Qalet Marku ‘shanty town’ mysteriously disappears

Makeshift tents in what looked like a shanty town that mushroomed recently at Qalet Marku in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq disappeared mysteriously, just a day after Times of Malta flagged the matter to the authorities. However, parts of this popular spot formerly occupied by the tents are still littered with debris and rubbish and, in some cases, pose a safety hazard. The issue was flagged to the authorities last Thursday when Times of Malta received complaints that at least five large tents had been erected at strategic points on the Qalet Marku peninsula. It was also pointed out that the makeshift structures had remained there for weeks despite persistent complaints and reports to the authorities. An onsite inspection by this newspaper confirmed that the tents were being used as dormitories, with rugs and mattresses all over the place. However, bar one case, all appeared to be uninhabited.  Waste littered the site where the unsightly structures, which lacked any sanitary facilities, stood and the surrounding trees had evidently fallen victim to the ‘shanty town’ residents. “These tents were frequented over weekends by a number of Syrian families who would be especially visible at night due...