 15th 2012, 21:23
Agree with you 100 per cent Ken . Totally disgusted with the present authorities and equally bemused by the opposition . Normally the opposition moans and groans about everything that moves , so why this complete silence ?? Oh I see !! Afraid of loosing some votes ? Both parties are loosing countless votes over this fiasco , the public are not stupid anymore .
A Trapani
Aug 15th 2012, 21:28
Guido.... sejjer zball int nahseb ghax dan la hu tort tal partit fil gvern biss u l-anqas ta l-oppozizjoni. Il problema Malta hi illi l-oppozjoni u il gvern ghandom jaqblu flimkien u jivvutaw favur, jiddiskutu u johorgu jghidu kif jahsbuha fuq kazijiet bhal dawn. Biss sahha t'hekk, hadd ma jitlef jew jirbah voti u il pajjiz jimxi il quddiem. Il problem hi illi l-oppozjoni tippreferi ma tiftahx halqa fuq kazijiet bhal dawn halli zgur ma titlifx vot. Minbarra hekk..... malli il gvern jisma min ghand certi laburisti li bhalissa qed jghiru lil gvern ghax ma jiehux action u jnaddaf l-ispazju mil campers, imbaghad l-istess laburisti jibdew jeqirdu ghax spicca iz zmien li konna nistaw niehdu pjacir u nikkampjaw minhabba il PN..... imsomma... taghmel x'taghmel.... it tort dejjem ta Gonzi.
m farrugia
Aug 15th 2012, 22:44
prosit guido jalla ma tivvutax ta xejn u jsehh li tixtieq qalbek
brian farrugia
Aug 16th 2012, 08:38
The responsability is sole that of the goverment which is weak and ineffective to say the least! That is why they are being paid ; to do their job.
What has the opposition got to do with it.
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