The government is digging up contracts dating back to the times of the Knights of Saint John in an effort to establish whether claims to land are valid and whether or not the government has rights to declare various parts of our islands to be public land.

While time consuming and a bit of a time capsule exercise, one must agree that it is necessary to do so. But what is positive is that even when people are found to have entitlement to land, the government is retaining the foreshore as public land for all to enjoy.

While those who have ‘rights’ to land under contracts drawn up in Latin many, many years ago, might grumble, it is a fair solution (when it involves the coast) which appeases both the general public and the land owners.

The issue is being taken up by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Revenues and Land, headed by Jason Azzopardi. The first signs of awakenings for social justice came about when the secretariat began enforcement action on business owners who encroached on public land and abused their concessions and permits. If that sounds like double Dutch, it simply meant that tables and chairs which were obstructing pavements and walkways were removed and the owners fined. It has resulted in squares and promenades that are not too overcrowded and that actually allow people to stroll by leisurely.

There is also work in hand to address the problem of over encroachment at beaches by beach furniture rentals. The government said it has noticed an improvement to the state of affairs, in the sense that more of the operators are sticking to within reasonable limits.

But there is more to be done. The government also rightly points out that the beaches are not that busy yet, and that the situation will have to be looked at again towards the busier parts of the swimming season in July and August.

What is certain is that we cannot have a situation where sandy beach space – which is at a premium in Malta – is completely hijacked by operators who pitch umbrellas, sun beds, deck chairs and other bits and pieces.

First and foremost, these operators should be made to stick to what their permit allows, and secondly, we must remember that not everyone is willing to pay for a sun bed and other paraphernalia that certainly do not come cheap.

This has two sides to it, there are Maltese families that do not have that much of an income and a Sunday at the beach is perhaps one of the few luxuries they can afford. Not having anywhere to set down without having to pay for furniture rental is a travesty, and the same applies for young teenagers and the like. One must also think of tourists, some of who come on a budget. Paying e10 per person for a bed, a parasol and a small table is not exactly good value for money.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, and there has been other progress registered, for example in the decision to remove post 1992 boat houses built illegally (and why not pre-1992?), the conditions imposed on caravan sites, illegal rooms in the countryside and the handing over of landmark properties to respective local councils.

PS Azzopardi is right in saying that the silent majority are in favour of all these measures. As usual, we have a case where the minority which abuses completely overshadows the majority which is law abiding. Yes, the government should continue on this tack, but it must do so with caution, gradually and by making all the checks necessary so as not to cause injustice to some in the name of social justice for all. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and in this case, we will only see the full extent of our “new mentality” by next summer. If only this much success was registered in enforcement against illegal hunting and trapping, then Malta would be a much better place.