Moviment Graffitti activists have welcomed Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo’s promise of fewer deckchairs encroaching on Comino’s public land this year – however, they also assured they’ll be watching closely.

This comes after Bartolo promised that the island of Comino will see 65% fewer deckchairs than in previous years in the approaching summer.

Last summer, activists hailing from a number of environmental groups took to Comino for a number of actions, forcefully removing the deckchairs and umbrellas that are set up without fail, and passing on the message that the public space is for everyone to enjoy.

As it was, deckchairs and umbrellas were being set up every day without fail in the early hours of the morning, and the public could only enjoy the space by paying for the service.

“We welcome the news that the encroachment of sunbed operators at the Blue Lagoon is being addressed and that a more reasonable waste collection scheme will finally be introduced, thanks to the organised resistance and pressure posed by the public’s uproar last summer,” Marie Claire Gatt from Moviment Graffitti told Lovin Malta.

“We will be watching closely to make sure these commitments are met,” she assured.