Moviment Graffitti, together with several residents’ groups, is calling on the public to join them for a lunchtime protest in Valletta this Sunday. The march will denounce the Government’s inaction against the commercial tables, chairs and structures that are choking our pavements, squares, streets and beaches.

People will gather in Merchants Street at 12.15pm, near the MUŻA museum.

Despite the various promises made by the Government that it will curb the excessive encroachment of public spaces by business and restore public access, effective action and serious enforcement are still nowhere to be seen. This rampant take-up of public land by business is adding to the deterioration of our quality of life.

Five months after we launched the “Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini” campaign, we shall be marching through the streets of Valletta — that look more like an obstacle course with each passing day — to highlight how safe and public access is practically non-existent.

The various demands put forward by residents’ groups from some of the most affected localities, who are calling for the current law to be made more robust, for effective enforcement, and for transparency in the way encroachment permits are issued, have largely been ignored by the authorities. Repeated meeting requests to the Prime Minister to discuss our proposals have so far been met with deafening silence. 

The proposals can be viewed on www.ilbankinitaccittadini.org.

Residents’ groups:
Sliema Residents Association
Residenti Beltin
Marsaskala Residents Network
Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura
Residenti Melliħin
Residenti San Pawl il-Baħar
Marsaxlokk Heritage Group

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Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini! — Protesta waqt l-ikla tal-Ħadd kontra t-teħid abbużiv tal-ispazji pubbliċi tagħna

Il-Moviment Graffitti, flimkien ma’ diversi għaqdiet tar-residenti, qiegħed iħeġġeġ lill-pubbliku jingħaqad fi protesta nhar il-Ħadd li ġej kontra l-imwejjed, is-siġġijiet u l-istrutturi kummerċjali li qed joħonqu l-bankini, il-pjazez, it-toroq u l-bajjiet tagħna.

In-nies ser jinġabru fi Triq il-Merkanti fil-12.15pm, ħdejn il-mużew MUŻA.

Minkejja diversi wegħdiet mill-Gvern li se tittieħed azzjoni biex l-ispazji pubbliċi li nħatfu mill-kummerċ jingħataw lura lin-nies, s’issa għadna ma rajna l-ebda forma ta’ azzjoni effettiva jew infurzar serju. Il-ħtif tal-ispazji pubbliċi tagħna mill-kummerċ issa qabeż kull limitu aċċettabbli.

Ħames xhur wara li nedejna l-kampanja “Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini”, ser inkunu qegħdin nimmarċjaw fit-toroq tal-Belt Valletta waqt l-ikla ta’ nofsinhar. Ser ngħaddu minn uħud mill-aktar toroq affettwati fejn l-aċċess sigur u bla xkiel għan-nies huwa prattikament ineżistenti.

Id-diversi talbiet tal-għaqdiet tar-residenti, li ġejjin mill-aktar lokalitajiet affettwati, għal tisħiħ tal-liġi attwali, għal infurzar serju, u għal trasparenza fil-mod kif jingħataw il-permessi għal okkupazzjoni ta’ art pubblika, baqgħu qatt ma ġew indirizzati mill-awtoritajiet. Id-diversi talbiet li saru lill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela sabiex niltaqgħu u niddiskutu l-proposti tagħna, s’issa, waqgħu fuq widnejn torox.

It-talbiet jinsabu fuq www.ilbankinitaccittadini.org.

Għaqdiet tar-Residenti:
Għaqda Residenti Slimiżi
Residenti Beltin
Marsaskala Residents Network
Azzjoni Tuna Artna Lura
Residenti Melliħin
Residenti San Pawl il-Baħar
Marsaxlokk Heritage Group