The Nationalist Party has accused the government of trying to seize private land through amendments to a legal notice.

The Nationalist Party said that it voted in favour in Parliament of protecting Malta's traditional pastimes and in favour of safeguarding private land from being seized, by voting "against legislation that endangers the future of both enthusiasts of traditional pastimes and private landowners."

While the PN is fully in favour of the protection of agricultural land, it said, it cannot support restrictions that prohibit the use of such land for traditional pastimes, nor can it accept that private land be taken by the Government and handed over to whomever it chooses. 

"A careful examination of the amendments tabled by the Government during the debate on the Nationalist Opposition's Motion to amend Legal Notice 150 on the Protection of Agricultural Land - which was voted on in the House of Representatives Tuesday morning - clearly shows that, instead of addressing the shortcomings of the Legal Notice and seeking the necessary balance between protecting the agricultural sector and allowing the enjoyment of Malta's traditional pastimes, these amendments have in fact worsened them."

"Indeed, by introducing the words 'including the practice of traditional pastimes' in Article 8 of the Government's amendments, rather than exempting the practice of Maltese traditional pastimes from these regulations, the Government has further reinforced the notion that such practices must not interfere with agricultural activities."

"Even more concerning is the fact that it is no longer sufficient for land to be unregistered for the Government to seize private land and transfer it to third parties," the PN said.

"With the addition of the words 'and is not maintained in accordance with Regulation 5' in Article 9, if agricultural land is deemed not to be properly maintained, the Government may now seize it as well."

"While the intention to protect agricultural land is one the Opposition undoubtedly supports, this must not be done at the expense of what gives us our identity as a nation. A balance must be maintained between these traditional pastimes and agriculture, as has been the case for hundreds of years."

"Moreover, the Legal Notice - and even more so the Government's amendments - runs counter to the fundamental principle of the possession and enjoyment of private property."