The Gozo Ministry will be offering a second series of courses as part of a project co-financed by the European Social Fund under the Structural Funds Programme for Malta 2004-2006. The courses will provide an opportunity for Gozitans to improve their employability potential. The courses offered are: Introduction to Agricultural Studies, Intro-duction to Business Studies, Introduction to Environmental Planning and Management and Introduction to E-commerce and Information Technology. Each course will start on Friday 6 October and will last for six months. Lectures will be held at the University Gozo Centre in Xewkija on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Participation is open to everyone over the age of 16. An O level standard of education is normally required for admission to the courses. Application forms and further information about these courses is available from the Project Manager at the University Gozo ... Read more...

The initiative of various institutions to promote Gozo as a tourist destination has attracted the praise of Alternattiva Demokratika?s Gozo Regional Committee. The working group, which aims at encouraging tourism to Gozo, was formed by Bank of Valletta, the Gozo Ministry, The Gozo Tourism Association, The Gozo Business Chamber, The Gozo Channel Company and Gozo local councils. AD chairman Harry Vassallo said he wished the group well and added that "among the challenges they face is the one to not only keep their business interests separate and distinct from those of Gozo as a whole, but also to be seen to have done so. In this, particularly, we wish them the greatest success." The AD Gozo Regional Committee voiced its disappointment that no representative from the tourist sector in Gozo had been asked to join the newly appointed Tourism Consultative Council. ... Read more...

The European Commission wants more of Ta' Cenc to be protected than the areas designated for conservation as proposed by the government. The Commission has not yet specified the extent of the area it wants protected, pending talks with the Maltese authorities, expected to be held over the coming weeks. Its demand follows a recent evaluation of the sites being proposed by the government to be included in the EU's Natura 2000 environment network. Sources close to the Commission said the Environment Directorate General has written to the government to demand that more be done to protect the wild species of flora and fauna present in the area and invited it to revise its plans in order to grant protection to more of the plateau. A Commission spokesman said Brussels was demanding more protection of Ta' Cenc against possible future development. He explained ... Read more...

His Grace the Bishop of Gozo, Monsignor Mario Grech, called for a framework of laws to regulate entertainment venues. These must have what he called humane opening hours and should not continue to exploit young Maltese and Gozitans. Bishop Grech was speaking at the conclusion of a diocesan pilgrimage for priests from Gozo in Marascala, Malta. Bishop Grech said that as things are the entertainment industry is dismantling what parents try to build up at home and in their families. He added that the understood what parents go through when they say that they start a new day without their children having returned home yet. He added that parents make many sacrifices and that their work often goes unrecognised. This is why the legal framework about opening hours must be put in place Bishop Grech emphasised.

Following the success of last year?s edition of Enjoying it Gozo, the Gozo Tourism Association in collaboration with the Malta Culinary Association will be organising the second edition in November. The event allows Gozitan establishments, particularly those in the tourism sector, to exhibit their products and services. A cookery competition open to Gozitan chefs, restaurants and food establishments will also be organised. Establishments wanting to book exhibition space or wanting to take part in the cookery competition are asked to contact the Gozo Tourism Association by email to gtagozo[at]onvol[dot]net or by telephone 21565171. Enjoying It Gozo will be held at the Gozo Sports Complex between 3 and 5 November.

The Malta Transport Authority said that due to road works along Ghajnsielem Road, the following Traffic Management Scheme is being implemented as from today for the duration of the works: ? Traffic from the ferry going to Victoria will not be affected and will pass along the present route. ? Traffic toward Mgarr will be diverted from the Tal-Hniena junction to Qala Road. ? In St Anthony Street, traffic will flow only towards Mgarr except for the lower part of the road where access to light vehicles will allowed up to the Grand Hotel.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo said yesterday that given the attention it deserved, Mgarr, the gateway to Gozo, could present a far better welcome than it does at present. "While the government has spent millions on the new ferry terminal, creating havoc in the area for many years while it is built, it has failed to address long-standing issues which are easily solved and cost little to address," Dr Vassallo said. The Zewwieqa area forms a small hamlet of boatsheds, bars and restaurants which could co-exist successfully if the government played its part there, he maintained. A considerable part of the land was taken up by boat trailers that had no business being there. "The chaos of trailers taking up a large square is a sign of maladministration and poor public investment priorities. Instead we have what looks like a junkyard and a ... Read more...

The Ager Foundation of Gozo has been shortlisted for the 2006 International First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards. The foundation was shortlisted from over 1200 nominations from travellers. The awards highlight tourism ventures that make a positive contribution to conservation and the economies of local communities while minimising negative environmental impacts of tourism. Ager builds partnerships with Gozitan residents by organising cultural events where visitors, foreign and Maltese, can experience agrarian and maritime lifestyles of the Gozitans. Services offered include experiencing the life of a local farmer, shepherd or a fisherman and walking tours.

Nature Trust Malta, the environmental NGO has called on the government and MEPA not to sanction the Hondoq ir-Rummien project. The NGO considers this application as a moment of truth for the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet recently pushed forward, and succeeded in extending the development zones by a further 2.4 per cent despite popular opposition and is now faced with a massive project that is Outside Development Zone. If accepted, apart from additionally increasing the development zones and setting a precedent, it means that the permanent boundaries are not permanent at all and the Cabinet must give explanations. The environmental NGO considers the proposed project unacceptable as it aims to develop a site which includes the only beach available for recreation during the prevailing north west wind. The development is mostly of the multi-ownership type that has repeatedly entered ... Read more...

The Wine Festival is taking place again this evening at the Nadur promenade, which commands breathtaking views of Comino and Malta, in collaboration with Nadur council. The festival starts at 7pm and the last wines will be served at 11.30pm. Over 20 quality Maltese and Gozitan wines are available, and those who wish to try the wines need only purchase a souvenir glass, which is theirs to keep. One can try as many wines and as often as one likes during the evening. Various local artists will keep the public entertained throughout the whole event. To accompany the wine, there are also a number of food stands offering a variety of exquisite dishes, the most popular being suckling pig. A seated dining area, The Channel View, gives diners the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic uninterrupted view of Nadur valley leading down to ... Read more...