"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.

Gozitano-Malti… so what difference does it make?

Few weeks ago, Raphael Vassallo called from the newspaper MaltaToday and informed me that on the week of Santa Maria, during the influx of Maltese in Gozo, the paper will be dedicating some pages on Gozo and I was being asked to write about the perception of Gozitans over the Maltese and if possible vice versa.

During the following days I kept asking people whom I usually meet: 'What makes a Gozitan a Gozitan'? Peter-Paul and Joe, two Gozitans working in Malta with whom I meet almost every morning on the ferry, both agree that there IS a difference between a Gozitan and a Maltese but they hardly could tell me what!

I trid to do another brainstorming session with Joe - a new Maltese friend of mine and collegue at work. This one was quite successful. Amongst other points, he could relate that 'a Gozitan is able to take more risks in business than a Maltese'.

However many other people from Malta whom I tired to discuss the topic just said : "Ghawdxi tajjeb aharqu, ahseb u ara hazin" (If you find a good Gozitan burn him/her, then imagine what one would do with a bad Gozitan) ...as if it is impossible to find a good Gozitan at all!

Deadline for the newspaper was approaching so I decided to share my thoughts.

Not being an anthropologist or a sociologist, any analysis on any assumed different characteristics between Gozitans and Maltese, is purely based on my personal experience of a person born and raised in Gozo, and who resided periodically in Malta and who continuously commute between the islands. I do not intend to generalise on such characteristics, as any good or shady personalities can be met in any of the islands. Nor is it my intent to rely on quoted research but rather to interpret views as seen through one’s own course of events.
A person simply interprets situations according to one’s own personal traits and environment. For example, a Maltese person may regard Gozitans as thrifty, whereas Gozitans may reiterate that they want to live within their means and are diligent enough to save for unforeseen emergencies.

Work ethic
A Maltese person seems to be more focused professionally, whereas a Gozitan often seeks another source of income from another activity outside their main job. Of course there are also Maltese active in different fields. I experienced a feeling that in Malta a person shows more professionalism at work without being hindered by nepotistic tendencies that are more evident in Gozo. Gozitans who spent a considerable time of their time working in Malta and then are transferred home, attest that they felt better at their Maltese place of work, and in fact some do request to be transferred back.

A Gozitan is a more relaxed person

One could imagine that Gozo’s clean and natural environment may transmit a benign psychological effect on its inhabitants. A Gozo person often seems to exhibit more calm and relaxation than a Maltese person. Heavy traffic, pollution, population density and loud noise in Malta could have its negative effects on a Gozitan raised in more healthy surroundings. And one often hears a Gozitan sigh relief on arriving at the sister island.

Gozitans are down to earth
Another variance is the simplicity of life most Gozitans adopt. They are not as spoilt or caressed like their Maltese brothers. They grew up in a context of a survival society and have therefore a hardier, craftier character. Whereas many Maltese seem to prefer crowded leisure resorts like Bugibba, Sliema or Wied il-Ghajn or sophisticated hotels and restaurants, Gozitans go for quieter areas such as Dwejra, Hondoq or Qbajjar.

Financial attitudes

The hardship of the double insularity of Gozo could instil its youth to be more attentive to any income earned. Gozitan youth may differ from their Maltese counterparts in that they save to invest on their future and tend to borrow less from banks for current expenditures on car ownerships. A Gozitan will always defend his place at work and could also be aggressive doing so, as it is realised that jobs are not easy to come by in such a small island. Having more employment opportunities in Malta, a Maltese does not think twice to alternate between various jobs.

Conservative and wary

The Gozitan is noted for being a conservative person and wary in his behaviour. Gozitans live in a tight community, every person knows every other person, personal family problems are known by all, so a Gozitan needs to weigh his words well, and more than a Maltese person would prefer to act dumb than appear to remark badly on a neighbour or an acquaintance.

See, hear, say no evil

It has been noted that Gozitans tend not to see, hear or talk even when it concerns helping authorities to unravel crime such as theft or homicides. A Gozitan may redeem himself from such behaviour by explaining the island’s close familiarity and lack of confidentiality. What happened to those files found hidden at the Victoria Police Station? Any explanation for confiscated drugs to be left in the Police safe? It could be that an upright Gozitan may feel that he could end up victimized were he to report a crime to an authority that seems to be so lax, others may say corrupt.

