The abuse of public land in Malta is an endemic problem, one that is more typically associated with some third-world countries where corruption and administrative incompetence prevail. One can hardly imagine a more blatant example of the problem than the decades-long occupation of a historical site for use as a residence, with the authorities seemingly powerless or unwilling to eject the squatters. The late 19th-century Binġemma Fort is a protected site claimed as part of Malta’s heritage. Yet, a Lands Authority internal audit report flagged its illegal occupation and use by individuals who believe they are entitled to it and can deprive the public of it. That false belief appears to stem from a lease agreement to use the fort for animal rearing, not as a residence, granted to Gaetano Buttigieg by the government in 1981. It expired in 1997. An eviction order was issued in 2009. However, the family stayed put. The latest from the lands minister is that the family will “eventually” be evicted following legal proceedings. No wonder the family appears convinced it can continue to benefit from the impunity granted to them by inept politicians and public officials over the years. The...
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