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.

It-Turisti...żibel...armihom...aħraqhom...keċċihom

Aleander Balzan huwa ġurnalist ieħor li nħoss li qed jipprometti ħafna f'dak li hu ġurnaliżmu investigattiv. Barra minnhekk, mill-mod kif jikteb jidher li għandu għal qalbu dak li fil-kotba jissejjah 'il-patrimonju Malti'.

Aleander huwa ġurnalist ma' Il-Kulħadd, u l-Ħadd li għadda kiteb rakkont interessanti li semmih "Teżor arkeoloġiku jinbidel f'miżbla". Nissuġġerilkom taqraw dan ir-rapport ta' Aleander billi tagħfas HAWN u tifmhu 'l ghaliex qed insemmi din l-entry fil-blog bit-titlu ta' 'It-Turisti...żibel eċċetra, eċċetra.


Irrid nirringrazzja lill-kunsillier ta' l-AD f' Ta' Sannat John Mizzi li għogbu jmur jieħu r-ritratti fl-inhawi Ta' Lambert fix-Xewjika, sewwa sew fuq ix-xaqliba l-oħra ta' Ta' Cenc - propju fejn hemm il-heliport u fejn xi tnejn tal-qalba qed ighidu li t-turiżmu f'Għawdex għandu bzonn l-airstip sabiex ikampa....ara l-blog tal-gozoairstrip hawnhekk.



Din id-darba John Mizzi ma ġiex arrestat talli mar jieħu dawn ir-ritratti f'dan il-post tal-biki. Tiftakar meta il-pulizija tar-renju t'Ghawdex ħassru r-ritratti kollha ta' John meta dan mar ħa r-ritratti f'Wied l-Infern waqt li tal-MEPA ġew inaddfu l-ħniżrijiet li għamel is-sindku taż-Żebbug? Jekk insejt, tista' taqra HAWN.



Imma tiġix tgħidli li int u tara dawn ir-ritratti ma tħossx rabja ġo fik tafx!


L-aktar meta is-Supretendent tal-Wirt Kulturali għadu kemm ippubblika r-rapport annawli tiegħu u appella lill-MEPA sabiex l-inħawi kollha f'Ta' Ċenċ ikunu protetti (skedati).

Mhux biss, iżda f'dan ir-rapport tiegħu, is-Supretendent saħaq li x-xaqliba l-oħra ta' Mġarr ix-Xini, cioe' in-naha tal-heliport magħrufa bħala Ta' Lambert, fadal siti arkeoloġici li għadhom
mhux tant maghrufa u ghaldaqstant jenħtiegu wkoll protezzjoni.

Propju dawn ir-ritratti li qed tara sieħeb!

Imma jekk tifli sew dawn ir-ritratti tibda tikkonferma li dan id-diskors bħal ħafna appelli oħra minn diversi sorsi, l-Awtoritajiet ta' Għawdex donnhom qed jipprteġu lil min imur u jeqred dawn l-inħawi fid-dawl tax-xemx.

U dan minkejja li l-gvern ta' maġġoranza relattiva (mhux aktar assoluta) jgħid (qabel l-elezzjoni) li ser jadotta l-vizjoni ta' l-Alternattiva Demokratika biex jibdel lil Għawdex fi gżira eku-loġika.


U allura kif ikkummentajt fir-rapport tal-gurnalist żgħażugħ Aleander, naħseb li għandi raġun ngħid li "jew il-Prim Ministru ma kienx jaf x'qiegħed jikkopja jew inkella tassew li l-pilastru ambjentali tmermer".

Meta tara dawn ir-ritratti tassew jaqbdek il-biki. Trid tkun bla skola kif igħidu, jew ala bieb il-ħanżira biex ma tgħidx x'arukaża!

Meta ser tifhem il-Ministru t'Għawdex illi l-ħarsien tal-kampanja u s-siti pre-istoriċi huma ta' valur enormi u jgħin fl-izvilupp ta' niċċa oħra ta' turiżmu li Ghawdex tant jista' jibbenefika minnha?

Possibbli għadha ma semgħetx li f'Għawdex jiġu wkoll turisti minħabba is-sbuħija naturali tal-gżira?

Biss biss jien naf ħbieb minn Malta li jgħiduli li jħobbu jżuru Għawdex propju minħabba l-kwiet u s-sbuħija naturali tiegħu!

Iltqajt ma' turisti li jżuru Għawdex propju minħabba r-rikkezzi fl-istorja tiegħu.

Naf ukoll nies li ġew Għawdex (u ħallew il-flus) propju 'l għaliex iħobbu jimxu fil-kampanja tagħna u jgawdu l-flora u l-fawna li huma biss jafu jsebbħu wiċċ gżiritna kif riedha Alla l-Imbierek.








