So says the Bible, but Caesar should not rest on what the Bible says only, but should always stay alert about the performance of its citizens. After many years dormant our Caesar, who is the government, woke up and decided to have his land and other possessions back from individuals who squat and built on people's land and possessions, at Bahar ic-Caghaq and elsewhere.

It was becoming a habit for some people, that when they see an empty space, near the sea, on pavements, everywhere to their liking, they occupy it with rooms, tables, chairs, and so on, to the detriment of other honest citizens, that’s what happened at Armier, Bahar ic-Caghaq, Gnejna, San Tumas and perhaps somewhere else, pavements and squares taken by all sorts of furniture, even some of them surrounded by iron railings; shame, not to them but who is in power and leave these things to happen. But perhaps that’s why the Prime Minister had created in this legislature a junior minister Dr J. Azzopardi to see about these things, and here I congratulate the parliamentary secretary that he is doing the job quite well. I hope that this initiative is not a thing for today and after some short time everything will come just the same. The lands department and the ministry must remain active all the time.

But I cannot hide my displeasure about the settlement of the boat houses (summer residences) of Armier. I heard the Prime Minister speaking about this settlement, which I must say I disagree with. To say that it was done because they have the water and electricity, and they had been paying for it for a number of years, for me is an excuse that does not hold water. What they had been paying for is the service that they had, and by that do not make, or should not make a title for the land. In order to own title over land one has to have a contract of sale or lease from the lands department. These are mobile, no fixed structures; a well organized site with all amenities including sanitary facilities and managed against a payment that covers the expenses to run it only. I suggest that caravans should be allowed to remain there all year round, because if they are taken away in winter, they will create another big problem. If they are left on the road, the problem of parking will crop up.

Joseph Muscat

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