Scores of people joined Moviment Graffitti on Saturday morning in the public protest ‘Kemmuna ta’ Kulhadd – Reclaim Blue Lagoonon Comino’ to express their anger at the authorities’ inaction towards the over-commercialisation of the Blue Lagoon.

There was a Police presence on the island to attempt a halt to the protest, as well as several beach goers complaining about the activists and the rally.

Moviment Graffitti stated that “although the police had to ensure that the space is kept free for the protest to take place, the deckchair operators brought their friends and tried to occupy the space with the police’s complicity.”Moviment Graffitti had organised boats from both Malta and Gozo to ferry the protesters to Comino.

Armed with placards and chants, protesters said that they “peacefully ensured that the shore remained free of the deckchairs and umbrellas which usually smother the coast by early morning everyday in summer.”

The protest is the second action of the kind this summer, with a surprise appearance by activists who cleared the beach of deckchairs and umbrellas sending waves of approval across the country.

Today’s protest also follows two open letters to five ministers who are responsible for several aspects of the island’s management, laying down demands to ensure the Blue Lagoon’s protection and unbridled public access.The activists made it clear that the pressure on authorities “will not subside as long as a few people with money and political influence snatch what rightfully belongs to the people while over exploiting a nature reserve for their private profits.”

Moviment Graffitti reiterated their demands for immediate action to stop the damage being done to the Blue Lagoon and return the beach to the people:

1. `Deckchairs and umbrellas are only set up at the request of a person physically present on the spot, and at no time should they occupy more than 30% of the entire area of the Blue Lagoon.

2. Big boats which disembark hundreds of tourists at a time should be prohibited from Comino.

3. There should be a limit of two small kiosks, without music, in the Blue Lagoon.

4. There should be restrictions on the type and amount of waste generated, and this should be collected every day in the evening to avoid sustaining rats, which cause great damage to the natural environment.”

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