Marsa Mayor Luke Farrugia has hit back at accusations of racism and defended his decision to publish CCTV footage of illegal dumping incidents, after a man featured in one of his videos publicly criticised him for exposing both him and his seven-year-old son online.The controversy began after Farrugia shared footage showing an adult and child dumping rubbish in Triq is-Serkin, an area that has long struggled with illegal waste disposal. The man later responded in a Facebook video, arguing that the mayor should focus on addressing the locality’s waste problems rather than publicly shaming residents.While acknowledging that he had disposed of a rubbish bag at the site, the man claimed the area was already overwhelmed by far larger waste issues, including horse manure, cardboard, plastic and other refuse.He also questioned why authorities had taken action against him while the broader problem remained unresolved. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)In response, Farrugia issued a lengthy statement defending both his actions and the council’s approach to enforcement.The mayor said he had previously faced accusations of racism after sharing footage involving another individual who appeared to come from a different ethnic background. To counter those claims, Farrugia pointed to a separate video he had uploaded months earlier involving a different person.“I don’t look at culture, race or skin colour,” he said, insisting that anyone caught breaking waste regulations could be reported regardless of who they are.Farrugia also sought to explain how waste collection operates around the Marsa stables, where horse manure disposal has been a recurring issue.According to the mayor, four large skips previously installed for manure collection had to be removed after people began using them to dispose of everything from cookers and wardrobes to toilets and pushchairs. As a result, the skips were permanently removed.He said horse owners were subsequently provided with hundreds of smaller skips free of charge, along with a daily manure collection service. However, he alleged that some individuals continue to dump manure and black rubbish bags illegally on open land rather than dispose of them through the available system.Farrugia stressed that the purpose of publishing CCTV footage is not personal humiliation but deterrence and public awareness.“I expose these individuals to show that the cameras work, that people are being prosecuted and to raise awareness about illegal dumping,” he said.The mayor added that faces are always concealed before footage is uploaded and said it would be impossible to publish every incident captured on camera.He also praised horse enthusiasts who cooperate with authorities and comply with waste regulations, stressing that the actions of a minority should not reflect on the wider community.Concluding his statement, Farrugia said anyone offended by being featured in such footage should first consider whether they had broken the law.“Think twice before breaking the law,” he said. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”The exchange has reignited debate over illegal dumping in Marsa, with some residents calling for stronger enforcement and others arguing that authorities should place greater emphasis on improving waste management infrastructure across the locality.What do you make of the mayor’s comments?•