A man permitted to work a field in Gudja has filed a judicial protest claiming land owners are trying to stop him from working the land in an attempt to wrest the land away from him.

The protest, signed by lawyer Kenneth Grima and legal procurator Katrina Zammit Cuomo, states that Dennis Catania is a full-time farmer who has been working the piece of land for several years.

Upon the landowner's death, the field was inherited by the La Stella Philharmonic Society, though particular assets were left to others, including the field worker’s mother.

Mr Catania is claiming that following the land owner’s death, illegal and abusive attempts started being made for the emphyteusis of the land to be transferred to the philharmonic society, and for the field to be handed to the parish priest by encroachment. This was being done behind the priest’s back, the judicial protest says. 

The Lands Department subsequently issued a call for tenders to work the field, which Mr Catania won. But despite being granted the tender, Mr Catania says he had to turn to the Ombudsman for protection, claiming attempts were being made for his tender not to be considered.

It was only after the Ombudsman warned the society and others against whom the judicial protest was being filed, including the Għaqda Mużikali Maria Assunta Gudja 1919, the parish priest, the local council and the Lands Department, that the contract with the Land Department was signed. For the first time, this bound Mr Catania to allow the field to be used to let off fireworks during the Gudja feast.

Since then, fireworks were always let off as stipulated in the contract without any problems, the protest claims.

But a petition had now been filed for the government to hand the land over to those against whom the protest was being filed, prompting the judicial protest. 

The judicial protest lists a series of defendants, including two band clubs, Gudja local council, Gudja's parish priest Martin Cardona, the Director-General of the Lands Department, the Curia, Lands Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri and lawyer and MP Jason Azzopardi.

Mr Catania is seeking damages.

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