Update 2 | Armier squatters express solidarity with Michael Briguglio

The Green Party chairperson Michael Briguglio received a written threat on the Armier issue, and has handed over the letter he received to the Sliema police, where a report was filed.

Briguglio said: "I thank the Police for their cooperation. I am not intimidated by the threat which I received, and which also threatened my family. I will immediately inform the police if other threats occur."

In reaction, Armier Developments Ltd expressed its solidarity with the Green Party leader and "condemned without any reservations" the act.

The Armier squatters said they would continue to work with the country's authorities on issues related to boathouses, just like it has been doing for the past 35 years.

"We encourage everyone to join us in our cooperation with the authorities so that everyone who has something to answer for does so before the courts," the association said.

Alternattiva Demokratika have consistently stated that the illegal Armier boathouses should be removed and squatters should not be permitted to enjoy the fruits of their crime.

AD's 2013 electoral manifesto states that The Greens will remain "the strongest defenders of what is left of Malta's environmental heritage", committing itself towards "better public spaces and better infrastructure", as well as "not being held hostage by big business, hunters, trappers, fireworks fanatics, Armier squatters, and big land developers." 

Meanwhile during a press conference held in Valletta on Tuesday, AD candidate Arnold Cassola said that The Green Party was calling for the Whistleblower's Act, and the Freedom of Information Act to be entrenched in the Constitution.

He said that in the wake of recent scandals, revealed by MaltaToday, "it was becoming more than urgent that such important laws are entrenched in the Constitution."

Cassola said that it was positive that the Nationalist Party was proposing that monies and assets seized from corrupt persons and be returned to society through civic projects, but urged that time barring must be extended, otherwise there would be nothing substantial to seize.

He also questioned why the PN has not proposed the Whistleblower's Act in ints electoral programme.

AD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo confirmed a story carried by MaltaToday last Friday, where the Electoral Commission was arguing that the Electoral Law supercedes the Data Protection Law.

The matter was raised over access to information of patients at Mater Dei and in old people's homes.

Cacopardo also called for legislation on listed companies, who would be obliged by law to compile Corporate Social Responsibility reports.

While recognising that Bank of Valletta is the only bank which so far publishes a CSR report, he called on all banks to start considering the environmental impact before granting loans on projects.

"We should not only blame Mepa for the responsibility of controversial development permits, but also the banks who finance the projects," Cacopardo said.