Moviment Graffitti activists stormed Parliament with a banner against massive development as Finance Minister Clyde Caruana was starting his budget speech.

At present, our country is facing an emergency situation. Powerful interests have seized hold of politics and other institutions. The consequence of this is a never-ending disaster in our environment and planning which is causing a great deal of suffering, and which is threatening our future and that of our children on these islands, Graffitti said in a statement.

"We can mention thousands of examples of how the reign of developers is ruling over Prime Minister Robert Abela and his Government," the movement said in a statement. The most basic and obvious reform in planning appeals - so that construction will be disallowed unless there is a definitive permit - has not been implemented despite the many promises. Numerous illegal structures - from the pools in Qala on ODZ, to apartments in Sannat, whole developments in Birżebbuġa, and many others - have been constructed and left there.

In addition, the Planning Authority has thrown the rule of law out of the window and made a mockery of the Courts when issuing permits for buildings which had been declared illegal, the statement said.

"Then the cherry on the cake. After many years ignoring the cry of thousands of residents in Malta and Gozo for a change in planning regulations, the Government has finally decided to change part of these regulations. But for whose benefit? The residents? Quality of life? The environment? No. For the benefit of developer Anton Camilleri "Tal-Franċiż" and his monstrosity at Villa Rosa," the statement said.

We have become accustomed to their strategy by now. When they know that we are right and that they have something to hide, they ignore us. They do not discuss with us, and they do not address what we call for, just as they are doing at the moment.

"But we are not willing to live in a developers' dictatorship and watch our country continue to be ruined by greed. We will not let you ignore us. The fight continues."