Moviment Graffiti reclaims Blue Lagoon by removing deckchairs and umbrellas

Moviment Graffitti has the morning been carrying out an action that it said, “should have been taken a long time ago by the authorities – that of peacefully removing deckchairs and umbrellas from the Blue Lagoon in Comino.”

In a statement on Saturday, the NGO argued that “these deckchairs are placed on every inch of the shoreline – jetty, beaches and rocks – before the first tourist boats arrive, by private vendors who treat the Blue Lagoon as their own personal beach lido.”

Moviment Graffitti claimed that “many Maltese say they never visit Comino because of this. This should not happen.”

“The Blue Lagoon is a public area that should be free for everyone; residents and tourists alike, to enjoy without being coerced into paying for something they do not want,” it said.

Moviment Graffiti explained that “we decided to take the matter into our own hands after Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo once again kicked the can down the road when he promised to crack down on deckchair vendors but failed to specify how or when.”

“Moviment Graffitti did not want the issue to be swept under the carpet for yet another summer and so we took direct action.”Earlier this week, Moviment Graffitti wrote an open letter to five ministers ^[1] outlining six demands related to Blue Lagoon and Comino as a whole:

1. “Sunbeds and umbrellas should only be rented out on request by persons physically present at the beach and should never occupy more than a stipulated percentage of the beach so as to ensure that public access and enjoyment of the bay and the foreshore is left unencumbered, in conformity with the Public Domain Act. This number should form part of a policy document for Comino in keeping with the recommendations of ERA’s Comino Management Plan (2019).

2. The number and size of kiosks around the beach should be far more limited to prevent congestion and over-commercialisation of the area and must form part of a policy document for Comino, also in keeping with the recommendations of the Comino Management Plan. It must be urgently ensured that kiosks sell drinks in biodegradable material and that straws are also biodegradable.

3. Any commercial activity around Blue Lagoon must operate on the basis of permits issued by the government which cover a financial contribution for the upkeep of the bay. Commercial operators that do not abide by established rules should see their permits revoked.

4. Government must take urgent action to ensure the upkeep and proper patrolling of the island of Comino including but not only distributing rubbish bins in appropriate areas and making sure rangers have the authority to enforce the rules in place. Rubbish should also be collected at the end of each day.

5. Urgently abolish music from kiosks and boats and loud generators.

6. Urgently launch work on a policy document for Comino which includes carrying capacity in keeping with the recommendations of the Comino Management Plan. This policy must prohibit large ferries (such as catamarans) from entering Blue Lagoon and place a limit on the amount of ferries that can daily enter the bay.”

Moviment Graffitti said that, “predictably, these demands have so far been met with silence.”

The “lawlessness” in the Blue Lagoon area is by no means the only issue that needs urgent attention in Comino, it said.

“Also of concern is the way that the Hili Group has completely closed off access to San Niklaw Bay with gates and fences. We would like to remind everyone that according to Maltese law, the first 15 metres of shoreline are considered public domain,” the NGO said.

Moviment Graffitti warned that “if these issues are not resolved, we will be back.”

Photos: Moviment Graffitti