In a press conference in Buġibba, Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, said: “Swimming and other coastal related activities are an essential part of our Maltese way of life which also serve as an opportunity for families and others alike to spend some quality time for free. Unfortunately, considerable parts of our coast have been taken up by private entities to serve as private beaches, something which is both socially and environmentally unacceptable and which has always been condemned by Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party”.
“Despite the public’s right to access the foreshore as enacted in the public domain legislation approved by Parliament last year, it seems that nothing is really guaranteed. In fact, following rumours of plans to privatise the public beach below the ex-Mac Donald’s site in Bugibba, the said site has been advertised as property to let, including a ‘private beach’, on a local real estate agent’s website”, added Prof. Cassola.
Simon Galea, Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson, said: “On getting to know of this information, on the 7th January I personally wrote to both the St.Paul’s Bay Local Council and to Deborah Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Simplification of Administrative Processes. Up to this day no acknowledgment was received from the Local Council for my email. It is unacceptable that the mayor of St Paul’s Bay does not even bother to answer on such sensitive issue. On the other hand, Dr. Schembri replied the next day promising to look into it. Unfortunately, however, notwithstanding my reminder to the Parliamentary Secretary, I have not got any more feedback from Dr. Schembri, to date. Such entities are there to protect citizens’ basic rights and not to drag their feet.”
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X’qed jiġri mill-kosta pubblika Maltija?
Waqt konferenza stampa f’Buġibba ic-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “L-għawm u attivitajiet oħra marbutin mal-baħar huma parti essenzjali tal-ħajja tipika Maltija li sservi aktar bħala opportunita’ ghall-familji u individwi oħra Maltin biex jgawdu daqsxejn ħin ta’ kwalita’ bla ħlas. Sfortunatament, bosta partijiet tal-kosta tagħna ngħataw lil entitajiet privati biex isiru lidos jew bajjiet privati. Dan huwa soċjalment u ambjentalment inaċċettabbli u dejjem ġie kkundannat mill-Alternattiva Demokratika”.
“Minkejja d-dritt ta’ aċċess mogħti lill-pubbliku bil-liġi tad-dominju pubbliku approvata s-sena l-oħra mill-parlament, jidher li xejn mhuwa verament garantit. Infatti, wara li l-ewwel kien hem għidut dwar pjanijiet biex tiġi pprivatizzata il-bajja pubblika taħt l-ex Macdonald’s f’Buġibba, ħareġ reklam fuq il-website ta’ aġenzija tal-proprjeta’ għall-kiri ta’ dan is-sit, inkluża bajja privata”, sostna il-Prof. Cassola.
Il-Kelliem tal-Alternattiva Demokratika, Simon Galea, qal: “Wara li deher dan ir-reklam fis-7 ta’ Jannar, jiena ktibt personalment lill-Kunsill Lokali ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar u lis-Segretarju Parlamentari, Dr Deborah Schembri. Sal-lum għadni ma rċevejt l-ebda acknowledgement mingħand il-Kunsill Lokali. Huwa inaċċettabbli li s-Sindku tal-Kunsill Lokali ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar lanqas biss jimpurtaha twieġeb dwar ħaġa daqstant sensittiva. Mill-banda l-oħra, Dr Schembri wieġbet l-għada bil-wegħda li ser tinvestiga l-każ. Madankollu, sfortunatament, minkejja r-reminder tiegħi lis-Segretarju Parlamentari, ma smajt aktar xejn mingħandha sal-lum. Dawn l-entitajiet qegħdin hemm biex iħarsu d-drittijiet bażiċi taċ-ċittadini u mhux biex ikaxkru saqajhom”.