Let’s set one thing straight right from the start. Calling the shantytown structures, boathouses is a way to give them an air of legitimacy. They are not boathouses; they are illegal shantytowns.

Successive governments have turned a blind eye to the theft of public land, made bold pronouncements about finding a solution and harangued and wrung their hands for dozens of years now, and yet here we are in 2014 still discussing the issue.

Although both Labour and the PN are to blame, only the present government has the power to do the right thing. Of course, the Opposition is duty bound to support the government wholeheartedly in doing the right thing without trying to take political advantage of the situation.

The government’s election mantra was ‘Malta tagħna lkoll’ and they should follow this slogan by taking steps to stop some Maltese citizens from being more equal than others.

We boast about Malta being a centre of excellence, yet we allow shantytowns to blight our coastline.

There is no need for any discussions or negotiations about these illegal structures built on stolen public property. The government should worry less about electricity being stolen and more about public land being stolen.

So what is the solution? It surely isn’t the proposal by the previous government to regularise these illegal structures and it certainly isn’t building modern and nice structures and then giving those who occupied public land illegally for 20 or more years a 99-year lease, regardless of the price they would have to pay.

The solution is rather simple really: give them 30 days’ notice to remove their belongings and then raze all shantytowns, including the ones in Mellieħa, Armier and St Thomas Bay, even if the squatters leave their belongings behind.

If the squatters impede those charged with cleaning up the mess, they should be arrested and then charged with the cost of the clean-up.

That’s the only equitable and just solution. That’s the right thing to do. Doing anything else sends the message that the law can be flouted with impunity; that justice is not equal for all; that some are more equal than others; and that politicians are opportunists who don’t have the good of the country at heart.

These squatters have enjoyed their illegal getaways for years while successive governments have turned a blind eye to illegalities. It’s time for action not for words or discussions.