As predicted and much expected, on the eve of the European Parliament Elections, the applicant of the Dwejra Monster (PA/02418/09) applied not to demolish this illegality but "to amend the development permission".
On the anniversary of MEPA's enforcement to stop further construction of a 2-storey concrete building in Dwejra, Gozo, Alternattiva Demokratika celebrated symbolically this "first anniversary of shame" when the Party's two European Parliament candidates and members of the Gozo Regional Council visited the site.
Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD's candidate in the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament remarked, "It is truly shameful that the Prime Minister, responsible for the environment and its impact on the tourist sector, failed to take action to safeguard this unique site in the Maltese islands. On the pretext that the Authorities are investigating irregularities concerning its approved plan, he permits such a scandal to remain stark naked a year later to all the thousands of visitors in guided tours to the Inland Sea."
During this press conference I stressed that for one whole year a number of environmental organizations have been appealing to the Prime Minister to settle various issues regarding this officially heralded Heritage Park, intended to be the first of its kind for Gozo.
This project stuttered from its very beginning when MEPA took over one and a half years to sanction the Dwejra Action Plan. In March 2007 European Union funds for this project were no longer available. Since then no steps were taken for the continued protection of this site; consequently, we have today a glaring scandal of this advertised heritage zone, listing 80 irregularities ranging from illegal structures, unsanctioned extensions of stone quarries and illegal dumping of construction waste and other refuse on public pathways.
Dr Arnold Cassola emphasized, "It is absolutely urgent that an illusory Management Board wakes up from its deep slumber, and that site managers are appointed according to the recent recommendations of the European Union which had provided adequate funds for the continued protection of this site. The Dwejra Management Board shoulders a grave responsibility and is urgently requested to settle the issue of this monstrous concrete structure already one year on since MEPA declared these works to be in contravention to its own approval plan."
"It is unfair that whereas the ordinary citizen faces stiff fines, Government and its affiliate authorities carry on in their routine administrative tasks as if no illegalities did ever occur. The public silently stands to watch these injustices."
Prof Cassola concluded by saying, "Alternattiva Demokratika again calls upon the Gozo Associations, especially the Gozo Tourist Association and the Gozo Chamber of Commerce to represent, as they are bound to do, the issues that interest Gozo best, to positively criticize where needed and not to prioritise their political alliances at the cost of delayed development of Gozo as a European region."
I would like to thank our local newspapers for publishing the press statement regarding Dwejra: an example of a political feudal system. Read original press Statement by clicking HERE.
Although all papers published this (with the exception of Il-Mument and in-Nazzjon); they all change the original title - as if it is not true that in Gozo we have a feudal system. Malta Today (Sunday edition) might not have published this press statement since this was sent to ALL media on Saturday. However Malta Today journalist James Debono published the names behind this madness. Read by clicking HERE.
The press on Sunday helped in creating awareness that people do care and what is wrong is wrong no matter who does it. Right?
For Example: The Independent on Sunday changed the title to: Illegal structures at Dwejra. Click HERE to read it. The editor kindly choose to publish the link to this blog.
The Times of Malta (on-line) changed the tile to: Dwejra eyesore still there, AD complains. Click HERE and read the amazing amount of comments on-line by caring people like yourself. This features as the most e-mailed and most read item on the Times on-line.
The Sunday Times also changed the title to: Concrete monstrosity in Dwejra still standing. by clicking HERE you can also read the edited version.
L-Orizzont also featured this in its back page and called it: Id-Dwejra -ġerħa ta' żviluppi illegali. A very good account also referring to this blog, read HERE.
The media on-line also gave an account of this example or the rule of the jungle (as my colleague Carmel Cacopardo stated.
For instance:
The MaltaMedia.com referred to this as 'Government called to act on concrete structure' read link HERE.
The di-ve.com called it, 'Large concrete building in Dwejra not yet removed' and they also published the photo sent with the press statement; watch HERE.
Even TheMaltaStar.com did publish an account related to this example of a political feudal system. They also however changed the title to: 'Monstrous concrete structure still there' Read this from the link HERE.
Surprise surprise... MaltaRightNow.com (PN run-website like in-Taghna and Mument) preferred not to mention anything related to what echoes in eco-gozo. As usual in their Gozo section they like to give prominence to the Gozo Curia and religious events organised by particular priests and other things like this one HERE.
All in all, I am satisfied with the start of knocking down this concrete monster by creating a national awareness regarding this eyesore.
Next step is for our 300 AD 1st count voters, the many hundreds of 2nd preference voters and thousands of AD sympathizers to give feedback regarding the eco-Ghawdex project.
All households in Gozo received a lovely recycled flyer where our Minister is asking for ideas related to the Eco-Ghawdex project.
I already filled mine and sent it. Please fill in your (unless you already threw it in the bin).
Please note that no postage stamp is necessary if posted in Malta or Gozo.
I wrote thus, and you can easily remember the tune from The Sound of Music. Click on the video clip below in order to remind you the tune (just in case):
"Hi Minister for ALL the affiars and anything one needs from the state of Gozo,
Let's start from the very beginning.... a very good way to start.... when you preach you can say what you did and can do.... knock it down and you loose just one vote, but can win none but some credibility. PULL DOWN THE DWEJRA CONCRETE MONSTER
The eyesore caused by a large building under construction at scenic Dwejra has still not been removed, and no one has assumed responsibility for it.
