The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is investigating two individuals who were photographed mixing mortar using sand and pebbles taken from the small Mgarr ix-Xini beach in Gozo. The work was conducted in broad daylight at the end of the valley just a few metres away from the sea, after strong winds washed up a large number of pebbles onto the beach. Photos sent to Gozo News show two men mixing cement on the small beach and carting the mortar into a white van. MEPA sent enforcement officers who carried out a number of site inspections, but so far nobody has been apprehended. "It appears that someone was mixing mortar on the beach by using inert ... Read more...

Having just returned from a two week holiday on Gozo I have found that the Eco-island concept is alive and well in at least one part of the island. Whilst visiting friends in Qala they told me about the major problem they had in their back garden with snails and slugs. Now the people in question could have gone down the well trodden path of using pesticides or some such poison to bring the problem under control. However, being people after my own heart who care a lot for the environment they came up with an Eco-island solution. They hired a pair of ducks for a month. Nothing gets rid of snails like a pair ... Read more...

Referring to latest National Statistics Office figures, Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed its concern at the statistical increase in accidents at work, stating that the human cost of such accidents is too high. Michael Briguglio, spokesperson for Social and Economic Development, said, "The human cost of accidents at work is immense. Legislation is not enough to prevent such accidents, unless there is proper enforcement. Currently there are too few enforcement officers who have to cope with a multitude of work places, including thousands of construction works. This is resulting in hazards not only for workers, but also to residents." "The increase in precarious work, with bad conditions, and the fact that a number ... Read more...

Once again, Alternattiva Demokratika has said that they applaud the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage for not only suggesting to schedule the whole of Ta' Cenc area but also highlighting the fact that more archeological remains are yet to be discovered on other sites in the Mgarr ix-Xini area. The Green Party general secretary and spokesperson for Gozo, Mr. Victor Galea said "We had been now insisting for the last three years that the dilapidated area of Ta' Lambert near the defunct heliport should stop being used as an illegal dumping site where irresponsible people are tipping their rubbish and construction waste in broad daylight. [See photo above] "Nobody seems to be responsible for enforcing the law here and besides the ... Read more...

We are a consortium of local business men who would like to help put Gozo, and indeed Malta, onto the world tourism map. We believe that under the current planning climate we should have no problem in achieving this. Firstly, we intend to apply for a permit to turn Ggantija into a world-class theme park, the temple stones just lend themselves to being painted in bright fluorescent colours, which would also glow in the dark and act as a magnet for attracting tourists to the island. We propose building just one single slimline 100-storey hotel tower to preserve the remaining nearby countryside. Secondly we are proposing a mega-size Splash and Fun Park in Hondoq Bay, this will preserve the bay ... Read more...

"Its more than six months since visitors to the natural scenic Dwejra Bay witnessed the construction of a concrete monstrous structure. Subsequent to complaints from the public and environmental NGOs, MEPA had halted the construction process last March. It seems that with time, memories are wiped clear. Today, towards the end of July at the height of the touristic season nothing has changed. Notwithstanding words pleasing to the ear, on concepts such as eco-Gozo, the environmental damage carried out is still there for all to see, and without anyone having shouldered responsibility for its perpetration," Victor Galea, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesman for Gozo said. "The San Lawrenz Local Council as well as the Ministry for Gozo should realise as soon as possible that tourists do not visit ... Read more...

MEPA's Appeal Board met at the University of Malta Gozo Centre in Xewkija earlier today, to decide the fate of yet another famous Gozo landmark, the Ulysses Lodge overlooking pristine Ramla Bay. The MEPA officials were greeted on their arrival for the meeting by a number of protestors, demanding rejection of the appeal on the development permit. However, it transpired during the meeting that there were some papers in the MEPA file that were missing. The missing papers were said to show that the payment of the appeal (from the developers side) was not totally in line with the law. Therefore, the Chairman of the Appeals board gave the developers a further ten days to submit their papers correctly and the final decision on whether to annul ... Read more...

The Gozo Tourism Association, as the main representative body of the Gozitan Tourism establishments, has always expressed itself in favour of regulatory measures with respect to the appropriate operations of all establishments operating in the tourism industry on Gozo. Any irregular operation poses unfair competition to those who regularly pay licences and fees all year round. Moreover they are a threat to the tourism industry itself. However, the way enforcement measures were effected in the popular resorts of Marsalforn and Xlendi on Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th of July, 2008, respectively, can be described as anything but civil. Officers from the Lands Department in conjunctions with MTA officials, aided by the members of the police Corps and workmen from the Works Department raided each and every ... Read more...

BirdLife Malta today slammed the Ta' Cenc developer Victor Borg for hiding his new plans for the development of the ecologically sensitive Ta' Cenc area from the Maltese public. Victor Borg together with officials from MEPA met the European Commission last May following a request made by Mr. Borg's company to discuss the fresh plans for Ta' Cenc area. However when recently asked about the meeting by a local newspaper in Malta, Mr. Borg refused to explain what was discussed and give any insight into the new plans. "Whilst we believe that Mr. Borg has every right to consult third parties including the Commission about his development plans for Ta' Cenc, refusing to share his plans with the Maltese public is a clear indication ... Read more...

When I read the headline in the Maltastar on Monday, 'Mepa wants Pope John Paul II out of Cittadella', I had to check the date as I thought it was an April fools day prank. Have Mepa lost the plot altogether? Here is an authority, which is seriously considering a proposal to build a marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien against the wishes of over 80% of the people of Qala. An authority, which had approved a development application for a 23-villa scar on the slopes leading to, the Calypso Caves at Ramla l-Hamra. An authority who are continuously involved in controversial applications such as Tal-Papa Farm in Birzebbuga, Ta' Cenc, The Mistra nightclub application and the monstrosity at Dwejra. Mepa state that the two statues ... Read more...