local news

Nationalist campers complain about political discrimination!

Four families who are camping at St Thomas Bay, limits of Zejtun, feel that they are being discriminated against, politically. Several days ago, the police issued a writ of summons, stating that they had put up tents against the law. The families are contesting that they are breaking the law.

‘The law states that you are allowed to put up a tent at dawn and remove it down at dusk," one of the members of the families told MaltaToday.

The families did not like it seeing a journalist and a photographer near their tents. It is not because they are afraid of speaking to journalists but because they told us that recently reporters from another paper had taken photos of them, stating that they are breaking the law.

The families told us that the only reason behind this is because they are staunch Nationalist Party supporters. "No one could believe it," they said. "We now have a Nationalist government and we are afraid of something we should not be afraid of."

The families are camping just below the San Tomaso Bar and Restaurant and opposite them are hundreds of campers caravans, tents, containers etc.

According to many of the families most of the people are without the necessary permits. It is also understood that one of the places was sold, this week for a sum of Lm6,000.

The families said that they cannot afford to go on holiday, not even for a week in Gozo, so all they can do is camp at St Thomas. They also said that they not only keep the place clean, but also clean up after people who organise barbecues in the area.

"We even help the people who pick up the rubbish, the families told MaltaToday, "and that is what we get."

"Something has got to be done. We are not bothering anyone and we just want to enjoy ourselves, in peace. It is not fair that those people who are breaking the law are getting away ‘scott free’ while those who are abiding the law are being troubled by various bodies including the Local Council and the police.

‘It is truly unbelievable. We are living in Malta and although it is meant to be a free country, people won’t let you live in peace," they all agreed.