Government coy over agreement to sanction Armier boathouses

There is no agreement yet on the Armier boathouses as the government seeks to sanction the illegal shanty town. Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon would not say whether the solution being sought would leave the current structures intact or include their demolition and replacement with more uniform beach rooms. “There were various draft agreements over the years but we are working to regularise the situation as much as possible... all options are being considered and nothing is cast in stone,” he said. But sources told The Sunday Times of Malta that the talks initiated by Dr Falzon’s predecessor, now Social Policy Minister Michael Farrugia, focused on sanctioning the existing boathouses subject to certain conditions. The conditions included the removal of boathouses built after 1992 and those situated close to historic ruins and on the foreshore. The government is also discussing a fine and rental fee as compensation for the illegal encroachment on government land. More in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.