Watch: Hundreds Gather To Protest At Comino’s Blue Lagoon
Hundreds of activists and citizens gathered to protest against the take-up of land at Comino’s Blue Lagoon early this morning.
As private vendors persist with their imposition of deckchairs and umbrellas taking up all of the space that the bay offers, activists, and citizens alike, have had enough.
Following a very successful action last month, people have now made their voices heard once again against the monopolisation of public land and shoreline by private beach vendors.
More than 200 people attended the protest, holding up their banners and placards in a different setting than we normally see protests occurring.
As it stands, deckchair vendors are covering every inch of the shoreline with deckchairs and umbrellas from the crack of dawn, making it practically impossible to enjoy this beautiful place unless you’re ready to pay €12.50 per person.
On other beaches around Malta, beach vendors typically lay out an umbrella and a sunbed when a customer asks for one.
“This summer, we intend to highlight the many issues related to Comino, starting with the ongoing theft of public space at the Blue Lagoon – one of the most beautiful places in Malta and a Natura 2000 site – by private operators who treat the shoreline as their own personal beach lido,” Moviment Graffitti had promised at the beginning of the saga.
Back in 2021, a parliamentary petition had been filed demanding the removal of sunbeds and umbrellas from Blue Lagoon in Comino. However, this appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
Shortly after the last action, Environment Minister Miriam Dalli said that there could soon be caps on the number of people who can visit Comino at any given moment, confirming that a process to establish a carrying capacity for the island is being finalised.
However, this idea has not yet been revisited again.
What did you make of today’s protest?
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