Gozitan survival instincts

Although Gozo has over the years under various governments suffered a shortage of investment funds, Gozo entrepreneurship survived and is quite vibrant. One can see this present in a myriad of added-value food products on supermarket shelves in Malta. The Gozitan entrepreneur struggled to survive, then learnt and adapted to modern techniques. Gozitans are often keen to obtain more income from other activities. Thus various public servants in Gozo could opt to be less efficient at work and save their energies for private work after working hours. I am of the opinion that a Maltese regards his main income satisfactory. A Gozitan seeks alternate sources of income. And this when the Gozitan can often rely on his own grown agricultural products, whereas a Maltese needs to buy all his groceries, also because the erstwhile garden plot behind his house is now another block of flats.

Self-independence and maturity

At an early age, many Gozitans are obliged to leave the safety of their home and for work or study reasons ‘immigrate’ to Malta to live on their own and often to share a flat with similar others. This obliges them to be self-sufficient, independent, gregarious and self-managed. A contemporary Maltese feels cosy and taken care of at home. The young ‘immigrant’ Gozitan is constrained to experience budgetary skills to meet rent and costs of food, clothing and utilities; during weekdays this Gozitan experiences adult chores and matures into adulthood at an earlier stage of life than his Maltese compatriot.

Other different characteristics between Gozitans and Maltese can be analysed, such as, variances in attitudes. However without any doubt, Maltese and Gozitans possess countless similarities; but about this, I could write another time...

Another Voice for Malta - Think Big Vote Green

Why is it in Malta's interest to have a third voice in the EU Parliament?

Why voting Green for the European Elections

In a video message that AD is releasing today, former PN member of parliament Dr. Ray Bondin said that he is supporting AD candidates Arnold Cassola and Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros for MEPs since he believes that voting AD - The Green Party, will strengthen pluralism in Malta and Gozo.

Dr Ray Bondin who is also a UNESCO expert on cultural heritage said: "Din id-darba Cassola u Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros ghaliex hemm bzonn nahsbu iktar f`Malta, ghaliex hemm bzonn li nahsbu x`inhu importanti ghal dan il-pajjiz. Hemm bzonn li nahsbu verament f`alternattiva ghall-hakma taz-zewgt partiti l-kbar...u ghandna alternattiva!”

("This time Cassola and Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros because we need to use our heads more, we need to think and realise what`s really important for this country. We need a real alternative to the grip of the two big parties on our country... and we have this alternative!”). Dr Bondin joins leading environmentalist Prof. Edward Mallia in his support for AD`s candidates.

Other Gozitans joined the chorus in endorsing the Greens for the European Parliament:
Mr. Anthony Falzon

...and Mr. Martin Camilleri:

Moreover, people like Prof. Fr. Peter Serracino Inglott gave his greeting to the Europen Greens Party Election Congress in Brussels during which the European Green Party's common election campaign was launched:

These citizens are also endorsing CASSOLA Arnold u EBEJER ARQUEROS Yvonne for the European Parliament elections; Miriam Mintoff - teacher at l-Junior College, Prof. Edward Mallia, environmentalist and Physics Professor at the University of Malta as well as Mr Andre Vella a university student.

Dirk Urpani a young student at the Junior college expressed his wish to vote Green if he were to be eligible to vote. Mr. Ralph Cassar Green counsillor at Attard Local Concil and Italian-Maltese resident Mr. Stefano Moncada, lecturer at the University of Malta are all endorsing CASSOLA Arnold and EBEJER ARQUEROS Yvonne for the European Parliamnt come 6th June 2009.

The disastrous state of the Victoria Playing Field

Few weeks ago, we visited the Playing Field in the heart of the capital of Gozo. I felt ashamed!

“A place intended as a recreation centre to be enjoyed by children and their parents has now been transformed into an abandoned and neglected area, posing a serious threat to health and safety of the general public, especially children.” These were the words uttered by Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, one of the two AD candidates for the EP Elections, after visiting the site yesterday together with members of AD’s Regional Committee for Gozo.

I added that: “The scene is one of complete chaos. Broken glass litter the floor even under the swings; bags, containing refuse and other dangerous material, left to rot under the trees for months on end; damaged electric lamps and wires left unrepaired for years! The ramps are almost impossible even for non wheelchair-bound persons to negotiate. Such a state of utter neglect which Gozitan residents, Maltese visitors and tourists alike are facing should also be condemned by all those in authority who shoulder the responsibility not only for safeguarding the health and safety of the citizens but also for doing all they can to boost Gozo’s image as a showcase model for attracting the discerning `quality` tourist, thereby enhancing the tourist product and creating more job opportunities for Gozitan youth now and in the years to come.”

Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson and EP candidate, said: “The playing field, lying in the very heart of the city of Victoria, has been neglected for years despite many complaints. Such a state of affairs is nothing less than an insult to all those Gozitans whose sole interest is to seek the common good of their island and who are not ready to cover up the mistakes and neglect of those Authorities and politicians who are paid from our taxes to work for the welfare of the country as a whole and not for partisan interests. Above all, such carelessness is an insult also to all those families with young children, who, by right, should be provided with facilities for relaxation and recreation in a clean , safe and healthy environment.”

Arnold Cassola concluded by saying: “Alternattiva Demokratika fully supports the Mayor and Councillors of Victoria, who, for the last three years, have been pleading for the transfer of the responsibility for the Garden from the Government to the Local Council. We are convinced that the Rabat Local Council have at heart the real welfare of the residents and no one else can do a better job in the transformation of the present disorderly mess into a beautiful garden and modern playing field, to be enjoyed by all Gozitans and visitors to this unique Gozitan capital city.”

For some reasons, this press conference was omitted from the news on the national TV station (PBS).

Believe your eyes by watching this video.

Why should we be concerned about the Gozitan elderly?

’Gozo Age Concern’ and Alternattiva Demokratika ask for Senior Citizens’ Care homes and adequate services in Gozo

The Gozitan NGO, “Gozo Age Concern” (GAC) and Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) - The Green Party have made a joint appeal to the authorities to set up Senior Citizens’ Care homes in Gozo and other services related to the Care of the Elderly.

In a joint press conference, Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, myself as the AD spokesperson for Gozo, and Rev. Fr. Mario Cassar from GAC stressed that in Gozo over 21.5% of the inhabitants are senior citizens over the age of 60 and amount to over 7000 people.

Rev. Fr. Cassar from Nadur pointed out that, as opposed to the fifteen private and government run care homes in Malta, Gozo does not have even one care home despite the high rate of older citizens. Fr Cassar stated “The male geriatric ward and the female “Dar Sant’Anna” at the Gozo General Hospital, have only communal wards and therefore do not qualify as Care homes in this day and age.”

Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, added: “The ageing population of Malta and Gozo is on the increase and in about 20 years time, nearly 2 out of 3 Maltese and Gozitans are expected to be over the age of 60. It is therefore important that elderly Gozitans have access to modern Care Homes offering single rooms with en suite facilities without having to be relocated to Malta.”

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD candidate for the European elections, pointed out that it is laudable that the Dominican and Carmelite nuns house around forty female senior citizens who are not bed ridden, however these religious homes are only equipped with communal dormitories, without any real privacy and organized socio-cultural activities due to the lack of staff and adequate resources.

During this joint press statement I concluded that: “Gozitans know well the difficulties of double isolation during their active working life. Retired people should not have to worry about their future care. A number of modern Care Homes in Gozo offering long term and respite care are a must as well as Day Centres for those senior citizens who are still independent. Other community services for senior citizens such as ‘adopt a Granny scheme’ should also be explored. Respite centres during the day for those senior citizens, who are still autonomous and able to sleep at their home, apart from being care centres for permanent guests, who are no longer autonomous and need more care and attention should also be encouraged”.

Watch this video clip:

Gozo Ministry punishing the Victoria Local Council

Every Gozitan is fully aware of the rivalry between the Gozo Ministry and anybody who may be influential in the feudal island of Gozo. This is no secret!

One may remember that few years ago the Circolo Gozitano was publishing a monthly Gozitan newspaper called 'The Edge'. This was also destroyed just after few months of its publications.

I have to say that the Victoria Mayor had been trying his best to initiate a number of initiatives in his locality, but the lack of support or rather dismissal from the Ministry for Gozo is so evident.

What is now happening at the Cittadella is a case in point:

Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) - The Green Party welcomes the fact that EU funding is being used for the drawing up of a Master Plan for Cittadella, Gozo. However, AD has serious doubts about the process that was used during the selection process for the adjudication of the tender when groups with much more experience were discarded in favour of a University department that has no experience in the drawing up of master plans.

Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson and Candidate for European elections, stated: “AD is informed that among the groups that had shown interest one found the top international and local experts in the various fields. The ‘company’ chosen, or rather the University group, is in fact -as the Ministry statement itself states-, engaging a number of foreign and local experts to draw up its reports as it itself has no experience in this field. Furthermore, master plans are drawn up over twelve months so that a full weather cycle is taken into consideration.”

