Gozitan University students in Malta

We met the Gozitan University Student group (ĠUĠ). It was one of the most honest meetings I attended to in these recent days.

It was a nice meeting, but at the same time I felt saddened. I said to myself that nearly fifteen years have passed and yet the Gozitan students are still being treated like rubbish, same as it was in my times. It is difficult to understand the suffering if you do not experience it.

However, it was nice to listen to the Gozitan students voicing their opinion. In our days, these opportunities did not exist.

They wanted to meet Alternattiva Demokratika and I hope that they found an ear which can truly listen to them. Apart from Arnold Cassola, Andre Vella, a representative of Alternattiva Demokratika Youths (ADZ), was also present. Michael Bajada from Munxar came representing the Gozo Regional Committee.

Everyone should be aware of the Gozitan students’ sacrifices; day by day they cross over to Malta in the early hours of the morning to study, or they spend the week in some apartment and they only return to Gozo in the weekend. On the other hand, Maltese students, after university, probably go home to a warm meal. In the morning they find clean clothes, and to make it in time for the first lectures they would not need to board a ferry.

I feel that those who think that the Gozitan complain, they are not really understanding what it entails to go to and from Gozo and Malta. Those who cross over to Gozo once in a year for a holiday do not really understand.

I don’t want to depict the Gozitans as victims. This experience, from an early age, nurtures an independent identity in the Gozitan student. He would be able to face all the challenges involved in an independent way of life, like money management, the hiring of the apartment, the food, the social or solitary life of the Gozitans in Malta, and public transport, amongst others. The same problems I used to face many years ago.

But the ĠuĠ committee is determined to address these problems in a serious manner. They are thinking of updating their website and from simply a website wherein one looks for an apartment in the vicinity of university, they are thinking of building a website updated with work and press releases that this hard-working committee is engaged with.

During our meeting, the members of the ĠuĠ committee mentioned the challenges and the discouragement they received from the authorities regarding their journey to Malta, especially the public transport and the ferry crossing. They also mentioned the way some students are treated by owners of the apartments they hire during the academic year; moreover, none of the Gozitan students are given the opportunity to use the University residence, since the University prefers to hire out this residence at a higher rate to the foreign students rather than the Gozitan students.

The lack of digital information of the books in the library of the University Centre in Gozo was also mentioned, together with the need to make more use of the video conferencing facilities that are kept in the University Centre of Xewkija. It seems that this equipment was bought to be kept stowed away in a kind of wardrobe.

The Authorities should give more heed to what the Gozitan students are saying. I believe that now after these students got together for a press conference with Alternattiva Demokratika, we should soon here of the PN and the MLP following suit. Let it be the day!

The infamous Public Transport Authority should understand, once and for all, that because of the laid-back attitude of some of the drivers, or the lack of trips from Valletta, many a times students end up having to wait for long hours in winter for the ferry back to Gozo. Of course … it is not them that the next day they have to wake up early again to catch the ferry back to Malta.

And what about the fact that the drivers of the public buses do not allow the Gozitan students to board the bus if they have more than two bags? They do not know that these bags most probably would be full of dirty stinking clothes that the Gozitan student takes with him home to wash.

The Gozitan students today form 10% of the University students in Malta. As Prof. Arnold Cassola, the leader of the party, said during this press conference, “The Gozitan students do not need favours but more respect as citizens in whom the country is investing for the future. It is certain that the Gozitan students do not need to be treated as second-class citizens.”

Heartfelt greetings to ĠuĠ.

Visit their site on http://www.gug.org.mt/

Festa tal-qara aħmar fil-Manikata

Illum Marju bgħatli SMS u qalli li ser jagħmlu festa tal-qara aħmar. X'aktarx il-Ħadd 2 ta' Novembru. Staqsieni jekk tal-Kabozza nitħajjrux immorru ndoqqu.
Ftit ġimgħat ilu konna morna għall-festa ta' dan l-uniku raħal rurali li fadal f'Malta.(ara HAWN)

M'ilux, tiftakru lki ktibt biċċa bit-djalett tal-Għarb (ara HAWN). Issa Marju bgħatli poeżija bid-djalett ta' Ħal-Qurmi. Għax insejt ngħdilkom, propjament Marju minn Ħal Qormi....u mar jgħix il-Manikata. Aqrawha daqsxejn, Tassew taqbel ma' daż-żmien tas-sena meta l-ġimgħa d-dieħla jidħlu ġartita tfal ġodda fl-iskejjel madwar malta u Għawdex. Imsieken.


Ma bkejtx fl-ewwel jum ta' l-iskola!

