The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said it was concerned about the state of the Gozo ferry terminals. It called for a site management team to be set up to enforce proper management of the areas and keep close liaison with consumer and tourism entities to ensure that standards are met and maintained. It insisted that these areas must be kept as tidy as possible and that the perimeter fencing round the restricted works area and storage areas should be properly maintained and kept in good order. While the ticketing office at the Cirkewwa terminal is adequate the tent structure on the Mgarr side is not very welcoming, the association complained. The level of cleanliness in the area left much to be desired and the wire-fenced corridor leading passengers onto the boat was exposed to the weather and flanked by mounds of rubbish ... Read more...

Strong winds and sheer bad luck conspired against Gozo Channel yesterday leaving it to operate with just one ferry as hundreds attempted to cross over for carnival weekend. As Gozo businesses prepared for one of its busiest weekends, that would financially make up for the past two slow months, many Maltese were calling to cancel their booking when they learnt they had to wait at least eight hours to cross over. Gozo Channel chairman Joe Borg was hopeful that all three ferries will be operating this afternoon; little consolation for those whose weekend plans have been disrupted. "We spend so much time planning on how to market carnival to attract Maltese people to our island after two quiet months and something like this happens that throws everything out of sync," a disappointed Nadur mayor, Chris Said, ... Read more...

Police investigations into the murder of a 78-year-old woman, whose lifeless body was found in a well in Gozo, led them to an Egyptian man who admitted that he had stolen from her residence a few months before the murder, a court heard yesterday. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera was hearing the evidence of police inspectors in the compilation of evidence against Ibrahim El Digwi, 40, residing in Xaghra, who is pleading not guilty to stealing from the residence of Maria Attard on June 14, 2001. Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino and Antonello Grech declared in court they had both received confidential information that the accused was involved in the murder of Ms Attard which occurred in February 2002. The woman had been found dead in a well in a field at the back of her residence. It was due to this information that ... Read more...

"Apparently the conflict of the public tender for the building and reconstruction of the road from Mgarr to San Lawrenz is resolved and citizens can notice some new billboards promoting this EU-funded project," Dr Harry Vassallo chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika said. "We congratulate all those involved in resolving this dispute and hope that these works start with no further delay. Residents in the western part of Gozo received a personal letter from the Gozo Ministry, stating that although people are going to suffer some inconveniences, at the end they will be awarded with a new road from San Lawrenz to Victoria built to European standards. However at no point did this letter mention a time-frame of this much-awaited project. Nor did it give any details of the plans and provisional alternatives," Victor Galea, AD Gozo regional committee spokesman said. The road ... Read more...

During the cold month of February the mighty wind was in its worst form. The consequence of this was that transportation between Malta and Gozo was in difficulty. Many Gozitans workers were trapped in Malta while many Maltese ones were imprisoned in Gozo. This means nothing but inconvenience. It is not the first time and it will not be the last that bad weather stops travelling by boat, yet journeys to and from can always be made by helicopter. Yet, one will refrain from using the helicopter service because the price is too expensive for some and not everybody can afford the exorbitant fees. It is no wonder therefore that in winter, one thinks twice before going to Gozo. In these circumstances, one wonders if it's not too much to ask the government of Lawrence Gonzi to subsidise these journeys to make them ... Read more...

Alternattiva Demokratika spokesman Mark Causon said it was high time that those responsible for the "deplorable state" of Independence Square in Victoria, known as It-Tokk, take the necessary measures to clean it up, due to the health risk associated with large accumulations of bird droppings. The area, which is also frequented by tourists, is plagued with the droppings. Moreover, the toilets are infested with cockroaches and rats and there are open drains, AD claimed. AD Gozo regional committee spokesman Victor Galea said that exposing children and adults to such an environment at the upcoming carnival activities is unacceptable.

Legislation currently being drafted will feature incentives to cover the transport of merchandise between Gozo and Malta. The new legislation will be included in future incentive packages in such a way as to remain compatible with EU state aid regulations. Investment Minister Austin Gatt gave this information when answering a Parliamentary question by Anton Refalo (MLP).

Deposits with commercial banks in Gozo over the past five years totalled Lm153,138,000 in 2001, Lm182,432,000 in 2002, Lm185,362,000 in 2003, Lm172,209,000 in 2004 and Lm199,465,000 until last September. Answering a Parliamentary question by Labour MP Anton Refalo, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said bank loans in Gozo for the respective periods amounted to Lm52,784,000, Lm51,553,000, Lm63,806,000, Lm81,829,000 and Lm101,903,000.

This year The Helping Hands Group has something special in store in commemoration of it's 10th anniversary. A brilliant production entitled ?LesMisSaigonGuerre? taken from Schoenberg and Boublil?s Masterpieces Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre. This show will be staged at the Oratory Don Bosco, Victoria Gozo on the 18th and 25th March 2006. A spectacular full scale production will be held on the 15th July 2006 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre at 8.00pm. This musical spectacle is one that definitely should not be missed. A 70 strong National Orchestra will be directed by Mro. Joseph Grech. This orchestra will be accompanied by a 100 strong chorus including the established singers from St. Monica choir and The Helping Hands Group. A well known cast of singers will ... Read more...

Bishop Mario Grech has visited the Leone and La Stella band clubs as part of his first pastoral visits to the Gozo Cathedral and St George's Basilica in Victoria.... Read more...