Who does not remember the summer of 2012? August was dominated by news from the small village ofMarsaxlokk. Residents were protesting against the fact that one of Marsaxlokk’s bays, that of il-Magħluq, had been turned into an illegal camping site. It was good news during the peak period known in journalism as the Silly Season. Residents were complaining that there was nowhere left for them to swim in the bay. They were joined by a chorus of environmentalists who today have all gone into hibernation - certainly not because of the current heat wave - and Marsaxlokk no longer exists. Looking back on this incident three years on, I cannot but conclude that the original protest was an orchestrated political ploy to embarrass the then Nationalist government.
I have to admit that it was very well organized. Most of the campers were Labourites and most of those protesting at the time were Labourites too. Therefore, Labour stood to gain from mounting such mayhem. The incumbent government had all to lose. Those who planned it wanted to emphasize the perception of discontent with Lawrence Gonzi. In supporting the residents, those behind this event were sending a message to many, in Malta, who camp illegally.
Santa Maria is once again with us and the situation at il-Magħluqat Marsaxlokk is exactly as it was in 2012, if not worse, in particular during the weekends. It is teeming with campers and tents. But this time no one is protesting. The environmentalists are happy with the situation so much so that even the residents are not grumbling, except for the occasional lone-ranger who files a protest on the Marsaxlokk facebook homepage. The only major difference, today, is that the PN is not in government. Therefore, having campers at Marsaxlokk is now acceptable and under Labour, campers cum residents can now live happily ever after as brothers and sisters.
Environmentalists are not troubled about any damage to the surroundings; all the groaning and moaning has vanished into thin air. The Times of Malta is no longer interested in carrying a report as it did back then. At the time, readers were enthralled by fabulous photographs by Darren Zammit Lupi. His image of a brawl between campers and a resident caught the imagination of one and all. The campers were portrayed as Neanderthal men. The resident was presented as a victim of untold aggression.
Yet, in 2012, no one dared question the story or the motive behind it. Now, when comparing 2012 with 2015, one can say that it was definitely a political manoeuvre. The conclusion is natural since none of the residents are protesting despite the fact that Il-Magħluq is riddled with tents; the campers have now returned in greater force than in 2012.
It should be remembered that in the hot summer of 2012, the residents had written to the then Ministers Mario de Marco and Jason Azzopardi. The former was responsible for the environment and the latter for lands. According to The Times of Malta the residents were demanding that the campers at Marsaxlokk had to be removed immediately. And the government of the day listened to their protests. The current Minister for the Environment, Leo Brincat, is living in limbo. The Minister of Lands has too much on his plate, following the shady deals that took place under his watch, to be bothered with il-Magħluq and its use.
The Labour led Local Council in 2012 reacted by passing bye-laws to stop Il-Magħluq from being used as acamping site. But in Malta, laws are only enforced against the weakest and the unfortunate. Mysteriously, in 2015, these bye-laws have been swept under the carpet and rendered non-existent as no fines are being issued and no law enforcement seems to be needed. Incredible. Fines in Malta exist only for parking offences. But that is another story.