A spokeswoman for Senglea residents yesterday expressed delight that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had acknowledged their struggles against Palumbo Shipyards, which they have accused of late-night noise pollution.
Speaking on radio earlier, Dr Muscat deplored the “unacceptable” manner in which Palumbo was treating residents.
Residents’ association spokeswoman Anna Spiteri welcomed the development.
The health and well-being of the Senglea residents is finally being taken seriously and being put on the agenda
“We are very happy that this problem has now reached the ears of the Prime Minister and the government realises we have a serious problem and we do need to tackle it.
“The health and well-being of the Senglea residents is finally being taken seriously and being put on the agenda,” Ms Spiteri said.
The residents have been complaining for years about the incessant noise and dust pollution coming from the shipyard.
But 10 days ago the company’s representatives were acquitted by a court after it could not be proven the noise was coming from the yard.
Then last week Palumbo sent a letter to residents who had filed the criminal complaint, threatening to have their assets seized unless they paid the company’s court expenses.
Speaking at a political activity, Dr Muscat hit out at Palumbo for using its workers as “shields” to hide behind, after they held a protest outside Castille over the court case which they claimed was endangering their jobs.
“What Palumbo has done is not acceptable,” he said. “They are free to act as a private company, I am not going into this. But I do not think it is acceptable to have a leading company end up in a situation where it is fighting with residents.”
He appealed to Palumbo to turn over a new leaf with Cottonera residents and review its decisions.
The door to businesses was “always open”, but these businesses had to respect government standards and maintain good relations.
The government, Dr Muscat added, was willing to step in to mediate between the two sides.
Efforts to contact Palumbo director Joseph Calleja to ask if he would accept the mediation offer proved futile.
I do not think it is acceptable to have a leading company fighting with residents
Mr Calleja was one of three people charged in court for disturbing the residents’ sleep.
The trio were acquitted as it could not be proven that the noise was coming from the Palumbo yard. The charges filed by the police were specific to a tugboat in the shipyard, the Hamal, so residents’ grievances against the company’s overall operations could not be taken into account
During proceedings, a court expert had given readings from Senglea residences showing the noise levels exceeded WHO’s threshold of 30 decibels.
In the letter to residents following the case, Palumbo lawyer Matthew Brincat warned they could either pay up or face legal action and further expenses.
Ms Spiteri was upset at being accused of maliciously trying to harm the good reputation of the yard and causing them financial losses, and accused the company of being totally insensitive to residents’ well-being.