Ġbartuna minn ġa l-imqujol u minn qalb l-għelieqi
Bħal ilma li jaqgħad u jdur f’sink tal-kċina sa ma jinxturob f’serpentina sewda
U nblajna f’bini stramb dunnu l-isptur fejn ummi welldet ’l oħti ftit xhur ilu,
riħa ta’ ħalib, żejt tal-ħuta, gumom friski, lanċinmit u purfum.
Hawn ix-xemx ma tfaqqux iktar fuq rusna imma tidħol bess minn tieqa għolja biż-żebgħa mqaxxra
Minn wara purtieri qudma mdendla ma’ virga ħuxna u sewda tal-ħadid.

U kellimtuna bi lsien stramb.

Dur surot dar, ummi surot mummy u Ħal Qurmi sur Qormi.
U libbistuna ingravuta, differenti minn dik li darba libes missieri meta tellgħewh xhud il-qurti.
Dik il-lasktuwwa rqieqa u bajda li kellha fit-tarf tagħha
kienet agħar mill-ħannieqa ħamra u ħuxna tal-megħeż.

U libbistuna enifurmi li weqqgħet il-kultura tagħkem għaż-żufjett
u biddlet lilna f’maskaruti bujod u blu,
dunna ħabsin minn dawk li naraw fil-films tal-mikimaws.

B’libsa pulita aħna kunna nifhmu tibdila sura,
bħal ma jilbes in-nannu meta jmur jura ‘l San Bastjun ħiereġ mill-knisja.

U flok ħobż biż-żejt u t-tadum għall-fresk tal-bitħa ħdejn il-lumija,
kilna ħobż bil-butir f’bitħa fejn mijiet ta’ tful kienu qed jiġru ‘l hawn u ‘l hemm
qishem żnażan iduru ma’ rus ta’ bużbieża.

Imma niftakar sew. Sħubi bkew f’duk l-ewwel jum.
Jien ma bkejtx.

Malli ħreġt mis-serpentina u sebt ruħi f’dik il-kamra biswit il-lukijiet fit-tarf tal-kurutur
Sammart għajnejja fuq il-blekbord, qabbadt difrejja ġal-gumma friska sa ma kwużi ħreġt id-demm,

u ma bkejtx.

U meta rġajt lura d-dur,
irrakkuntajt ’l ummi bl-istess ton li bih kont inqerr għand Dun Viċens,
li jien bess f’nofs il-klassi ma xerredt l-ebda damgħa.

U llum nikxef snieni, jew li baqagħli minnhem, fi tbissima,
X’ħin niftakar li wara għexieren ta’ snin niġri minn skula għal oħra,
b’żarbun riħa ta’ ħamrija mxarrba u ta’ demel tal-megħeż,

Għodni kapuċi nħuros lejn il-blekbord mingħajr ma mmejjel rusi, b’għajnejja fissi fuqu,

U ma nibkix.

Ma nibkix...
...ħlief meta niftakar f’dawk li l-iskula serviet bess biex ittimbruthom ħmir
u tuthom passaport li fuqu hemm miktub:

l-imrieħel u l-għelieqi tagħkem huma bess għall-injuranti.
Aħna rfajnik nofs xiber mill-art u qed intuk permess tmur tiffunda taħt saqaf tal-pjanċi,
għad-dawl tat-tubi u r-riħa taż-żjut u n-najlon,
taħt tieqa għoja biż-żebgħa mqaxxra.
Biex idderri tista’ tiskappa ftit sat-tojlit tgerrem biċċa ħobż,
U hemm toqgħod toħlom bl-imrieħel li darba,
ta’ Ċanu, ta’ Massu u r-Roy,
kienu jirgħew taħt il-ħarrub u ċ-ċawsli
ħdejn Għor Ħanżir, fil-Ħandaq.

Marju Cardona

L-Istudenti Universitarji Għawdxin f'Malta

Iltqajna mall-Grupp Studenti Universitarji Għawdxin (ĠUĠ). Kienet waħda mill-aktar laqgħat sinċieri li attendejt dan l-aħħar.

Kienet laqgħa sabiħa iżda fl-istess ħin tnikkit ħafna minn ġewwa. Għidt bejni u bejn ruħi li kwazi ħmistax il-sena wara, l-istudenti Ghawdxin għadhom tista' tgħid qed jiġu trattati ta' żibel bħalma kien fi żmieni. Diffiċli wieħed jifhem it-tbatija jekk ma tkunx ġarrabtha.

Kien sabiħ pero' tisma' l-istudenti Ghawdxin isemmgħu leħinhom. Fi żmieni ma kienx hawn dawn l-opportunita'.

Riedu jiltaqgħu ma' Alternattiva Demokratika u nittama li sabu widna li tassew tismagħhom. Minbarra Arnold Cassola gie ukoll rapreżentant ta' Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħazagħ (ADZ), Andre Vella. Mill-Kumitat Reġjonali ta' Għawdex ġie miegħi Michael Bajada mill-Munxar.