I added that AD hopes that there will be a genuine consultation with all stakeholders and all those that have a particular interest in the site. AD cannot understand why the Rabat Local Council was not involved at all up to now and hopes that it will be seriously involved at this stage. No serious plan for Cittadella can be done without a proper study of the problems relating to the historic core of Victoria”.

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD candidate for European elections, said that: “AD insists that the Church and Heritage Malta, the two prime stake holders, will be involved in a serious manner at all stages and not quite excluded, as has happened up to now. Furthermore it is hoped that the Master Plan also includes a Management Plan for the Cittadella”.

Prof. Arnold Cassola concluded: “The Green Party hopes that the Government will go ahead with nominating the Cittadella and the historic core of Victoria for listing under the UNESCO World Heritage List”.

Watch this video:

GREEN JOBS FOR GREEN GOZO

On Sunday Tuesday 15th March 2009, Arnold Cassola, the Malta Green Party leader and candidate for the European Parliament elections of the 6th June accompanied one of the farmers member of the Ager Foundation and a group of German tourists on one of his farms.

Prof Arnold Cassola and myself emphasised the importance of a government strategy for the development of rural and alternative tourism niches that would also create innovative employment in this region and for which the European Union allots considerable funds. On the way down the citrus garden, the German delegation could notice the destruction going on the pristine land the construction of the new Nadur cemetery and they wondered how such a project copuld take place on thjis pristine land!

We said that Government continues to brand Gozo as an eco-island, and, unbelievably, this has not yet been substantiated by an eco-tourism plan that would highly benefit Gozo and the stakeholders within such sectors.

Rightly so, Arnold Cassola declared that Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) maintains that a sustainable ecological tourist strategy for Gozo demands clear consolidated planning rather than random ministerial declarations with no end in sight. MEPA has a legal responsibility to safeguard Gozo’s environment. Public opinion believes that this environmental watchdog is increasingly becoming complacent with monied applicants and then toughens its stand with the weaker ones.

Alternattiva Demokratika strongly believes that Gozo has an inherent basis for such innovative tourism niches. It observes the futility of government and local authorities attempts to promote Gozo as a distinct tourist destination when professional training leading to entrepreneurial initiatives in eco- and agri-tourism is nonexistent in our University and Institute of Tourism Studies. Consequently these sectors lack qualified personnel and any such investment is disabled from its inception stage.

Prof Cassola added that the Government needs to recognise the financial potential of this tourism sector for our islands’ domestic product, and its special significance to Gozo where tourism suffers seasonal downturns. Such niche tourism projects fit Gozo’s low tourist season when paradoxically it is during such winter months that nature blesses its valleys and hills in an abundance of green scenery.

Alternattiva Demokratika has for years been reiterating that Gozo could be the model for the development of niche tourism and its innovative employment opportunities.

AD's proposal three years ago for Gozo to become an eco-island was meaningful and realistic and certainly not a promotional exercise. The Party believed then and now that Gozo and its residents deserve a clean environment, rich in its traditions and offerings for the benefit of the islanders and its guests. Gozitans and environmentally-conscious individuals want decisive implementation of such tourism projects instead of repeated monotonous declarations and promises.

Govanna meets a German Green!

The Hon. Giovanna Debono Minister for Gozo met a delegation from the German Parliament on their visit to Gozo, as part of their programme during their visit to Malta on the 13th of this month.

The discussion meeting held at the Ministry for Gozo, focused on the main aims of the Eco-Gozo vision as well as on how the island of Gozo benefitted from tourism from the German market. Eco-Gozo?

Some days before, I received a call from an official from the Malta parliament, in my capacity as the founder of the Ager Foundation, in order to organize an agro-tourism tour to the delegation while in Gozo. But few days later the same person send me an SMS asking to cancel this this.

Minister Debono also delivered information about the role of the Ministry for Gozo on a regional basis in the national context. I'm sure that our Minister got all the expertise here!

Following the meeting, the delegation, which forms part of the Malta-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group, visited Dwejra and the concrete eye-sore and the Ta’ Dbieġi Crafts Village where a mushroom farm is being proposed in an Outside development Zone area, the Archaeology Museum and the Citadel as well as the Ġgantija Temples.

