Castelvetrano, the clearing of the former "Calcestruzzi Selinunte" cement factory is underway: for a decade it had been occupied by foreign seasonal workers in extremely degraded conditions.

Castelvetrano, the clearing of the former “Calcestruzzi Selinunte” cement factory is underway: for ten years it had been occupied by foreign seasonal workers in extremely degraded conditions.

The clearing operation of the illegal settlement at the former "Calcestruzzi Selinunte" cement factory began this morning, on the border between the territories of Castelvetrano and Campobello di Mazara, occupied for over a decade by foreign seasonal workers.

This is a problem that this Prefecture has constantly followed in order to identify an institutional path that would ensure the definitive overcoming of the "encampment" created by the numerous foreign workers who arrive in the territory of this province every year for the olive harvest, living in conditions of extreme degradation from a human and hygienic-sanitary point of view.

The area concerned consists of a former abandoned factory in which numerous foreign workers who arrive in the territory of this province have found refuge for over ten years, reaching the substantial number of 800 presences, on the occasion of the campaign olive growing, preparing precarious and dilapidated homes and living in conditions of absolute degradation with consequent repercussions on health, public order and safety.

Furthermore, on the night between 29 and 30 September 2021 the entire site was destroyed by a serious fire that broke out due to accidental causes in which a young man originally from Guinea Bissau lost his life; this very serious event did not induce the occupants to abandon the site, which was, instead, immediately reoccupied by the migrants who set up the camp again in a very short time.

To address this complex problem, since 8 June 2021 a "permanent table" has been established at this Prefecture with the participation of all the institutional actors involved which met with numerous meetings, until last 16 May, in order to identify shared strategies and create the conditions for a definitive resolution of the problem.

In addition to the mayors of the municipalities of Castelvetrano and Campobello di Mazara, the meetings were attended by the police force, the fire brigade, the ASP, the Red Cross, the regional department of family, social and labor policies, the Regional Department of Civil Protection, UNHCR, EBAT - Bilateral Agricultural Territorial Body of the province of Trapani, as well as, on some occasions, also the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Marsala for judicial aspects.

From the first meetings, the need arose to identify and work towards an alternative housing solution for the occupants that would allow the definitive disposal of the illegal settlement which, in addition to presenting - as mentioned - very serious critical issues from a hygienic-sanitary point of view, favors the labor exploitation, gangmastering and other criminal phenomena.

The work of the "permanent table" was immediately oriented towards the planning of targeted projects through an activity of impulse, orientation and technical support in favor of the two aforementioned municipalities, where mostly foreign immigrant workers converge.

Thanks to the support constantly provided by the Prefecture, also through the permanent table, the Municipalities of Castelvetrano and Campobello di Mazara have, therefore, developed projects for the construction of housing developments which have already been approved for financing and are currently under construction.

In particular, the Management Authority of European funds and national operational programmes, at the Ministry of the Interior, Department of Public Security, has admitted for financing two projects under the POC Legalità 2014-2020 funds – Axis 3 – Action 3.2, the “Welcome in legality” project, proposed by the Municipality of Castelvetrano, and the project proposed by the Municipality of Campobello di Mazara, concerning the creation of a hostel for immigrant agricultural workers who are victims of gangmastering in the area of ​​the former “Fontane d' oil mill Gold”, with a value of approximately 1.300.000 euros each.

The hope is to guarantee for the next olive growing campaigns the presence of adequate structures capable of counteracting the degradation that characterizes the illegal housing settlement and offering a stable housing alternative to the former abandoned cement factory which is being cleared out today.

Pending the implementation of the aforementioned projects and in order to decently host regular seasonal workers in conjunction with the start of the olive growing campaign, a camp was set up, both in 2021 and 2022, at the former "Fontane d'" oil mill. gold" in the territory of the municipality of Campobello di Mazara, made up of 50 housing modules donated by UNHCR to the Prefecture, which welcomed hundreds of workers in a context of legality, thanks to the management carried out by the Italian Red Cross and financed by the Family Department, of Social and Labor Policies, Special Immigration Office, of the Sicilian Region, as part of the Su.Pr.Eme program. Italy (South Protagonist in overcoming emergencies in the context of serious exploitation and serious marginalization of foreigners regularly present in the five least developed regions).

Despite the creation of this alternative, a large group of non-EU workers, probably without the requirements for regular residence in the area, wanted to maintain a stable residence at the former cement factory, refusing the possibility of being hosted at the regular settlement set up in " Golden Fountains”.

Having therefore created the essential premises and launched the projects that will represent the stable alternative to the illegal settlement, it was unanimously held within the Provincial Committee of Public Order and Security that the time was now ripe to carry out the clearance of the former cement factory , within which numerous critical issues and situations of evident and widespread illegality have emerged in the meantime.

The Mayor of Castelvetrano therefore adopted, last February 21st, the eviction order, which became inevitable not only for hygienic-sanitary reasons but also for the precarious structural conditions of the cement factory, ascertained by the Fire Brigade during the inspection arranged by this Prefecture.

In order to concretely implement the aforementioned union ordinance and prevent new future occupations, it is now necessary to coordinate the reclamation activities of the site, demolishing the precarious structures created by the occupants and ensuring the disposal of the immense quantity of waste, including bulky waste, including asbestos, accumulated over the years within the area.

In order to plan these complex activities and determine their costs, this Prefecture held further meetings of the permanent table and, at the request of the Mayor of Castelvetrano, a generous extraordinary contribution was also obtained from both the Ministry of the Interior - Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration both by the Presidency of the Sicilian Region - Regional Department of Civil Protection, necessary to support the Municipal Administration in the onerous financial commitment connected to the reclamation operations that will be carried out to the detriment of the private owners of the occupied areas.

As a result of this complex planning activity carried out with the coordination of the Prefecture and with the support of the Regional Department of Civil Protection, the demolition of the buildings and illegal works present in the area of ​​the former "Calcestruzzi Selinunte" cement factory will be carried out by the 4th Rubber Engineer Regiment - "Simeto" Battalion of the Army, while the waste present in the area will be removed and disposed of by the Municipality of Castelvetrano which will make use of the company that currently takes care of the environmental hygiene service in that area.

Following the eviction, regular workers who have no other shelter will be able to temporarily find hospitality in the still active settlement at the former "Fontane d'Oro" oil mill in the municipality of Campobello di Mazara.

Today's operation is the result of a long and detailed preparation, aimed not only at the mere clearing of the occupied site, which could have been carried out quickly, but also and above all at the simultaneous creation of a valid housing alternative which inevitably required longer times and which constitutes the result of an institutional synergy constantly aimed at the affirmation and restoration of legality in a territory in which the institutions have been able to demonstrate the strength and value of joint action and constant attention in combating the crime of all types.