"This is the way we do it here" - Eco-Gozo a-la-PN

This morning was was quite happy to read about a 'foreign' woman who stood up to a man from the Public Cleansing Department.

This is what Francesca Vella - The Malta Independent journalist wrote:

Woman shocked by the way beach was ‘cleaned’
by FRANCESCA VELLA
A reader called our offices yesterday to complain about the way personnel from the Public Cleansing Department recently cleaned a beach in Marsalforn. The reader said she was snorkelling in the clear sea with a friend at about 7.30am one day last weekend, when two men from the cleansing department arrived in a van and politely asked them to remove their belongings from a pathway leading to the sea.About six more men then turned up, picked up what large pieces of rubbish they could with their bare hands and then, according to the woman, they simply used a hosepipe to push the rest of the rubbish, which included cigarette butts, into the sea.“I was shocked and spoke to the foreman, a man named Lawrence, who refused to give me his surname or the name of his boss. He simply told me: ‘this is the way we do it’.”“They call it ‘cleaning’, but they polluted what had been clear blue sea a few minutes before”, she complained, saying that Gozo is being ruined by mismanagement and corruption.“This place is littered with omerta,” she said, adding that she recently moved to Gozo for health reasons, but was disgusted by the way things are done there.

The elected Mayor and Zebbug Councillors should be ashamed about the dilapitated state of Marsalforn, Qbajjar and Xwejni....this not to mention the people who voted for them!

Let's grow please.

Imagine the progress to take place in Gozo by electing a Green MEP

Following recent criticism by the Gozo Tourism Association on the prevailing situation in the tourism sector, I accompanied Prof. Arnold Cassola and Ms. Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD's two candidates for the European parliament, had the opportunity to visit one of Gozo's most attractive tourist site, Marsalforn Bay.

As the spokesperson for Gozo's AD Regional Committee and AD candidate for Gharb Local Council, I said that, "the state of utter neglect which stares you in the face when you visit this scenic bay, which is supposed to feature as one of Gozo's main touristic hubs, is a clear manifestation of the degradation of the Gozo's touristic product. As a result of this lethargic inaction in Marsalforn, those who are suffering the consequences in a direct way are the business outlets and the restaurants in the area."

"To mention a few examples; there is the broken breakwater, which has been left unrepaired for years, beachcleaning carried out without supervision, broken light units and pavements posing danger to the health and safety of passersby. Whilst the powers-that-be dream of grandiose plans and huge projects, they are incapable of taking care of even the most basic needs."

Arnold Cassola, Chairperson , Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, and AD candidate for the June 6 MEP elections, declared, "if I or Vyonne Arqueros Ebejer are elected by the Maltese and Gozitan Electorate to the EP, we promise that we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to include Gozo in all possible projects so that the Island of Three Hills, can emerge from its current state of total neglect and abandonment, mainly due to the state of inertia which characterises the island's administration, to a dedicated and determined hands-on approach towards immediate fulfillment of its great potential for job opportunities in the tourism sector." Prof Cassola concluded by saying, "Gozo and the Gozitans deserve much more than the limited visionary approach adopted by the current administration in Gozo."

Kif ghandek titnejjek bin-nies step by step

Mela:
Step 1
Ibghat circulari fid-djar tan-nies (votanti) tal-lokalita' tieghek b'dan it-titlu:
'Skema ghall-Promozzjoni ta' Energija Minn Sorsi Alternattivi (RES) Ghall-Lokalita' _______ .'

Step 2
Ghidilhom li l-kunsill lokali tieghek qieghed jahdem fuq programm tal-Unjoni Ewropeja dwar il-promozzjoni ta' energija minn sorsi alternattivi.

Step 3
Iktbilhom li se tkunu qed tahdmu biex jingabu fondi mill-Unjoni Ewropeja u "tkunu intom ir-residenti li tibbenefikaw minn dawn il-fondi."

Step 4
Iktbilhom u dahhalielhom f'rashom li l-iskema se tkun miftuha ghal dawn iz-zewg sistemi:-
SOLAR WATER HEATING UNITS
u
PHOTO VOLTAIC (PV) UNITS.

Step 5
Ipprova fhemhom fil-qosor dwar is-Solar water Heaters billi tghidilhom li solar water heater jista' jkun mod effettiv sabiex isahhan l-ilma fid-dar taghhom bis-shana tax-xemx. Ghidilhom li solar water heater hu maghmul minn tank ta' l-ilma mahdum apposta u mqabbad ma' panella li tixrob is-shana tax-xemx. It-tank ta' l-ilma jigi mgezwer b'materjal biex inaqaas it-telf ta' shana li tingabar mill-panella. L-ilma li jissahhan mill-panella jingabar f'dan it-tank ta' l-ilma u minn hemm ikun jista' jintuza ghall-bzonnijiet tad-dar. Kompli spjegalhom li minhabba n-nuqqas ta' xemx fiz-zmien tax-xitwa, is-solar water heater jigi nstallat b'apparat ta' l-elettriku biex jissahhan l-ilma f'kaz li t-temperatura ta' l-ilma ma tkunx daqs kemm mixtieqa.