The delegation’s aim for this visit, led by the group leader, Mr. Ernst-Reinhard Beck, was to discuss current issues which are of mutual interest for Malta and Germany. The group’s main interests are economy, education, environment and culture. But what are the Gozo Ministry's main interests?

I wonder.

The 7th wonder of Gozo

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."

Sagra ta' San Girgor - Kercem

This weekend, The Kercem Local Council organised the Sagra ta' San Girgor. My family visit some of the exhibits in the locality and obviously ordered a nice torta tal-gobon from tal-Mezzan.

On Friday the 8th March, the 2 candidates of Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) for EU parliament together with Michael bajada and myself attended the traditional lunch at the locality. During this event we emphasized the importance of the utility of funds both from local government and EU for the promotion of popular Maltese and Gozitan traditions.

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, candidate for European Parliament, said “The Green Party believes that the use of these funds can lead to the enhancement of local traditions as regards history, culture, gastronomy, music, and others. These traditions can be transmitted from one generation to the other whilst at the same time generating new jobs in the field of tourism during the winter months when tourist attractions are lacking.”

“We encourage the local councils in Malta to take example from the activism of some of these Gozitan local councils and to be pro-active and innovative in their proposals in order to tap as much EU funds as possible in order to develop historical and cultural traditions which would create new job opportunities related to cultural and heritage tourism.” Concluded Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson.

Eco-Gozo and Ta' Lambert - Xewkija

During an on-site visit to Ta' Lambert on Thursday 5th March, Dr Arnold Cassola, Chairperson for Alternattiva Demokratika (AD), accompanied by other Gozo Regional Committee members of the Green Party in Gozo, remarked, that it seems that either the Authorities are turning a blind eye to certain individuals who are above the law, or, that the Government, contrary to its much-vaunted eco-Gozo campaign, is hell-bent to irreparably harm the long term sustainability of Gozo as a quality tourist destination.


The Ta’ Lambert site, adjacent to the defunct Gozo Heliport in Xewkija, is now being turned into a bulky refuse area, where waste is being discarded by heavy vehicles that could easily be monitored and apprehended. On the one hand Government attempts to brand itself as being environmentally conscious, and then here at Ta’ Lambert we have visual proof of Government’s failure with regards to waste management.



Prof Cassola also remarked that it is futile for the Prime Minister to declare that his government will adopt Alternattiva Demokratika’s green policies to turn Gozo into an ecological island.

The Nationalist Party either did not fully comprehend AD’s green policies, or failed to weigh up the consequences of tourist complaints for the foul smells and country eyesores in areas like Ta’ Lambert in Xewkija. Tourists are encouraged to take country walks, and such embarrassing illegal smelly black spots are often encountered. The area is also turning into a parking space for construction and heavy plant machinery which are a huge eyesore to the marvellous countryside around.

The Xewkija Local Council, composed of a majority of Labour council members, pretends to be the victim of this sad state of affairs, but then it has not taken any action whatsoever. Alternattiva Demokratika is well informed that a number of upright public spirited individuals did approach the Xewkija Labour mayor, and that they did provide information on a named contractor who takes the law in his own hands discarding waste in this area. On the other hand, the nationalist-led Ghajnsielem local Concil in which Ta’ Lambert area also falls, is also dead silent on this issue. The person or authority that fails to take action is in law an accomplice to this crime.

During this press conference at Ta' Lambert, I remarked that “It is of utmost importance that the Gozo Ministry recognizes instantly and permanently that the protection of such areas in the Gozo countryside, and pertinent heritage sites help to enrich various tourist niches that embellish the Gozo product. It is a fact that tourists seek Gozo as a destination specifically for its natural environment”.

“This smelly garbage site at Ta’ Lambert growing daily in front of a blindfolded compliant authority is scandalous and a shame. We need to clean up this site and under the supervision of professional archaeologists restore this heritage to the nation”.



I would like to appeal to the Gozo Associations, especially, the Gozo Tourist Association (GTA) and the Gozo Business Chamber (GBC) to actively lead in all matters that benefit the island and to have the courage to shed off political alliances that may hinder Gozo’s development as a true European region.

The Provision Of An Efficient and Ecological Transport System in Gozo

What?
Can you say that again please?

To a non-green individual, such a statement may sound bizarre.

To a green person, the notion to improve the ecological efficiency of the land and marine public transport system is a must.

Much has been said about eco-Gozo especially before last general election.

