Watch: ‘Minn Qala Sa Sannat, Il-Liġi Għall-Allat’ – Moviment Graffitti Protest In Joseph Portelli’s Qala Pools
NGO Moviment Graffitti has just staged protest against “Joseph Portelli’s illegal pools in Qala ODZ”. Activists armed with flares and spray paint occupied the site in Gozo which they are saying is being “illegally developed”.
Using red spray paint, protestors wrote the word “Illegali” on the floor of an empty pool.“This is a direct action against environment destruction,” the NGO explained.
The NGO explained how it aims to expose the “rigged system” that planners maintain which in turn enables developers to exploit legal vacuums and loopholes with regards to planning.
As protestors marched towards the rear of the Qala apartment complex, they chanted, “Minn Qala sa Sannat, il-liġi għall-allat,” and “tiżfnu għad-daqqa tal-iżvilippaturi.” Both chants purport that those in power do whatever they can to accommodate developers.
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“When, in 2021, it was reported that developer Joseph Portelli and his associates had begun digging two enormous pools without permits in Qala’s ODZ, Moviment Graffitti immediately reported the illegality to the Planning Authority,” the NGO explained, adding that despite this, the “illegal works” continued nonetheless, with “absolute impunity”.
“Joseph Portelli even publicly admitted that while it was true that there was no permit for the works, he claimed to have done nothing wrong as he was sure he would be eventually granted the aforementioned permits,” Moviment Graffitti continued.
They went on to say that, “In fact, after a while, he did apply for the permits for two illegal pools on ODZ land, and after a few months, the Planning Authority approved them.”“Moviment Graffitti and the Qala Local Council banded together and appealed these permits. The courts revoked the permits and declared the pools illegal.”
“Despite this, because of a defective law which permits illegal buildings to begin and reach completion during the appeals stage, these pools were already built,” the NGO insisted.
The swimming pool is one of two constructed several years ago by prominent Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli as part of an extensive apartment complex.
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