Step 6
Biex zgur il-votanti tieghek jifmhu x'qed tipprova tghidilhom iktbilhom li jekk ghandhom water heater ta' l-elettriku li jesa' tmenin litru ilma, l-ispiza ta' sena ta' l-elettriku tiswa madwar Euro153.74 jekk higi mixghul ghal saghtejn kuljum.

Step 7
Izda iktbilhom ukoll li jekk jigi nstallat solar water heater u jekk tiehu li x-xemx issahhan fuq perijodu ta' tmien xhur, l-ispiza tonqos ghal madwar Euro51.25. Qis li tiktbilhom li is-surcharge tigi kkunsidrata b'50%.

Step8
Tinsiex tiktbilhom ukoll dwar il-photovoltaic Cells (PV Cells). Tibzax. Ghidilhom li l-photovoltaic cells huma panelli specjali li jigu nstallati fuq il-bjut sabiex ibiddlu d-dawl tax-xemx f'elettriku. Ghidilhom li l-elettriku mbaghad ikun jista' jintuza biex ihaddem apparat iehor li jahdem bl-elettriku jew l-istess elettriku ggenerat mill-panelli jista' jigi moghti lill-Korporazzjoni Enemalta. Fhemhom li l-ahhar kaz, l-Enemalta thallas lura lis-sid tal-panella ghall-ammont ta' elettriku provdut.

Step 9
Biex zgur il-votanti tieghek jifmhuk, semmilhom il-flus fil-but. Allura iktbilhom hekk: "L-ammont ta' elettriku ggenerat minn PV Cell tiddependi fuq id-daqs tal-panella. Jekk ikollok panella tal-1kEh din kapaci tiggenera madwar 1300kWh f'sena. Jekk dan l-elettriku jinghata lill-Enemalta, dan ifisser li l-Enamalta taghtik lura Euro90.85."

Step 10
Importanti li tispjega li l-pjan tal-Kunsill Lokali tieghek hu li jinghata sussidju ta' 50% fuq dawn iz-zewgt sistemi ta' energija u dan sa massimu ta' elf Ewro (1,000).

Step 11
Biex zgur tigbed is-simpatija u turihom kemm thobbhom lill-dawk li ghandhom il-vot ghidilhom li din l-iskema tkun miftuha ghar-residenti tal-lokalita tieghek BISS.

Step 12
Ma din ic-cirkulari nizzel li f'dan l-istadju il-kunsill Lokali tieghek qieghed jigbor taghrif dwar l-interess li hemm fil-lokalita' ghal dawn is-sistemi. Allura iktbilhom hekk:
"Ghalhekk, dawr il-votanti, cioe' ir-residenti interessati ghandhom jimlew il-formola t'hawn taht u jibghatuha malajr kemm jista' jkun fl-ufficcju tal-Kunsill Lokali jew icemplu fl-ufficcju tal-Kunsill" (u aghtihom it-telephone number just in case), "biex jesprimu l-interess taghhom u dan sa' mhux aktar tard ____ "(u aghtihom deadline).

Step 13
Biex tkun safe iktbilhom ukoll hekk: " Meta tkun qed turi l-interess tieghek f'din l-iskema, ma jkunx qed ifisser li inti marbut biex tinstalla xi wahda minn dawn iz-zewg sistemi."

Step 14
IMPORTANTI HAFNA : Make sure li tibghat din ic-cirkulari/ittra/applikazzjoni lill-votanti QABEL l-elezzjoni (hekk per-ezempju ghall-ahhar ta' Jannar izda zgur mhux f'Marzu!)

Step 15 (easy)
Halli l-elezzjoni tghaddi.

Step 16
Xi xahrejn WARA l-elezzjoni ibghat cirkulari fuq letterhead tal-kunsill u bil-kulur, lil dawk ic-'cwiec' kollha li emnuk u baghtulek l-informazzjoni dwarhom u li jixtiequ jiffrankaw xi sold. Tinsiex tibghat ukoll lil dawk il-povri 'ambjentalisti' li applikaw sabiex fil-lokalita' tieghek ikollkom ambjent b'sahhtu.

