I refer to the letter titled Lands Department's Priority List (October 8), penned by Stephan Rizzo of St Julians.

It is disappointing to note that Mr Rizzo misses the point about the mentioned enforcement action totally. It is too convenient to extract one news episode out of context, misquote it to one's own advantage and construct an unrealistic argument around it. It is noteworthy to mention that the 61 items returned to the establishments in Marsaxlokk were just a small portion of the over 600 items of furniture that were taken from other establishments around Malta and Gozo since last April.

These items were returned to the establishments because the Government Property Division (GPD) decided to give the owners the benefit of the doubt since they had a valid permit from the Marsaxlokk local council, about which the Lands Department was not informed.

This permit was issued for temporary activities according to Article 11, of Legal Notice 119 of year 2002, for that particular weekend. In this light, the GPD has already informed the director of the Local Government Department that local councils have adopted the untenable practice of issuing such temporary permits for use of government land without informing the GPD of the pertinent permits.

The Lands Department is the owner of government land, and hence needs to be informed whenever said land is used. We are currently addressing this issue in order to bring to an end this lack of communication with the Lands Department.

The Marsaxlokk case was the only one of its nature, and no other furniture has been returned since enforcement started taking place last April.

With regard to the other projects Mr Rizzo mentions in his letter, that he claims Lands Department should address, such projects simply do not fall under the GPD's remit. However this government is adamant to address such projects in the coming years.