Momentum welcomes Ombudsman’s recommendations, calls for immediate action to protect communities

Momentum welcomes the strong recommendations issued by the Ombudsman, calling for tougher penalties on illegal developments and urgent measures to tackle irregular kiosks and mobile structures that continue to undermine planning rules and put residents at risk.

These recommendations directly follow Momentum’s formal call last week for the Ombudsman to investigate the dangerous and illegal structures along the Sliema and Gżira seafront, where unregulated canopies and outdoor extensions have created serious fire, health and safety hazards for residents and the wider public.

Momentum’s spokesperson Matthew Agius said: “We are pleased to see the Ombudsman responding swiftly to our call for urgent action. Yesterday’s statement confirms what residents and community groups have known for far too long: existing laws and fines are not enough to deter persistent abuse. This failure leaves communities exposed to unnecessary risks and erodes trust in the rule of law.”

Agius added: “Residents along the Sliema-Gżira promenade, and in many other communities, are living with daily obstruction, safety hazards and the blatant takeover of public spaces. The fact that illegal structures can simply be wheeled away or reinstalled shows how broken the current system is.”

Momentum now calls on the Planning Ministry, the Planning Authority and all responsible agencies to act immediately to implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations in full and to restore safety, accessibility and fairness in our urban spaces.

“This is about ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone and that public safety, accessibility and residents’ quality of life are protected. The government must ensure that businesses can operate within a level playing field and therefore must stop ignoring the institutions that are doing their job and start backing them up with real action,” Agius said.

Momentum remains committed to fighting for proper enforcement, transparent governance and safer, healthier communities for all.

Momentum tilqa’ r-rakkomandazzjonijiet tal-Ombudsman, titlob azzjoni immedjata biex tipproteġi l-komunitajiet

Momentum tilqa’ r-rakkomandazzjonijiet b’saħħithom maħruġa mill-Ombudsman, li jitolbu penali aktar ħorox fuq żviluppi illegali u miżuri urġenti biex jiġu indirizzati kjosks irregolari u strutturi mobbli li jkomplu jdgħajfu r-regoli tal-ippjanar u li jpoġġu r-residenti f’riskju.

Dawn ir-rakkomandazzjonijiet isegwu direttament is-sejħa formali ta’ Momentum li saru l-ġimgħa li għaddiet lill-Ombudsman biex jinvestiga l-istrutturi perikolużi u illegali tul ix-xatt ta’ Tas-Sliema u l-Gżira, fejn tined u estensjonijiet ta’ barra mhux regolati ħolqu perikli serji ta’ nirien, saħħa u sigurtà għar-residenti u l-pubbliku inġenerali.

Il-Kelliem għal Momentum, Matthew Agius, qal: “Bi pjaċir naraw lill-Ombudsman jirrispondi malajr għas-sejħa tagħna għall-azzjoni urġenti. Id-dikjarazzjoni tal-bieraħ tikkonferma dak li ilhom jafu r-residenti u l-gruppi komunitarji: il-liġijiet u l-multi eżistenti mhumiex biżżejjed biex iwaqqfu abbuż persistenti. Dan in-nuqqas iħalli lill-komunitajiet esposti għal riskji bla bżonn u jnaqqas il-fiduċja fis-saltna tad-dritt.”

Agius żied jgħid: “Ir-residenti tul il-promenade ta’ Tas-Sliema u l-Gżira, u f’ħafna komunitajiet oħra, qed jgħixu b’ingombru ta’ kuljum, perikli għas-sigurtà u l-okkupazzjoni sfaċċata ta’ spazji pubbliċi. Il-fatt li strutturi illegali jistgħu sempliċement jitneħħew jew jerġgħu jiġu installati juri kemm is-sistema attwali hija mfarka.”

Momentum issa tappella lill-Ministeru tal-Ippjanar, lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar u lill-aġenziji responsabbli kollha ħalli jaġixxu immedjatament biex jimplimentaw ir-rakkomandazzjonijiet tal-Ombudsman b’mod sħiħ u biex jirrestawraw is-sigurtà, l-aċċessibbiltà u l-ġustizzja fl-ispazji urbani tagħna.

“Dan mhux attakk fuq negozji iżda li niżguraw li l-liġi tapplika b’mod ugwali għal kulħadd u li s-sigurtà pubblika, l-aċċessibbiltà u l-kwalità tal-ħajja tar-residenti huma protetti. Il-gvern irid jiżgura li n-negozji jistgħu joperaw b’kundizzjonijiet ugwali u għalhekk irid jieqaf jinjora l-istituzzjonijiet li qed jagħmlu xogħolhom u jibda jappoġġjahom b’azzjoni reali,” qal Agius.

Momentum tibqa’ impenjata li tiġġieled għall-infurzar xieraq, governanza trasparenti u komunitajiet aktar sikuri u b’saħħithom għal kulħadd.

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