Step 17
Iktbilhom hekk:
"Naghmel referenza ghall-iskema ghall-promozzjoni ta' Energija minn Sorsi Alternattivi ghall-Lokalita'.........
Ngharrfek li l-Kunsill Lokali tar-rahal taghna ghadu kif gie nfurmat li l-progett propost minnu ma giex accettat u li ghalhekk mhux se jitkompla l-process ta' l-applikazzjoni." (Qis li ma tghidilhomx kif u x'fatta il-progett ma giex accettat).

Step 18
Biex ma tahraqhomx sa l-ahhar, anzi biex tkompli tittamahom, ikkonkludi hekk:
"Il-Kunsill Lokali taghna jwieghed li se jkun qieghed jahdem fuq progetti u programmi ohra ta' l-Unjoni Ewropeja, b'tama li l-lokalita' taghna tibbenefika wkoll minn dawn il-fondi."

Step19
TINSIEX:
Ikteb din ic-cirkulari (ta' wara l-elezzjoni) b'large fonts (14 jew akbar) u qis li ma tiffirmax int bhala sindku izda qabbad lis-Segretarja Ezekuttiva.

Tajba eh?

Wiehed li ghandu l-vot fuq il-kunsill lokali taz-Zebbug li miskin mela' l-applikazzjoni u baghatha lill-kunsill bit-tama li ser jiehu xi haga ghal wara l-elezzjoni ghaddieli d-dokumenti kollha li rcieva QABEL u WARA l-elezzjoni.

Jien nghidlu, 'Taqtox qelbik sihib. Xi darba jasluluk il-hamis buzuz (bulbs in English) li weghdik il-GunzujPN bex bihim tifranka mill-kunt tad-dawl.

Gozo National Swimming Pool

When back in December 2007 we objecting to Planning Application 01894/07 by which the Otters WaterPolo Club intended to excavate the foreshore for a seawater pool and to construct other sports facilities extending existing site by another 30metres, effectively transferring a public foreshore into a private complex, we proposed the following:

"Such aquatic sports facilities should form part of the existing Sports Complex in Victoria"

I reiterate what I said then, that all Gozitans would benefit from a national indoor heated swimming pool and the government should tap EU funds to provide central aquatic sports facility. Alternattiva Demokratika has a long successful history in keeping beaches freely available to the public. We intend to protect this coastal area left in Marsalforn to defend public rights of access, as well as to secure proper aquatic sports facilities elsewhere.

Was a national swimming pool in Gozo not part of the Nationalist Party's manifesto in 1991? We are still waiting 17 years later.

Two national swimming pools already exist in Malta; hence we believe that Gozitans deserve, by right, a national pool in Gozo. In its electoral manifesto for Gozo, Alternattiva Demokratika proposed that a national pool and aquatic sports facility would form part of the existing sports complex in Victoria where adjacent land is available or in other locations such as the abandoned Hondoq ir-Rummien distillation plant which could be rehabilitated and transformed into an indoor solar power heated pool for all citizens.

On the 21st May 2008 - at the new parliament sitting - Gozitan Labour MP Justyne Caruana asked the Gozo Minister what happened to the promised public pool for Gozo.

And the answer was:
"Il-Ministeru qieghed jahdem fuq il-pjanijiet biex il-proposta li ssir pixxina gewwa Ghawdex titwettaq kif imwieghed."

Meaning that 'The Ministry is working on the plans so that the proposal for a pool in Gozo will materialize as promised.'

and on it goes...

The left hand side of Marsalforn

The left side of Marsalforn bay fail EU's minimum water quality standards.

According to yesterday’s report, Malta’s ‘non-compliant’ bathing spots were the left side of Marsalforn Bay, the stretch of beach in Salina in front of the Coastline Hotel, the area below Neptunes Pitch in Balluta, and the ‘sandy beach’ at Balluta, St Julian’s.

The annual report takes samplings taken on a regular basis throughout the year, submitted to the EU by the Maltese authorities, and weighs the results against the requirements of the EU Bathing Water Directive, which sets minimum standards for bathing water in EU member states.

The exercise takes into account two microbiological parameters – total coliforms and faecal coliforms – and three physico-chemical parameters – mineral oils, surface-active substances and phenols.

Now, can somebody tell me which is the left side of Marsalforn Bay this report is referring to?
Is it the side of the Calypso Hotel or the side of the Otters Waterpolo Club/Restaurant?

A national swimming pool in Gozo?

The Hon. Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport addresses a press conference organised by the Aquatic Sports Association.

As expected, the Aquatic Sports needs in Gozo were again dismissed - or else not reported through the government press statements.


I remember that when we proposed that the state should invest much more in Aquatic sports in Gozo -even more specifically a National Swimming Pool - the GonziPN also promised such an initiative during one of his pre-election meetings in Nadur.


