Bjent makes good on ultimatum tion and PA enforcement notice

Turning to why KAE has taken up the long-standing Manoel Island foreshore issue considering the number of situations where public land is occupied by private citizens/entities, Mr Callus said: “When we (KAE) started, we did not want to just stick to this issue. We have also tackled issues such as the high-rise buildings and the Environment and Resource Authority (ERA).

“KAE is not an NGO; we are an alliance of concerned individuals. What we tackle depends on the alliance and on the way certain situations progress – we cannot speak about all issues all the time. We must tackle injustices one at a time.”

Asked whether there are future plans to tackle similar issues, such as the illegal Armier boathouses that have occupied public land, Mr Callus said that the group recently organised a protest outside the ERA for not exerting enough strength on the high-rise building issue – something that will have a significant environmental impact.

Manoel Island should become an eco-island AD

Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola said yesterday: “It is good to see that the government has taken legal action against MIDI. There should now be rapid enforcement against the blatant infringements by MIDI. Alternattiva Demokratika reiterates that Manoel Island should be reclaimed by the government and maintained as an Eco Island Natural Park, with only pedestrians and bicycles allowed inside.

“After the legal action taken against the Manoel Island operators and the tuna fish farm owners, it is now imperative that these measures are enforced a.s.a.p. and then extended to other areas which have been illegally taken over, and sometimes developed, such as Montekristo Estates, Armier, and so on…”

PN calls for common sense solution

Ina statement, the Nationalist Party said, “The solution should be one of common sense in the interest of all Maltese and Gozitans, and not just in the interest of Gzira residents.

“This issue can only be resolved if Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, in his capacity as Prime Minister, sits down at a table with the MIDI consortium, which is blocking access, and provides assurances that the in- terest of all Maltese and Gozitans is being prioritised.”

Residents right to ask what was done by PN - Labour

In a statement of its own, the Labour Party questioned why PN leader Simon Busuttil was attacking the Gzira Mayor, who as acting in the interest of the residents. Dr Busuttil, the Labour Party said, was also attacking the government, which had been the first to take action and stand up for the residents.

“Residents were right to ask why the previous government had done nothing about the issue,” the PL added.