Government, opposition mum on Armier commitments

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister replied to MaltaToday's direct question on whether the government is still bound by pre-electoral commitments made to the Armier squatters by saying that not all the conditions of the agreement have been "fully addressed".

Two separate pre electoral agreements had been signed a few days before the general elections of both 2003 and 2008.

The 2008 agreement signed 19 days before the general election renewed a pledge signed eight days before the 2003 election, to hand over 230 tumuli of public land in Armier to Armier developments on a 65-year lease against an annual Lm157,000 (€350,000) payment.

These promises were reiterated in a letter sent by Lawrence Gonzi to 8,000 people who had signed a petition supporting the Armier squatters.

Asked whether the government is still bound by these agreements, a spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister replied that: "The letter dated 18 February 2008 included certain conditions that to date have not yet been fully addressed."

No elaboration was given on which conditions still have to be addressed although MaltaToday is informed that the government is insisting on the demolition of any structure constructed after 1992.

The promise to hand over land to Armier Development Limited also depends on the approval of permits by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority which still has to approve the Marfa Action Plan which sets parameters for development in the area. The approval of the draft plan has been pending since 2002.

MEPA has recently turned down an application by Enemalta to build a substation in Armier aimed at providing the shacks with a secure supply of electricity.  During the meeting Armier lobbyist Tarcisio Barbara invoked the agreement signed with the Prime Minister before the election. But Sandra Magro who chairs MEPA's Environment Planning Commission made it clear that MEPA is bound by existing policies which do not envision any development in the area.

Labour Party mum on pre electoral commitment

On its part the Labour opposition was completely mum on its pre electoral commitments to the Armier squatters.  Questions and reminders sent to the Labour Party for the past three weeks remained unanswered. 

An agreement signed between the Labour Party and Armier Developments Limited in 2002 and 2007 states that all beach rooms in a good state should be retained, while those in a bad condition rebuilt at the squatters' expense. The agreement also excludes speculative development and binds the Armier Developments Limited to build extra rooms for people who presently do not have a beach room but desire one. The agreement also commits a future Labour government to provide "water, electricity and drainage services" to the squatter community.

Environmental NGOs and Alternattiva Demokratika have called on the two major parties not to renege on their commitments to the squatters and demolish the Armier shacks.