Illegal campers facing an ‘imminent’ eviction
People occupying illegal beach camps in Marsaxlokk could be forced out any day now after the government confirmed it has obtained authorisation to carry out their immediate removal. Campers from various towns in the south of the island have taken over...
People occupying illegal beach camps in Marsaxlokk could be forced out any day now after the government confirmed it has obtained authorisation to carry out their immediate removal.
Campers from various towns in the south of the island have taken over Tal-Magħluq, with caravans and tents occupying large tracts of the sandy beach that is popular among villagers.
An enforcement order was issued on Monday, urging campers to vacate the beach as soon as possible. But many thought this would give them until the end of August, by which time they would have left anyway.
However, the Commissioner of Land has given authorisation for the eviction to take place beforehand.
“According to the law, an enforcement order from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority cannot be carried out unless 15 days elapse, or unless the owner of the land concurs,” a spokesman for Land Minister Jason Azzopardi told The Times yesterday. “In this case, the owner of the land is the Commissioner of Land, who has given his consent for action to be taken before the lapse of the 15 days.
“Hence, joint action will be taken in due course and before the lapse of the mentioned 15-day period,” the spokesman added, without specifying the anticipated date of enforcement.
The Marsaxlokk local council welcomed the news, saying it now expected the planning authority to take immediate action.
Mayor Edric Micallef said the Prime Minister, who is responsible for local councils, did not object to a bylaw being proposed by the Marsaxlokk council, which bans caravans and camps from the fishing village.
Any breaches would now result in fines, Mr Micallef said.
The campers’ presence was highlighted on Sunday when a fight broke out at a news conference held for residents protesting against the deterioration of the beach.
Right in front of journalists and TV cameras, five men attacked one of the residents who was objecting to vandalism occurring on boats nearby.
Since the victim forgave the men out of fear of retaliation, they were fined just €60 for swearing in public and breaching the peace, a sentence that the police have decided to appeal following public outrage.
The camps at Tal-Malgħluq have taken over large parts of the beach. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier