Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1131709
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 JUNE 2019 3 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The protest started outside St Luke's Hospital in Pietá at 6:30pm, with the group marching up to the offices of the Malta Developers Association in the vicinity. Graffitti's protest was organised in the wake of three building collapses, all of which occurred over a period of less than two months. One occurred in Mellieha with another two happening in Gwardamanga. All these buildings were adjacent to construction sites. The last of the accidents took place just last Thursday in Gwardamanga. The families living in the apartment block have had to be provided with temporary accommodation by the Housing Authority. The families who resided in the last Gwardamanga apartment which par- tially collapsed last Thursday will be temporarily accommodated in four apartments provided by the Housing Authority. Graffitti's Andre Callus told MaltaTo- day the day before the protest that de- velopers had amassed too much power over the years and this has resulted in government policies reflecting their in- terests over that of every day citizens. Authorities, he said, were often ser- vile to this class of people. Callus said the protest had been or- ganised because of the group's belief in the power of civil society. In light of the three incidents, the NGO has also made a list of urgent de- mands "in order to safeguard the safety of residents around Malta". One of these asks for a limit to devel- opment permits issued by the various authorities and an end to the laissez- faire attitude in the planning sector. Foreigners were also amongst the protesting crowd. One placard painted pigs under the MDA logo. Others read 'Gaffanculo.' The march concluded with afflicted residents telling their story in short words. One of them said that she "would not stop fighting for justice." Callus concluded proceedings, say- ing that the "incest between developers and politicians needs to stop." Sandro Chetcuti from MDA did not come out to meet the protestors as he had suggested he might during a de- bate on Xarabank last Friday. Owners of collapsed buildings vow to 'continue fight for justice'