The start of squatter eviction

Abstract

Finally, this column's appeals to the government to start evicting squatters from public land are finally followed up. The government's Property Division (GPD) committee, spearheaded by the resolute Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzo-pardi, has decided to bite the bullet and embark on the eviction of squatters from a number of sites, most notably the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq caravan site. Predictably, the aggrieved parties - the caravan owners, or better still, the squatters on public land - have cooked up all sorts of sob stories to try and gather sympathy. We heard arguments on the lines of "I am a pensioner and can't afford to rent a house in summer and the caravan at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq is my only source of recreation." Such arguments are reminiscent of those put forward by L-Aħrax and Ġnejna boathouse owners when faced with the prospects of eviction ("we don't do drugs" or "we don't go to Paceville").