I once wrote this in the press:

I would like to draw attention to the fact that part of the public coastal area near Otters Water Polo Club in Marsalforn was taken away from the public through a parliamentary deed in 2005. Now a pending application awaiting MEPA’s approval to “construct a sea water pool, for water polo and swimming purposes, pool to occupy part of existing Otters Club House and adjacent land, and replanning of part of existing ramp next to St Mary’s Street, Marsalforn” is being processed.

While I would like to point out that Alternattiva Demokratika has long been insisting that the government should invest in aquatic sports in Gozo, I question the need for this limited proposal. Why should the Otters Club have to undergo such hassle to get a semi-decent pool? Why should historic salt pans be threatened and why should the public give up yet another piece of coastline? All this for only a few months just in case of possibly jellyfish-infested waters.

Was a national swimming pool in Gozo not part of the Nationalist Party’s manifesto in 1991? We are still waiting 17 years later and the Labour Party ignores such a proposal even in its current plan for Gozo. Green Members of Parliament will urge cross party co-operation to safeguard the interests of all Gozitans and Gozo’s specific needs. We will get the government to invest in sports in Gozo rather than speculating on public land.

Two national swimming pools already exist in Malta; hence we believe that Gozitans deserve, by right, a national pool in Gozo. In its electoral manifesto for Gozo, Alternattiva Demokratika is proposing that a national heated pool to be used all year round and aquatic sports facility would form part of the existing sports complex in Victoria where adjacent land is available, or in other locations such as the abandoned Hondoq ir-Rummien distillation plant which could be rehabilitated and transformed into an indoor solar power heated pool for all citizens. EU funds could be tapped to subsidise a public aquatic sports facility for Gozo.

Given the socio-educational advantages of aquatic sports in Gozo, I sincerely hope that in the-not-too-distant future the sport finds itself on the national agenda and not used as a favourite subject for lip-servicing exercises that seem to have become something of a national pastime. Stop appropriating further public land and give Gozitans what is theirs by right. We are fed up of empty promises. Swim with AD and leave the old political system to sink.

Xoghol li ta' min ifahhru

Xoghlijiet infrastrutturali u ta’ tisbih qed isir fit-triq li mir-Rabat taghti ghal Marsalforn, Ghawdex.

Intant L-Awtorita tat-Trasport tghid li xoghol ta' restawr f'Marsalforn mhux sodisfacenti. It-Times of Malta irreferit ghat-tbazwira tal-famuza bankina li saret bil-barka ta' l-istess kunsill lokali taz-Zebbug. Kien sar xoghol illegali li milli jidher xi hadd (ukoll kunsillier fl-istess kunsill), hakem bicca mit-triq pubblika li milli jidher kellu f'mohhu li jaghmilha parti mill-kiosk. Jidher li ried jokkupa l-art sabiex jaghmel l-imwejjed u s-siggijiet f'din it-triq. Wiehed jipprova jaqla lira hux!

Il-Ministru tat-Trasport u l-Awtorita' kienet ordnat li x-xoghol jitwaqqaf minnufih anzi jerga' jigi irrestawrat.

Hemm partita kawzi ghaddejjin fil-Qorti tal-Magistrati wkoll mid-dehra.

Kont ktibt dwar dan HAWNHEKK. Xi hadd ikkumenta hekk:

L-unika haga li kien jonqsok tghid kienet li l-Ministru tat-Trasport huwa Austin Gatt u li flimkien ma' kuginuh Lou Bondi’ ghandu flat tefa’ ta’ gebla 'l boghod.

Tghid ghandu (jew ghandha) ragun?

Nerga' nistaqsi : Min se jhallas?

How much will YOU have to pay?

Again, these works at Marsalforn promanade started just few days before the general election. Yeah...one of those miracles.

Every Gozitan knows who the culprit is. Every Gozitan (and Maltese for that matter) knows that the responsibility falls also under the Zebbug Local Council. Perhaps not many are aware that the Kiosk owner is the colleague of the Zebbug Mayor and an elected councillor on the same local council. Moreover maybe fewer people know that the Manager ADT Gozo is the same mayor of Zebbug Local Council who was 'appointed'/'selected' not very long ago.

Now some people may put on a smile on their face since the Communications Minister Austin Gatt yesterday ordered the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) to take immediate and strict action if any illegal roadworks are undertaken by local councils or any other entity.

"The Ministerial Policy Directive was sparked by works being carried out by the Żebbuġ local council on the bridge in Marsalforn without an ADT permit. "

Can somebody explain?

Can somebody work out how much YOU are going to pay?