ERA Turns A Blind Eye To Illegal Placement Of Deckchairs On Comino Garigue Land
The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has been called out for turning a blind eye towards the illegal placement of deckchairs on Comino’s garigue land.
In a statement issued this morning, Moviment Graffitti expressed its disgust at the encroachment by rental deckchairs operators on garigue land close to the Blue Lagoon in Comino — all with the blessing of the authorities.
“This move does not only run counter to the demands put forward by organisations and the public in the protests that took place last summer but also exposes the weakness of ERA – the authority responsible for the safeguarding and conservation of Natura 2000 sites,” Moviment Graffitti said.
The activists also called out Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli, for being weak in the face of commercial forces that are posing a very real threat to our natural heritage.
Last year, the government had promised the people of Malta and Gozo that this summer the situation in Comino was due to change, following multiple protests and displays of anger by citizens.
“The people were expecting to see real change in relation to the music played at high volumes, the big boats which disembark hundreds of tourists at a time, and the deckchairs that occupied every inch of the Blue Lagoon,” it continued.
“While we welcomed the news that the jetty and the beach are now free of deckchairs, in the past few weeks many drew our attention to the new practice of placing rental deckchairs on protected garigue land in Comino, a Nature 2000 site.”
“Not surprisingly, we found out that the ERA officers took no action when notified of this abuse.”
Moviment Graffitti continued by deeming it unacceptable that, year after year, “the public authorities remain subservient towards business interests, accepting the destruction of natural habitat on public land”.
“We are holding the Minister for the Environment, Miriam Dalli, responsible for her complicity in the destruction of our natural environment.”
Thus, Moviment Graffitti is once again demanding the immediate removal of deckchairs on garigue land, and that any request for a new concession is withdrawn by the applicant or categorically refused by the ERA and all the authorities involved in the process.
“If the authorities do not act now to halt this destruction, the public will be forced to intervene and protect Comino from the forces of greed.”
“It is clear that the people are fed up, and we are convinced that the fight for justice and the common good will prevail over the greed of the privileged few.”
What do you make of this new development?
READ NEXT: Almost 2,000 Applications For Catering Establishments Approved Between 2013 And 2022