Last week-end the Association of Local Councils, organised a seminar at Ta' Cenc Hotel. The Green Party Leader, Arnold Cassola, was invited as an observer. It was announced that preparations were under way for the joint signing, by all the 14 Gozitan Mayors, of the European Local Council Agreement.

By supporting such a holistic vision, the Gozitan Local Mayors have made a significant step forward towards the elimination of the petty divisions which characterize local politics in these islands, especially in Gozo. The European Local Council Agreement lays strong emphasis on the reconversion of the public transport system in European cities with a view to reduce pollution and energy waste while at the same time render it more sustainable and provide a better service to the citizens.

Now, Gozo has a golden opportunity to reduce pollution caused by present public transport system, both by sea and on land, whilst, at the same time, to provide an excellent service which make sense in today`s needs.

The reform in the public transport system in Gozo should ensure that all public transport vehicles, including buses and minibuses, should be powered by hydrogen, methane gas or electrical energy to reduce air pollution which is causing so much harm to people`s health. It is a pity that bio-diesel is still not available on the island of Gozo.

With regard to transport by sea, Alternattiva Demokratika would like to remind Government that this is the year when Gozo Channel`s monopoly in the provision of the public sea transport to and from Gozo has to come to an end. AD therefore strongly recommends to the Minister concerned that, apart from provisions safeguarding the employment of all the workers involved and all the social aspects, a clause should also be included, in the new tender, binding the winning tenderer to reduce to a minimum the pollution and energy consumption levels by the ships providing the service.

The Malta Government should not once again lose the opportunity, as happened in the past, to apply for funds from the European Union through the Marco Polo Program, whose call for applications opened again on the 10 February this year. Arnold Cassola added that these funds would help the Company, awarded the tender, to expand the transport of all merchandize from San Maison as well as from the Feeport, to Mgarr port and vice-versa, thereby reducing substantially the pollution, transport costs, road damage and traffic jams now resulting from the overland transport of goods by huge lorries.

The Ager Foundation Gozo

Are you 'Joe Citizen'?

I am sure that unless you are not 'Joe citizen' and you read this news, you might feel quite angry and upset. I assume that the reason being is that if you are a common citizen and filled-in an appeal to the MEPA Appeals Board without paying all the necessary fees up to the last Euro cent, the Appeals Board would have rejected your application there and then.

But not in the case of the developers behind the proposed villas and swimming pools at Ramla l-Hamra Bay in Gozo!

Read the report on the Ramla appeal given the go ahead….yet again by clicking HERE.

In this Republic of ours, some people are more lucky than others. But I don't mind being with the unlucky ones unless I stick to my 'green' principles of justice and fairness.

Active Citizens

This week I felt happy that a number of Gozitans felt at ease to express their opinions on the Pjazza l-Assedju proposed buildings in Victoria. Yes, this is a breakthrough since as one of the
writers (Francies Spiteri) said:

"All the neighbours that we have spoken to seem to share the same opinion but a lot of them don't want to write their names in the newspaper etc, because they are afraid of being blacklisted. Are we back to the early 80's? After all, as European citizens we have to learn that expressing a concern or opinion is a fundamental human right."

Read Spiteri's contribution by clicking HERE.


Mr. Carmel Scicluna, another Gozitan, also freely expressed himself on this issue. Like many locals and ex-pat residents in Gozo he puts doubts on MEPA and said:

"I have my doubts about MEPA, but I wonder if MEPA will accept such proposals without the necessary studies concerning the impact of this development on this residential area. Can we residents have access to any studies that have been done or is everything going to be kept secret?"

Read Scicluna's contribution by clicking HERE.


Another contributor, Joe Borg, also from Victoria had the courage to challenge not only the Gozo minister but also the Gozo Curia! He said:

"We invested in our property since the land has been passed from the church to the joint office with the aim of remaining an open space. No wonder the Church also remains silent on such issues. Is the Gozo Curia also going to benefit financially if this open space is turned into a building site?"

Read Borg's contribution by clicking HERE.

I would like to give a big congratulations to these active citizens and others who are woirking to safeguard Gozo and its characteristics from greed and speculation.

Pjazza l-Assedju 1551 - Victoria

Don't destroy one of the few open spaces left in Victoria

On the 26th January 2009, residents from Victoria, together with Alternattiva Demokratika, protested against the building of a new Court premises in the centre of Victoria Gozo and the residential area of Pjazza l-Assedju 1551, which is at the moment being used as a parking area. Apart from this, the residents have not been at all consulted with regards to the plans of the buildings, which will certainly affect their quality of life.

