Nature Trust (Malta) welcomes court decision on Armier

Nature Trust has welcomed the court's decision regarding 12 boathouses in Armier, after Judge Anthony Ellul concluded that the structures were built illegally and the occupants have no title to the land, and ordered the Commissioner of Land to evict them.

Nature Trust said it is especially pleased with the court's acknowledgement that "any transfer of public land has to be carried out in terms of law and the foreshore cannot be privatised".  

The environmental NGO has long been insisting on the need for citizens to reclaim the foreshore, and has in the past called upon various administrations to ensure that the practice of selling off the foreshore cheaply to private entities be terminated and for citizens' rights to be respected.  

It said it hopes the current administration will be bold enough to follow the court's example and bring about a change in policy whilst seeking to remedy past injustices by evicting all remaining squatters.  

"We hope the Lands Department, which now falls under the direct responsibility of the Prime Minister, will be truly proactive in its approach and not procrastinate and keep awaiting further Court judgments to do its work, thus wasting more time and taxpayers' money."

Nature Trust said the communality of the foreshore has been considered a sacred right of the public since Roman times.