Karl Schembri
Either God is really on their side, or the new anti-littering wardens have just closed an eye at Gift of Life’s posters.
A spokesman for Environment Minister George Pullicino confirmed that none of the 6,000 posters collected last month from electricity poles, traffic lights and public places included GoL’s “+9” advertisements against abortion, alleging that life starts at conception.
Although the anti-abortion lobby group seeking to entrench criminal laws in the Constitution has taken the country by storm, with its posters affixed in several localities, the ministry did not take action against them when it defined placing posters in public spaces as “littering”.
Last week, Pullicino announced that poster offenders will soon start being fined and that a clampdown to remove thousands of posters last month has resulted in a veritable database of poster criminals.
“A database of what is being collected is being kept,” a spokesman for Pullicino said. “So far no +9 posters were found, but this does not mean that there are no +9 posters around. Action is being taken on all posters found placed illegally.
“Warnings by telephone or email are being sent to those listed in the contact details found on the same posters. The enforcement part is being co-ordinated by the secretariat of the Hon. Chris Said.”
Amendments to littering regulations will be introduced so that people or organisations whose posters are affixed illegally will be fined. At present, only those caught in the act of affixing posters are fined.
Pullicino said those wishing to affix posters will eventually be able to do so on special boards, against payment.

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