MEPA stopped the project in March but nothing has happened since.
The Gozo Ministry and San Lawrenz Council need to realise that quality tourists do not visit Gozo to see a concrete monster in a place of natural beauty. It is not enough to promote Gozo and distribute pictures of the Azure window, only for tourists to then be surprised by such a state of abandon and irregularities when they visit the place.
As I stated earlier, around Dwejra alone, some 80 enforcement notices have been issued, for anything from illegal rooms to boathouse extensions, illegal quarries and dumping sites and even an extension of the chapel, also without a permit. READ BY CLICKING HERE.
Hope that our plea will not be part of the Echo in Gozo but part of Eco-Gozo.
Right to Left: Prof. Arnold Cassola, Gisela Kallenbach MEP and myself at Ta' Cenc.
Spending the day with the German Green MEP Gisela Kallenbach was an experience in itself. Touring her around the Island on Thursday last is an experience I will hardly ever forget.
Photo: Meeting with Perm. Sec. at the Ministry for Gozo
It was the Green Party's dream/vision to see Gozo being turned into an ecological island. It was part of the AD's (The Green Party) political manifesto for Gozo. Still is. Read specifically the section on 23 proposals for creating new, modern and sustainable jobs in Gozo by clicking here.
It was great having somebody from abroad who states that what we are proposing for the island of Gozo makes sense. (Mind you, even GonziPN said so before last general election by adopting our proposal in his list of electoral promises). Remember?
This was Ms. Kallenbach's 2nd visit to Gozo. She came as a holiday maker about 10 years ago.
The 1st thing that she noticed which driving her about was the lack of public transport and the massive increase in traffic especially in Victoria. Infact, due to the traffic jams, we were 10 minutes late for our appointment at the Gozo Ministry.
The 2nd thing she noticed was the amount of empty shell flats in places like Marsalforn and Xlendi and the empty neglected dwellings in the village cores. In my mind I was enyouing playing a game: I was counting the signs saying 'FOR SALE' on the way from Ta' Cenc to Sannat and Munxar. When we arrived in Xlendi I simply gave up.
The 3rd thing the MEP noticed was the new EU funded roads from Mgarr to Victoria (opps sorry...from Mgarr to Ghajnsielem) and the Victoria - St. Lawrence (opps again! the Victoria to Gharb) roads. "Why talking about an eco-island and no single bicycle lane?" Then on the road to Gharb, she told me to stop the car. She wanted to take a photo! "No space for bicycle lanes but huge space to put the EU Propaganda board."
We visited many places besides Ta' Cenc, Hondoq, Ramla l-Hamra. and Dwejra's concrete new building. We visited the new cemetery of Nadur on our way to Ramla l-Hamra. Farmers explained how the Church destroyed the water table by digging on the water aquifer in order to sell graves in this pristine land. Yes. money talks money walks.
Photo: Destroying pristine land at Nadur
We visited other places and Gozitan workers (read by clicking here).
During her tour on Gozo, the Green MEP Gisela Kallenbach concluded that besides all the mishaps “Gozo has all the potential for innovative sustainable jobs”.
Later on in the evening, Ms. Kallenbach was invited by the EP Office - Valletta to be their gueat speaker for a 'civil forum' on 'Gozo as an ecological Island'. The Malta Independent on Sunday Editor Noel Grima, did an interesting feature about this. Click here. I especially like the title: Gozo an ecological island? You must be joking
For those who might have missed it, here you can have a glimpse of what kind of PR went on during the festivities of the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th of may 2008 in the famous island of Gozo:
Gozo 1:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, visits ArcheologyMuseum at the Cittadella,Victoria, Gozo
Gozo 2:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, at Cittadella, Victoria, Gozo.
Gozo 3:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs K. Gonzi attended a traditional folk dance and singing activity. Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said was also presentat Palm Street, Victoria, Gozo.
Gozo 4:The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs Kate Gonzi visit an art exhibition accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said at The Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo at Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria, Gozo.
Gozo 5:
The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, and Mrs Kate Gonzi visit the Crafts and Art Market. Parliamentary Secretary, the Hon Chris Said accompanied the Prime Minister at Pjazza San Frangisk, Victoria, Gozo.
Gozo 6:
The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, attends the traditional Dwejra fair at Dwejra Gozo.
Gozo 7:
The Prime Minister, the Hon. Lawrence Gonzi, visits an Exhibition at Banca Giuratale, accompanied by the Minister for Gozo, the Hon Giovanna Debono, and Parliamentary Secretaries the Hon Chris Said, and the Hon Mario de Marco, at Independence Square, Victoria, Gozo.
I think that politicians need to decide whether their interest is in simply gaining votes or else the future sustainable jobs for Gozitans and quality tourism. Please stop taking citizens of goodwill for a ride.
"Concrete structures in a national park contrast completely with the Prime Minister’s promise that Gozo would become an ecological island. In this way we are simply killing the goose which lays the golden eggs”
