Please, please expedite repairs to the Hondoq damage

Published on http://www.gozonews.com/ by Francesca Meilak on 22nd March, 2009.

I have just written an article for a British newspaper urging visitors to Malta to come to Gozo for the archaeology, the history and days at the beach in Hondoq and Ramla.

I wrote assuring my readers of this Travel section "swimming is safe and glorious at Hondoq with stunning views of Comino just across the water."

My article has already gone to print. How awkward to have to write a correction saying that heavy weather has caused considerable damage, tossed boulders in the way and that swimming and diving are no longer safe.

Please, please can the appropriate authorities remove the boulders and repair all the damage to Hondoq expeditiously.

Let everyone, Gozitans, Maltese and visitors continue to bask in its wonderful Mediterranean waters.

To view the pictures and comments, go to http://gozonews.com/featured/please-please-expedite-repairs-to-the-hondoq-damage/

Exactly what does the term Eco Gozo mean

Published on http://www.gozonews.com/ by James A. Tyrrell.

Can I direct a question please to the Government in general and to the Gozo minister Giovanna Debono in particular? I have just been in touch with a friend on the island and learned from them that the damaged quay at Hondoq ir-Rummien on Gozo has still not been repaired. What sort of signal does this give to the tourist industry?

As can be seen from the photographs published earlier a lot of boulders have been deposited on the beach, which will obviously need to be cleared away. However what is not immediately obvious from the photographs is the deposition of large boulders under the water particularly at the end of the quay where the children normally dive in. Is the idea here to wait until such times as a child gets seriously injured and then do something about the problem?

When you take this sort of inaction at Hondoq and then consider the rusted concrete eyesore at Dwejra and the destruction of farming land at Nadur you begin to question exactly what the term Eco Gozo means!

To view the comments, go to http://gozonews.com/letters/exactly-what-does-the-term-eco-gozo-mean-readers-letter/

Danger for children in Gozo waters

Published on The Times of Malta on Wednesday 18th March, 2009 by James A. Tyrrell.

I would like to direct a question to the government in general and to Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono in particular. I have just been in touch with a friend on the island and learned that the damaged quay at Ħondoq ir-Rummien on Gozo has still not been repaired. What sort of signal does this send to the tourist industry? As could be seen from photographs published earlier, a lot of boulders have been deposited on the beach, which will obviously need to be cleared away. However, what is not immediately obvious from those photographs was the deposition of large boulders under the water particularly at the end of the quay where the children normally dive in. Is the idea here to wait until such times as a child gets seriously injured and then do something about the problem?

When one takes this sort of inaction at Ħondoq and then considers the rusted concrete eyesore at Dwejra and the destruction of farming land at Nadur, one begins to question exactly what the term Eco Gozo means!

To view the comments, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090318/letters/danger-for-children-in-gozo-waters

Standing up to the bullies

Part of an article published on the Times of Malta on Monday 2nd March,2009 by Mario Vella.

Only last December, many Maltese and Gozitans congratulated and patted themselves on their back because a Maltese was awarded the special jury prize for the most deserving work in the International Volunteer Day competition organised by the Fédération Francaise du Bénévolat et de la Vie Associative (FFBA). That Maltese was Astrid Vella. She won this European award and received 12,000 votes from different countries in recognition of work carried out by the FAA, especially for the battle against development in the Tal-Papa area in Birżebbuġa, the scheduling of the area around Villa Bologna in Attard and the protection of the Gozitan scenic sites of Ramla l-Ħamra and Ħondoq ir-Rummien.

One expects all those who, less than three months ago, were made proud by Ms Vella and the FAA to speak out now against the bullies who cannot forgive her and her colleagues for having dared to oppose the co-cathedral museum extension project. It's not enough for them to merely grumble. They need to stand up to the bullies if they do not wish to be their accomplices.

To view the whole article, go to http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090302/opinion/standing-up-to-the-bullies/