Turmoil on the Island of the Lotus-Eaters: A Wall of Controversy
The serenity of the island of Djerba was disrupted this week by a wave of outrage from civil society and residents. The reason for their indignation? At the entrance to the fishing port of Houmt Souk, the regional management of the Agency for Ports and Fishing Facilities (APIPE) erected a 20-meter wall, justifying the structure with security reasons and the need to control illicit trade in seafood products.
However, these arguments do not seem to have convinced the residents and members of civil society, who have denounced a project carried out without the approval of the Houmt Souk municipality and consultation with the Coastal Protection Agency (APAL) and the Association for the Preservation of the Medina of Djerba. The latter are all the more outraged because this new construction, hastily built over the weekend, obstructs the view of the waterfront and disfigures the landscape, threatening the aesthetic and tourist appeal of this area of the island, which is prone to promenades and prized by locals and visitors for its breathtaking views of the sunset.
"The control of illicit trade is not a sufficient reason to disfigure our port. If there is an obstacle, fishermen can simply sell their products elsewhere. I think this wall has another function: to hide the waste that accumulates and is not collected regularly," explains Neji, a fisherman from the island. Dr. R.B. shares this mistrust and highlights the danger posed by the structure. "There is something fishy going on. This wall, built hastily over the weekend, could collapse on passersby, especially with the winds and tides."
On the agency's side, the services responsible for building the wall emphasized the security reasons that motivated the construction of the structure, but refused to provide further details.
In the face of citizen mobilization and the absence of a building permit, the municipality of Houmt Souk intervened to order the suspension of work. However, the anger has not subsided, as the demolition decree is still pending. The current status quo is fueling the concern of the people of Djerba, who fear that this project may become irreversible and permanently damage the integrity and beauty of their island.
Key Points:
- A 20-meter wall was erected at the entrance to the fishing port of Houmt Souk without the approval of the municipality or consultation with relevant agencies.
- Residents and civil society members are outraged, citing the wall's impact on the aesthetic and tourist appeal of the area.
- The agency responsible for the wall's construction claims security reasons, but has not provided further details.
- The municipality has ordered the suspension of work, but the demolition decree is still pending, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty.
