Nature Trust (Malta) has reiterated its position against more development at Ta' Cenc and is concerned with the state of affairs as regards tourism related development in the Islands. The NGO has repeatedly asked for the protection of this unique site in Gozo, one of the last open areas of wilderness in Gozo. A call for its protection was lodged formally with MEPA and with the European Commission on the basis that the whole area extending from Ta' Cenc cliffs, and comprising the whole plateau and valleys of Wied Sabbara and Mgarr ix-Xini, should be declared without delay as a Natura 2000 site due to the presence on site of habitats and species of Community Importance which the Maltese Government is duty-bound to protect as per the Habitats Directive and national legislation. An adjacent site along Xlendi Cliffs was proposed by the Government, however this proposal lacks ecological coherence as it stops abruptly just a short distance from the Ta Cenc area where the proposed touristic development is being proposed. Read more...

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo has highlighted the case of a Paceville resident forced into a long series of legal actions and correspondence with government entities in order to try and safeguard the basics of his quality of life. "The case of David Alamango is being raised as an illustration of hundreds, perhaps of thousands of similar cases across Gozo and Malta in which ordinary citizens find that there are no effective and timely remedies available to them regardless of their appeals to the local councils, to the police, to the Ombudsman, to Mepa and to the courts when they find themselves in conflict with business interests" Dr Vassallo said. Read more...

This is a statement issued by The La Stella Philharmonic Society Society, replying to the statement made by The Leone Philharmonic Society : The La Stella Philharmonic Society is not surprised that once again the Il Leone Band Club tries to make use of the media to publish false and misleading statements which show division and hatred in Victoria. This is more or less a repeat of the situation pertaining to August 16, 2006 when Dr Michael Caruana on Radju Katidral broadcast statements for which eventually he was condemned by the Malta Broadcasting Authority "for spreading hatred" in the community of Victoria and for which Radju Katidral was made to broadcast a public apology on January 30, 2007. Read more...

GO recently supported a fund-raising activity organised by Malta Hospice Movement this summer. The initiative is in line with the company's very long-standing tradition of supporting the philanthropic organisation's activities with the common goal of offering a better quality of life for patients with serious medical problems. The Malta Hospice has gained respect locally over the years for exclusive holistic support that the movement's team of dedicated members offers on a voluntary basis to cancer and motor neuron disease patients and their families. Malta Hospice considers patients not just as sick persons but as human beings and focuses on their physical, emotional, social and spiritual problems implementing an individual care plan for each patient. Read more...

The Bank of Valletta has extended a sponsorship towards the restoration of the titular painting of the Parish Church of Ghasri. The perpendicular painting, by renowned Zebbug born artist Lazzaro Pisani (1854-1932), depicts the Institution of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper, featuring Jesus Christ and the twelve Apostles and displaying various traditional biblical aspects associated with the represented event. Read more...

Two men, one Gozitan and one Maltese, have appeared at the Gozo Courts charged with stealing items worth Lm8,000 from a house in Fontana six months ago. Joscar Camilleri, 21, of Fontana and Johan Micallef, 30, of Msida, plead not guilty to burgling the home of Paul and Regina Zammit, causing over Lm50 damage to the house and conspiring to commit a crime on February the 25th. Both men were refused bail and remanded in custody. Read more...

Bishop Mario Grech recently visited Radju Lauretana, Ghajnsielems new radio station. Mgr Grech was greeted by Archpriest Fr Frankie Bajada and Lelio Spiteri, Director of Radju Lauretana. Lelio Spiteri interviewed the Bishop and then Mgr Grech addressed the listeners himself, remarking that he was very pleased that Ghajnsielem Parish was providing such a service to its parishioners, both for those living in Ghajnsielem and for those living abroad.

Dr Harry Vassallo has written to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies advising him of a possible case of breach of privilege committed during a public consultation hearing on the Ta' Cenc Development application. In his letter Dr Vassallo said that the representative of the Developer Mr Victor Borg implied in his speech during official proceedings, which are an intrinsic part of the planning process and necessarily open to the public, that had a sufficient number of villas been available he would have been able to bribe all members of parliament. "The speech is recorded and will be transcribed as part of an official document. No self-respecting parliament can afford to ignore such an allegation and should summon Mr Borg before it to substantiate his claims, to explain the facts if any on which it is based and to decide what ... Read more...

Ever since its inception in October 2002, the Gozo Youth Wind Band and Orchestra has been entertaining the general public with band and orchestral music repertoires in the most colourful manner, including styles ranging from Classical to Modern, Film and Show Music. Amongst the excerpts performed one finds: Harry Potter, Gladiator, The Mask of Zorro, Pirates of The Carribean, La Forza Del Destino, Aladin, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Miss Saigon, Sound of Music and more. Read more...

Agriculture on the island of Gozo remains an important economic activity, not only because it is a direct source of employment, but also because it makes available genuine agricultural products that are provided to the local market for fresh consumption as well as processing, resulting in the generation of more indirect employment on Gozo. The Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, said this during a visit to agricultural fields in the limits of Ghajnsielem, where the harvesting of tomatoes for processing is in full bloom. The agriculture sector has seen an upward trend since 2004, as was confirmed by the Ciantar brothers from Ghajnsielem. Read more...