I refer to the news that the Environment and Resources Authority has issued an enforcement order to remove tents on Comino and, in practice, render any camping there illegal.

For decades, the camping site near Santa Marija Bay has been an issue of controversy. This because it was tolerated, but not regulated, due to an apparent lack of initiative by the same authority that decided to abruptly end the practice. In my opinion, this action is draconian, exaggerated and contradictory.

First, the campsite and its evolution over the years was the direct responsibility of the authorities that, for some reason, failed to regulate it. The place is indeed a camper’s paradise with a remote, tranquil location, away from today’s hustle and bustle, immersed in nature, just a few metres from the beach. One cannot possibly blame the campers for using the unregulated campsite. Its increase in size and extended use beyond the summer months is simply an obvious consequence of the splendour of the ambience and the lack of regulation.

Consequently, if camping permits were not being obtained, as admitted by the ERA, it stands to reason that the responsible authorities should also carry part of the blame. However, it seems only the campers are to blame. If a permit was available, it means the site is adequate for camping for, were it not, no permit would have been issued in the first place.

The campers were portrayed as a nature-invasive, party-doers colony with no respect and no care for the natural environment around them when the reality is exactly the opposite. Ninety-nine per cent of people who love camping are by nature nature lovers. They would strive to keep the place they enjoy clean, tidy and untouched, simply because it is the one place that brings them the tranquillity and serenity that seem to have become an utopia in today’s hectic life.

My suggestion is that the campsite on Comino is finally regulated and not simply rendered illegal. The camping areas should be clearly designated and a permit obtained after determining the number of camps to be allowed, their size, when and where they can be used, possibly within a limited time.