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola stated that we (as The Green Party) are not against the building of new premises for the law courts. On the contrary, we are in favour. But we are against it being built in the centre of Victoria because this would bring with it more traffic in the midst of the population with an increased rate of noise pollution and air quality deterioration, and the consequent dangers posed to the health of residents and their children.

I urged the Gozo Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry as well as Transport Ministry to seriously reconsider their plans and said that given that the present premises in the Cittadella are inadequate to accommodate the volume of legal work, coupled with the consequent concentration of traffic in the heart of Victoria, together with the inadequate conditions of the workers.

My Party is instead proposing that the law courts be moved to the outskirts of the city to a vacant complex formerly rented to Malta Dairy Products (MDP), where commuters could be served by a shuttle bus service.

Not only does it afford ample office space but AD also proposes this new complex includes other services such as a public registry, a regional police headquarters with lock-up cells, the fire brigade and rescue centre, a regional Attorney General office, a regional office for local government and any other department that falls under the Justice Ministry.

This way, Gozitans will be better serviced through these proposals and the much talked-about traffic congestion in Victoria would ease considerably. Don't you think so too?

Residents in the area are worried that the site being put forward by the government is grossly misguided since it will increase the chronic traffic and pollution problem in Victoria and will destroy one of the few open spaces left in the capital of Gozo.

Aquatic sports facilities required in Gozo for clubs, schools and the public

On a press statement issued on the 19th of this month, I remarked that Gozo still lacks public aquatic sports facilities and that the lack of development of sports facilities in Gozo is another sign that Gozitans are not treated equally as their Maltese counterparts.

My Party - The Green Party (AD) is supporting the Gozitan Waterpolo Club Otters ASC in their plea for a fresh water pool in Gozo. One national swimming pool already exists in Malta, together with another two covered and heated pools; hence we believe that Gozitans deserve, by right, an indoor heated pool in Gozo.

AD has long been insisting that the government should invest in aquatic sports in Gozo. In our electoral manifesto for Gozo, Alternattiva Demokratika proposed that a pool and aquatic sports facility would form part of the existing sports complex in Victoria where adjacent land is available.

I reminded that a swimming pool in Gozo was part of the Nationalist Party`s manifesto in 1991. But we are still waiting 18 years after.

We urge elected parliamentarians to cross party co-operation in order to safeguard the interests of all Gozitans and Gozo's specific needs. The government should invest in sports in Gozo rather than speculating further on public land.

The Green Party Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola also commented on this issue and said that given the socio-educational advantages of aquatic sports in Gozo, he sincerely hope that in the not-so-distant future sports finds itself on the national agenda and is not used only for lip-servicing exercises that seem to have become somewhat of a national pastime.

Prof. Cassola concluded by saying:

"Give Gozitans what is theirs by right. Gozo deserves the construction and development of a common Olympic Standard pool heated to be used both in Winter and Summer for training and available to all clubs, schools and the general public.”

Int x'tahseb mis-sena l-gdida 2009?

Jien nahseb li ser tkun sena interessanti.

Probabbli tul ix-xahar ta' Jannar in-nies jibdew jircievu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma. U dan ser ikun ta' thassib ghall-maggoranza tal-familji bi dhul medju. Izda f'Marzu, imbaghad, ghax ikunu waslu l-elezzjonijiet, il-Gvern ihabbar trahhis fir-rati tad-dawl u l-ilma. Soltu storja nsomma.

F'April jrid jinbidel il-President u jkollna president jew presidenta, li suppost tgawdi ir-rispett ta' ghadd kbir ta' Maltin u Ghawdxin. Ma nafx kemm il-gvern nazzjonalista li m'ghandux il-maggoranza assoluta tal-voti tal-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi, jerga' jissogra jinnomina xi politikant iehor nazzjonalist. Nittama biss li ma jintghazilx xi hadd li jkun maghruf kemm hadem ghal xi partit izda mhux ghall- pajjiz.

