Some days ago, with Sandro Kraus and Ralph Cassar, I participated in the light discussion programme “Bejnietna”,  hosted by Kevin Micallef on F Living Channel. The issues we touched were wide ranging and we did not stop short of expressing our frame of mind. However, one particular issue kept coming back to me well after the programme was over.Not able to keep something troubling me for long,I will jot down what I think about the issue of illegally-builtstructures in various localities. What triggered the discussion on this subject during the programme was the press statement issued by the Church’s Environment Commission, wherein it expressed its concerned that smart meters are to be installed at illegal boathouses.

This issue is sensitive to political parties, environmentalists, law-abiding citizens, and to people who have helped themselves to a piece of land and built an illegal structure. This issue surfaces from time to time.

The previous one-seat majority government, plagued with the effects of a world-wide recession and in-house restlessness,attempted to address this issue, soldiered bravelyand knocked down some of the illegally-built structures scattered around the islands.

In this regard the present government is expected to follow on the footsteps of the previous administration and continue to take the necessary actionsto protect law abiding citizens. Unless its hands are tightly tied with wire-rope with some back-of-the-house tacit arrangement illegality in all forms should be stamped out.

Alternattiva Demokratika, Environmentalists, and the Church’s Environment Commissionnever chewed words and called on the authorities to take action. Though right in their claim, theyfail to grasp what such a big bang approach would create in society. 

The Church Commission for Environment took exception at the notice that smart meters will replace the old water and electricity meters to ensure that theft, if any, is stamped out orreduced to the minimum possible. I, however, do not follow this line of reasoning.  Why should the installation ofsmart meters be in anyway interpreted as some sort of sanctioning of what is illegal?

Indeed, what has been stolen must be returned to the people.But for heaven’s sake,  who on earth believes that any government, except for AD which I very much doubt will ever be allowed to take the national driving seat, would dare knock down these illegal structures.  Think what you may, but I am convinced that this will never happen. I am though of the opinion that a pragmatic approach may start to address this issue, if not for our sake then maybe in the best interest of future generations.

Since 1991, successive governments made attempts to reach agreement with occupants to regularise their illegal situation. The most recent compromise was made in 2003, when government decided that illegal boat houses built before 1992 would not be demolished but others erected after this date would be removed.

Unfortunately, illegally-built structures continued to mushroom.  It looks like the number of illegally built boathouses and other structures are on the increase. 

Perhaps time has come for the political class to take decisive action on the issue.   Maybe government, assisted by seasoned public officers, can enter into formal contracts with the tenants of these structures. Even if this falls way short from the justified claims of law-abiding citizens, the following proposal may be a move in the right direction.         

- The relevant authority should issue a public call to all tenants of illegally-built structures to come forward within a defined period of time in the absence of which illegally built structures will be knocked down.

-     Present occupiers will, for all intents and purposes, be recognised as the recognised tenants.

-     From now on, tenantswill pay yearly rent, equivalent to market prices.

-     For previous years, an amnesty will be granted to all tenants although an administrative fine will be imposed.

-     Illegally-built structures cannot be sold, sub-let or transferred.

-     Government will enter into contracts with tenants for a definite period of years starting from date of signing of agreement. At the end of this period, the structure will become government property and will be demolished.  The area will be returned to the general public to be enjoyed.

-     The above will not apply to tenants who are in possession of the necessary documentation that their structure has a building permit or a permit issued from a government department, agency or authority. 

Though society would still not be able to enjoy what has been stolen,the above will at least ensure that their heirs would.  There may be other issues which one may need to consider. The above are certainlyneither exhaustive nor exclusive. Notwithstanding, government should not be strong with the weak and weak with the strong. On hopes that in this context the recently published revised Rural Policy in Outside Developments Zones is a genuine effort to encourage agri-tourism and not a tailor-made policy to entertain buddies.  

During the programme Chef Martin, whetted our appetite with a sumptuous veal dish and a nice glass of wine.