WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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Source: ETV - Author: M.J. GDNUS
People from Ulcinj are preparing for a protest scheduled for Saturday at 12 PM on the new bridge leading to Velika Plaža. The protest is organized by the Association of Beach Lessees, the Restaurant Association, and the Ada Bojana Association. All of them are dissatisfied with the results of the tender, the new pricing list of the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management, both for beach leases and other coastal and public spaces managed by the Public Enterprise.
A large protest of beach lessees has been announced, said Albert Kastrati from the Beach Association on the morning program *Budilnik* on E Television. He hopes that a large number of Ulcinj citizens will participate in the protest on Saturday.
"I would like to take this opportunity to call on the politicians from our city, ministers, students, schoolchildren, and all well-meaning people to support us in large numbers," said Kastrati.
Kastrati explained that a favorable and acceptable outcome would be the annulment of the tender, annexing the contracts, and making sure that next year’s tenders fall under the jurisdiction of local governments.
He added that the information about the newly established company, Eagle Hills Montenegro, which leased 4.5 km of beaches, offering former lessees the same terms for beach leases, is unofficial.
"Until they make an official announcement, we are anxious and waiting for the outcome of those negotiations. On Saturday, a petition will be signed, which will be sent to all relevant institutions, and we will see. With this petition, we are fighting for our rights, for the protection of the Ulcinj coastline. Because we are not against investments, we want our area to develop, but not investments at any cost, and not investments just for profit. Will the local community benefit from this, will our children be able to work in these companies under normal conditions, and not for minimal wages? Is this sustainable development, or are we talking about some condo hotels, just to sell empty residential units?” Kastrati emphasized.
The *Budilnik* guest also pointed out that the citizens of Ulcinj, as well as the wider public, are not familiar with Eagle Hills’ projects, because the area where they plan to invest is, as he stressed, under protection.
"This area is under nature protection, even the dunes cannot be disturbed there, and investing in such a megalomaniacal project, I don’t think the area will be preserved,” concluded Kastrati.
