Moviment Graffitti carried out a 'direct action' earlier this evening, by standing with placards behind Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Konrad Mizzi during a Gvern Li Jisma event, which was aired live on Facebook.

The NGO held posters which created a striking backdrop for the three ministers present (Minister Konrad Mizzi, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Roderick Galdes). The posters read; ‘Public Land - valid only for the super rich - while stocks last’.

Addressing the presence of the protestors, Minister Mizzi said that “We have a free country, where everyone can speak their mind [..] however, I have no problem with defending the track record of this government”.

In a press statement, the group said; "this action is being held to denounce the transfer of public land for private profits, particularly the shameful deal with the db Group (for the ITS site in St Julian's). This is a land grab by big business."

The group said that public land currently used for educational purposes, "with an estimated value of €212 million, was given to the db Group for the risible price of €15 million, for private development. Just imagine the sky-high profits the db Group will be harvesting from land that was once property of all Maltese citizens."

Moviment Graffitti said that the government will spend at least €75 million to relocate ITS to SmartCity. "Not only was public land given for a pittance to a private company, but the Maltese people will also end up paying in order for Silvio Debono to make his chunky profits."

"The €15 million will be paid over an eight-year period with a zero-interest rate. It seems that such interest-free 'loans' are only available to the super-rich. Most Maltese people have to pay, throughout the larger part of their lifetime, interest-laden loans just to be able to have a roof over their head. Hundreds of luxury apartments will be built and sold by db group on what once was public land, whilst thousands of Maltese are struggling to pay their rent and their bank loans. This land is being given to a company that boasts of having flouted the law on political party financing. So, did this 'deal' come about as a result of the company's shady practices?"

Moviment Graffitti said that "our scarcest and most precious resource, land, is being squandered so that a few people fatten their pockets. Both Nationalist and Labour administrations have given out swathes of public land for private interests - Tigne Point, Manoel Island, Zonqor, Dock 1, Fort Chambray, Portomaso, Penderplace, Fort Cambridge, SmartyCity, ITS and more. Malta is being sold out to the super-rich."

"We have to wake up and stop this plundering! Public land is to be used for the collective well-being and not for big business to make its profits."

Despite the protests, Minister Mizzi spoke to a cheering crowd about the environment initiatives which the government has worked on throughout the years, also speaking about a plan to create “new water” from drainage water, which will create 7 million litres per year, which he called a “revolution”.

He also spoke about a carpark in Marsaxlokk, for which tenders will be proposed in the coming weeks. 

Video edited by Jonathan Borg, filmed by Moviment Graffitti