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Two weights, two measures not helping boathouse controversy

By Miriam Dunn

The government and the boathouse owners in Armier are no nearer to finding a solution yet to the controversial plan to demolish and replace the illegal dwellings scattered over the north of the island.

While the Central Committee of the Northwest Boathouses, which represents the 800 or so families with boathouses in the region, is not unhappy with the government’s proposals from a geographical viewpoint, it has strong reservations about the financial terms being put forward.

And, as committee secretary Joe Mifsud explains, the dwellers are growing increasingly irate with what is widely being perceived as the government’s application of two weights and two measures to the problem.

"We have shown that we are willing to sit down and discuss the way forward for the boathouses in the Northwest, even if we are unhappy with some of the proposals.

"But we cannot ignore the fact that we have been put under the spotlight time after time," Mr Mifsud said.

"Perhaps it would have been better if the government had started with some of the big fish – the hotels and their illegal lidos, for example – and also said how it intends to tackle the other boathouses, such as those in St Thomas Bay."
It was just this week that the committee admitted it found the government’s proposals for the Armier boathouses unacceptable.

Two of the main bones of contention concern the down payment of Lm4,000 being requested by the government, which is to be paid on top of an annual rent of Lm250, and the length of the lease being proposed, which is 10 years.

Mr Mifsud said the boathouse owners view the Lm4,000 payment as too high. He also pointed out that if it is a compensatory sum, as being suggested, the government should have made a calculation of the proposed annual rent (Lm250) multiplied by 10 years (back to when the Planning Authority was set up).

"We are not saying we are suggesting this figure, but this, at least, is what the government should have being proposing according to its own workings," he said.

Mr Mifsud added that the boathouse owners also view the 10-year lease as being very short and are even questioning whether the government has an ulterior motive in this respect. According to the government’s proposals, the authorities are free to raise the rent as they see fit when the 10 years are up.

"Our members cannot help thinking that this clause simply provides the government with the means to make a fast buck out of us and get rid of us after 10 years and do what they want with the boathouses, perhaps with the tourist industry in mind," he said. "These boathouses are family-orientated, there is a social aspect. We don’t just want them for ourselves, we want them for our children too."
The committee is also against the government’s blanket proposal to demolish all the boathouses in the area and replace them with properly built beach houses.

"We do not think this is necessary, some have a lot of character and aren’t viewed as an eyesore," Mr Mifsud said. "We would rather the government sets some criteria as to what should go and what could stay. And then the owners of those that have to be demolished will do the work themselves."
Mr Mifsud said the committee is now waiting for a further meeting with government representatives, including Home Affairs minister Tonio Borg and his Parliamentary Secretary, George Pullicino.

But the issue looks far from solved. And while there are no signs that the government is dealing with any of the other illegal beach dwellings, the authorities are hardly likely to have the Armier boathouse owners completely on their side.