F'Gunju wiehed irid izomm f'ghajnejh li l-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin kollha ser ikun mitluba jivvutaw u jaghzlu membri ghal Parlament Ewropew u ghal numru ta' kunsilli lokali. Hawnhekk il-poplu ser jerga' jfakkar lill-gvern li huma ghandhom il-poter fuq il-vot taghhom. Allura ma nistaghgibx li nerga' nara manuvri ma' xi kategoriji ta' votanti, bhalma gara bejn Gonzi u dawk li bnew illegalment fl-Armier lejlet l-elezzjoni generali. Lanqas nistaghgeb jekk, minkejja li l-insib spicca fl-1 ta' Jannar, in-nazzjonalisti jippruvaw jilghabu xi loghba ohra mal-kaccaturi u n-nassaba. Probabbli wkoll naraw xi applikazzjonijiet miftuha ghal-xoghol mal-Gvern u forsi anke xi sorprizi fil-hatriet. L-esperjenza urietna li l-kilba ghal poter taf taghmel minn kollox.

Mill-banda l-ohra, nahseb li nibdew naraw xi rizultati ta' xi riformi mwieghda qabel l-elezzjoni. Fosthom dik tal-ligi tal-kera, tal-kunsilli lokali u tat-trasport pubbliku. Inhoss li din ta' l-ahhar hija l-aktar wahda li ser tolqot b'mod immedjat lil ghadd kbir ta' nies. Ironikament, ir-riforma tat-trasport pubbliku suppost tibda mill-gzira t'Ghawdex, fejn it-trasport pubbliku huwa kwazi inezistenti – allura anke jekk inzidu xi rotta, din tkun okkazzjoni tajba fejn nistghu naqtghu xi zigarella u narawhom fuq l-ahbarijiet tat-tmienja ghax xi hadd jiddeciedi li din l-ahbar ghandha news value. Interessanti naraw kif Austin Gatt u Govanna Debono ser jahdmu flimkien biex ma jirfsux kallijiet.

Bil-haqq insejt ir-riforma tal-MEPA! Bhal hafna tibdiliet ohra li saru huwa inutli li tbiddel il-work practice jekk ma tbiddilx il-work ethics. Nifhem li din ta' l-ahhar ser tkun bicca xoghol iebsa ghal Lawrence Gonzi, li nehha din ir-responsabbilta' minn idejn George Pullicino. Id-diffikulta' tibqa li wara li darrew lin-nies jemmnu li 'mhux kemm taf imma lil min taf', issa jriduna nahsbu b'mod iehor. Ma nahsibx li taht tmexxija ta' gvern immexxi minn partit wiehed wahdu f'kollox, 'kollox huwa possibbli'.

Nahseb li din is-sena wkoll tibqa is-sena tas-skiet u fomm maghluq fuq affarijiet li suppost isahhu d-demokrazijka f'Malta Ewropeja. In-nies mhux ser jinsew il-manuvri li nkixfu lejn tmiem is-sena li ghaddiet mill-e-mail ta’ Pawlu Borg Oliver fejn talab lill-Gvern jerga' jibda jghaddi lill-Partit Nazzjonalista informazzjoni personali u sensittiva ta' nies privati li jkunu marru ghandu b'xi ilment jew talba ghal ghajnuna. Ghalhekk mhux sorpriz li matul din is-sena wkoll, Lawrence Gonzi jibqa' sieket dwar dan ukoll.

Mill-banda l-ohra, zgur li din is-sena ser nisimghu hafna kliem ta' ottimizmu kemm mit-tmexxija nazzjonalista u anke mit-tmexxija laburista. Diskorsi.

Fuq livell internazzjonali, nahseb li hemm stennija dwar il-hidma tal-President Amerikan Barak Obama. Nahseb l-akbar stennija hija kif dan l-ewwel President Afro-Amerikan ser jahdem favur il-paci u s-serhan tal-mohh f'dinja mbezza' mill-kunflitti, traffikar tan-nies f'pajjizi b'mod irregolari, gwerer, guh u ngustizzji.

Nahseb li naraw tibdiliet drastici dwar il-politika Ewropea rigward dak li kien jissejjah is-suq hieles f'dinja globalizzata.

Indunajna issa li s-sinjur aktar ma jkollu aktar irid, xi drabi b'detriment ghal min hu ifqar. Nahseb li fejn qabel il-gvernijiet tal-pajjizi hallew liberta’ assoluta lis-suq b'rizultat li l-ekonomija dinjija falliet; issa naraw li l-gvernijiet ser ikollhom jaghtu kaz aktar il-harsien socjali tac-cittadini taghhom. Allura nistenna li nara Ewropa aktar socjali.

Fuq livell personali, nahseb li ser tkun sena fejn ser inkompli nitghallem hafna affarijiet godda fosthom kif norganizza l-quccija ghat-tifel, li f'Mejju 2009 jaghlaq sena.

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