Momentum on Sunday said that it stands with residents in Sliema, Valletta, Marsaskala and other localities who are rightly demanding clarity, fairness and legality in the implementation of the Storm Harry damage assistance scheme.

“While Momentum fully supports assistance to households and law-abiding businesses genuinely affected by the storm, Maltese taxpayer money must never be used to reward illegalities,” the party said in a statement.

“Public funds should not be squandered on compensating illegal bars, restaurants, or establishments that had unlawfully placed tables, chairs and other structures on public land, including coastal and public spaces such as Sliema, Marsaskala, Valletta, Marsalforn and Għar Lapsi,” it added.

The party noted that the Storm Harry scheme explicitly states that it is a mitigation and recovery measure, not an open-ended compensation exercise. Yet the inclusion of ‘outdoor furniture belonging to establishments’ without any reference to permit compliance raises serious concerns, it said.

“It would be unacceptable if establishments that encroached on public space without authorisation were now compensated using public funds,” the party said.

Momentum agreed with residents’ groups that the post storm clean up presents a crucial opportunity for enforcement. As damaged outdoor furniture is removed and repairs are carried out, authorities must ensure that only approved, legally permitted outdoor areas are reinstated. Illegal encroachment into pavements, squares and coastal zones must not be allowed to return by default.

“Public land within coastal zones belongs to everyone. It cannot continue to be treated as private commercial space through abuse, weak enforcement and selective tolerance. Compensating illegal structures would amount to legitimising years of wrongdoing at the expense of residents and compliant businesses,” the party said.

Momentum called on Transport Malta and the responsible authorities to explicitly exclude illegal outdoor furniture from eligibility under the scheme and to ensure strict verification against valid permits before any payments are approved.

“Additionally, the consequences of Storm Harry should make us reflect on the great environmental and economic risks of building structures in vulnerable coastal areas,” it concluded.