Imma araw daqsejn dan ir-ritratt bil-kurċifiss fil-miżbla f'Ta' Lambert!





Min segwina qabel l-elezzjoni jiftakar li ħriġna manifest elettorali specifikament għal Għawdex u fost tant proposti oħra għamilna proposti ta' zviluppi ta' niċeċ ta' turiżmu differenti. (Ara HAWN). Semmjna fost l-ohrajn il-ħtieġa li jiġi żviluppat dak li jissejjaħ Turiżmu Reliġjuż. Jidher li anke hawnhekk infthemna ħażin ghax dan il-povru kurcifiss spiċċa twaħħal ftit ġimgħat ilu f'din il-miżbla Ta' Lambert, propju qrib il-bore hole tal-gvern. Tgħid dan ukoll parti mill-eku t'Ghawdex?




Kif qal sieħbi John Mizzi li għoġbu jieħu dawn ir-ritratti, "xi ħaġa tal-mistħija. Dan il-post irridu niehdu ħsiebu, irid jitnaddaf u meta jsir dan, irid isir taħt l-ispezzjonijiet ta' nies esperti biex ma jkomplux jintilfu strutturi storiċi".




U tiġux tgħiduli li kieku jien parti mill-kunsill lokali tax-Xewkija ħa noqgħod bi kwieti tafux!


Possibli li minn ħames kunsilliera (nazzjonalisti u laburisti) ħadd ma jagħmel plejtu? Kif ma semmietx dan id-diżastru meta is-sindkuwa attendiet il-famuża 'konsultazzjoni' dwar l-eku t'Għawdex fil-Wied tal-Lunzjata? Jien kont hemm u smajt sew x'intqal.



Tridni nibla' dak li jgħidu, jiġifieri "Ma nafux min?" u ejja come on!

Jew din hija kwistjoni li min jaghmel li jrid iwerwer bil-vot lil dawn in-nies li ivvutajtielhom sabiex suppost iħarsu l-lokal tagħhom?

Illallu kieku jien x'nagħmel!

U mhux għalhekk min hu ala bieb il-hanzira jigi jitmejjel mit-turisti? żibel....armihom..aħraqhom. F'kelma oħra....keċċihom.

U allura skużawni tafx, imma kif nista' ma nikritikax lil dik li tissejjah Assoċċjazzjoni tat-Turiżmu t'Għawdex (il-GTA)? Dawk tal-GTA li dritt wara kull budget joħorġu fuq in-NET tv igħidu proset proset proset.

Nemmen li hemm wieħed jew tnejn ġenwini fil-GTA, imma bħal kull organizzazzjoni f'Għawdex li tiġi kkontrollata fis-sistema tal-medju evu jew forsi aktar reċenti...sistema ta' politika fewdali; dawn il-ftit ikollhom jgħalqu ħalqhom.

Mhux jien imma.

The Gozo feudal system

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

Thank you.

Victor Galea
from Gharb Ghawdex."

Remember this? "Don't Destroy Gozo"

This week, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage called on MEPA to schedule the entire Ta’ Cenc area. In its annual report, the Superintendence also revealed that during its inspections of the area extending from the entire Ta’ Cenc plateau towards the valley and the bay of Mgarr ix-Xini, several previously unknown archaeological features were discovered.


Look at the beauty of these site in the photo above (Ta' Cenc on the right of the Mgarr ix-Xini valley and Ta' lambert/Tal-Kus on the left hand side).

We are now asking the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage to inspect the area around the heliport in Xewkija overlooking Mgarr ix-Xini Valley known at Ta’ Lambert, where illegal dumping takes place and a number of cart ruts and other pre-historic features had already been destroyed in broad daylight.

In a press statement published yesterday I said that it is of utmost importance that the archeological sites around the heliport are protected before somebody dreams of developing the area. The superintendence report itself states that a few meters away from Ta’ Lambert at Xewkija, there are archaeological remains and the surrounding landscape has to be protected. It is a shame that this area was left in such an abandoned state of affairs during the recent years. At present heavy machinery is extending a quarry very close to the area. We believe that the Superintendence is aware of the Roman-era Olive Press found near the heliport which unfortunately is in a total state of neglect. (see photo of the Roman-era Olive Press)

Hence I conclude by saying that if the government of Malta promised to protect the ecology of Gozo few weeks before last general election, we now demand action and not mere words. Eco and heritage tourism are a niche market which we are not exploiting enough. The archaeological sites at Ta’ Lambert are of great importance for future jobs because that is what makes us unique in attracting tourism since such prehistoric sites are only unique to our nation.

Any thinking?

Meantime I advice you to read a very interesting feature 'Illegal dumping - Gozo’s silent killer' by Malta Independent Journalist Francesca Vella by clicking HERE

Cheers

Victor