“Is-saltna tad-dritt tfisser ukoll li nirrispettaw is-sentenzi tal-Qrati.” Dan qalu iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokatika Carmel Cacopardo huwa u njikkummenta dwar emendi għall-Kodiċi Ċivili ippubblikati nhar il-Ġimgħa li jpoġġu lill-każini tal-banda il-fuq mil-liġi.

Nhar il-Ġimgħa li għaddiet il-Gvern, fil-Gazzetta tal-Gvern ippubblika abbozz ta’ liġi li f’parti minnu jitkellem dwar il-każini tal-banda u l-kuntratti tal-kera tagħhom. Wara li f’April li għadda l-Qorti, f’appell deċiż mill-Imħallef Anthony Ellul , iddeċidiet kawża kontra l-każin tal-banda De Paule tar-Raħal Ġdid il-Gvern kien wiegħed li ser iħares lejn kif jista’ jemenda l-liġi biex iżid il-protezzjoni lill-każini tal-banda.

Ic-Chairperson ta’ AD Carmel Cacopardo qal:”Il-Qorti kienet iddeċidiet li l-Każin tal-Banda kien għamel alterazzjonijiet bla awtorizzazzjoni fil-binja tal-każin u għaldaqstant skond ma jipprovdi l-kuntratt tal-kirja ordnat li l-każin jingħata lura lis-sidien. Bl-emendi proposti ser ikun possibli li dan ma jsirx. L-emendi jipproponu li l-kirja tista’ tibqa’ fis-seħħ jekk fost oħrajn il-kera tiżdied b’għaxar darbiet kif ukoll li tingħata garanzija li l-binja tkun tista’ tiġi restawrata għall-istat oriġinali qabel ma saru l-alterazzjoniiet mhux awtorizzati fil-binja.”

“Bla dubju l-emendi huma motivati mill-ħsieb nobbli li tingħata difiża lill-funzjoni soċjali importanti tal-każini tal-banda fil-komunita. Imma hemm problema kbira. Il-Gvern għal darba oħra qed jagħti l-messaġġ li hemm min hu ‘l fuq mil-liġi.

Din hi t-tieni darba fi spazju ta’ ftit ġimgħat li l-Gvern qed jibgħat dan il-messaġġ.”

“Ftit ġimgħat ilu kellna lil tal-kmamar tan-nar li wara tletin sena jiksru l-liġi kellhom sentenza kontra tagħhom u l-Gvern bl-appoġġ tal-Membri Parlamentari kollha minkejja r-retorika falza tagħhom dwar is-saltna tad-dritt, biddel il-liġi li tirregola d-distanzi li jridu jinżammu mill-kmamar tan-nar, biex il-bdiewa u l-komunita rurali taż-Żebbiegħ baqgħu jsaffru l-Aida. Issa għandna lill-każini tal-banda.”

“Ir-rispett lejn is-saltna tad-dritt (r-rule of law) tfisser ukoll li rispett lejn is-sentenzi tal-Qrati. Tfisser ukoll li l-Gvern ma jagħtix messaġġ li f’ċerti ċirkustanzi ma jkun hemm l-ebda diffikulta li xi ħadd, hu min hu, jitqiegħed ‘il fuq mil-liġi.”

“Lil hinn mill-importanza soċjali tal-każini tal-banda” temm jgħid Carmel Cacopardo din l-emenda għall-Kodiċi Ċivili hi ħażina għax timmina s-saltna tad-dritt.”

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The rule of law signifies that law is equally applicable to all

“The rule of law entails that we should be respectful of the decisions of our Courts.” This was stated by Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokatika-The Green Party Carmel Cacopardo when commenting on amendments to the Civil Code published on Friday which amendments effectively place band clubs beyond the reach of the law.

Last Friday Government published in the Government Gazzette a Bill part of which deals with band clubs and their rental agreements. When in April Mr Justice Anthony Ellul decided in an appeal against the De Paule Band Club in Paola, Government had announced that it was seeking ways in which it could amend the law in order to increase the protection of band clubs.

AD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said: “The Law Courts have decided that unauthorised alterations were carried out to the Band Club building and consequently in accordance to the provisions of the lease agreement the band club premises should be reclaimed by the owners. As a result of the proposed amendments this will no longer be possible. The amendments in fact propose that the lease agreement could remain in place if the rent is increased tenfold as well as subject to the production of an acceptable guarantee on the restoration of the band club premises to its original state.”

“There is no doubt that the amendments are motivated by the desire to protect the important community role and social function of band clubs. This is not however the way to proceed. Government is sending a clear message that some are above the law.

This is the second time in the space of a few weeks that Government is transmitting this message.”

“Some weeks ago we had the case of a fireworks factory which after 30 years in breach of the law had to face a decision of the Courts of Appeal. Government with the support of all Members of Parliament, notwithstanding all the false rhetoric on the rule of law changed the law regulating the minimum permissible distances for fireworks factories. The farmers and the rural community of iż-Żebbiegħ were completely ignored. It is now the turn of the band clubs”

“The respect of the rule of law signifies that we should also respect the decisions of our Courts. It means that Government should not transmit a message that sometimes it is possible for anyone to be placed outside the reach of the law.”

“Beyond the social importance of band clubs” concluded Carmel Cacopardo this amendment to the Civil Code is bad law as it undermines the rule of law.”