Watch: PN MP Addresses Accessibility Rights To Public Pathways And Land – ‘Government Is Too Weak To Enforce’
PN MP and former St Julian’s Mayor Albert Buttigieg has addressed the right to public pathways, saying that they ought to be accessible and safeguarded for all.
This has been a persistent issue in the Maltese countryside, as many landowners would close off entire pathways surrounding their land even though the pathway would technically be public, especially in the areas of Rabat, Dingli, Mtaħleb, and Fomm ir-Riħ.
Addressing parliament yesterday, Buttigieg stressed that it’s high time that the government identifies public land and pathways and makes them available for people wishing to frequent the areas.
“Most of these passages are illegally set up by individuals who feel entitled enough to take up public land,” Buttigieg told Lovin Malta this morning.
“The government is too weak to enforce and/or is enabling such behaviour not to lose any votes,” he ascertained.
As a response, he is proposing that the state embarks on a process to identify all public passages and make them public, so that walkers, hikers, cyclists, and even tourists, know what is public and can enjoy the scenery without being aggravated.
“A growing number of Maltese people and tourists are taking up walking. It is ironic that the gov encourages open green spaces but then closes off natural green spaces for the public.”
“It is further ironic that we set up an artificial garden in Valletta but then the government enables the destruction of gardens for development and close off public access to the countryside.”
“This government seems to prefer to support unlawfulness and criminals rather than law-abiding citizens.”
“Malta tagħna lkoll – il-kampanja tagħna lkoll.”
A popular dispute over public passageways was that concerning the Fomm ir-Riħ passageway, with public access supposed to be guaranteed after an agreement was formed between the Ramblers Association and former MDA president Sandro Chetcuti.
Have you ever encountered closed public passageways?
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