Kulħadd għandu jagħraf s-sagrifiċċji ta' l-istudenti Għawdxin li ta' kuljum jaqsmu kmieni lejn Malta sabiex jistudjaw jew iqattgħu l-ġimgħa f'xi flett u jirritornaw biss lejn Għawdex fi tmiem il-ġimgħa. Ħaddiehor, wara l-Universita probabli jmur id-dar u jsib platt sħun. Fil-għodu jsib ħwejjeġ nodfa, u sabiex jilħqu l-ewwel lectures m'ghandux bżonn jaqbad vapuri.

Inħoss li min jirraġuna li l-Ghawdxin jeqirdu, tassew ikun qed juri li ma jifhimx xi jfisser tiela' u nieżel minn Għawdex għal Malta. Żgur ma jifhimx min jaqsam biss lejn Għawdex xi darba fis-sena għal xi btala.

Ma rridx noqgħod impenġi lil Għawdxin bħala xi vittmi. Din l-esperjenza sa minn eta' bikrija tagħmel lill-istudent Għawdxi persuna ndipendenti li kapaċi issaqqaf wiċċha ma' l-intoppi kollha li jirrekjedu ħajja indipendenti bħalma huma l-immaniġjar tal-flus, il-kera' tal-flett, l-ikel, il-ħajja soċjali jew solitari ta' l-Għawdxin f'Malta u t-trasport pubbliku fost oħrajn. L-itess problemi li kont insaqqaf wiċċi magħhom jien snin ilu ħafna.

Izda l-kumitat tal-ĠuĠ jidher determinat li ser jindirizza bis-serjeta' dawn il-problemi. Hemm il-hsieb li jaġġornaw il-websajt tagħhom u minn sempliċement websajt fejn wieħed ifittex flett fejn jikri qrib l-Universita'; il-ħsieb hu l-websajt tkun aġġornata bi stqarrijiet u xogħol li qed jagħmel dan il-kumitat ħabrieki.

Waqt il-laqgħa magħna, il-membri tal-Kumitat tal-ĠUĠ semmew l-isfidi u l-iskoraġġiment li jsibu minn Awtoritajiet waqt l-iskariġġ tagħhom f'Malta speċjalment fejn jidħol it-trasport pubbliku u t-traġitt tal-vapur. Semmew ukoll kif ċertu studenti jiġu trattati minn sidien ta' flettijiet fejn jikru biex joqgħodu matul is-sena universitarja’ u kif ħadd mill-Għawdxin ma tingħatalu l-opportunita li jagħmel użu mir-Residenza ta' l-Istudenti ta' L-Universita', peress li l-Universita' tippreferi tikri bi flejjes akbar lill-studenti barranin milli lil studenti Għawdxin.

Issemma wkoll in-nuqqas ta' informazzjoni diġitali tal-kotba fil-librerija taċ-Ċentru ta' l-Universita' t'Għawdex u l-ħtieġa ta' aktar użu mill-video conferencing li qiegħed jinżamm fic-Ċentru ta' l-Universita' fix-Xewkija. Donnu dan l-apparat inxtara biex jibqa' merfugħ ġo speċi ta' gwardarobba.

Hemm bżonn li l-Awtoritajiet jagħtu aktar widen ta' l-ilmenti ta' l-istudenti Għawdxin.

Jien nemmen li issa wara li dawn l-istudenti ingħaqdu sabiex saret konferenza stampa ma' l-Alternattiva Demokratika, dalwaqt nisimgħu li tal-PN u l-MLP għamlu l-istess. J'alla!

Il-Famuża Awtorita' tat-Trasport Pubbliku hemm bżonn tifhem darba għal dejjem li minħabba t-tnikkir ta' xi sewwieq jew nuqqas ta' vjaġġi mill-Belt, l-Universita' saċ-Ċirkewwa, ħafna drabi studenti jispiċċaw ikollhom jistennew għal sigħat sħaħ fix-Xitwa l-vapur lura lejn Għawdex. Daż-żgur...ma jkunux huma li l-għada fil-għdu jkollhom jerġgħu iqumu kmieni sabiex jilħqu l-vapur lura lejn Malta.

U xi ngħidu għal fatt li sewwieqa tal-karozzi tal-linja ma jħallux lil studenti Għawdxin jitilgħu l-karozza jekk ikollhom aktar minn żewġt basktijiet? Ma jafux li aktarx dawn il-basktijiet ikunu mimlija ħwejjeġ jintnu seba' pesti sabiex l-istudent Għawdxi jeħodhom lura d-dar sabiex jinħaslu?

L-istudenti Ghawdxin illum jagħmlu 10% ta’ l-istudenti fl-Universita’ ta' malta. Kif qal il-kap tal-partit il-Prof. Arnold Cassola waqt din ilk-konferneza stampa, "L-istudenti Għawdxin m'għandhomx bzonn pjaċiri iżda aktar rispett bħala ċittadini li wara kollox il-pajjiż qed jinvesti fihom għall- futur. Żgur li l-istudenti Għawdxin m'għandhomx ikunu trattati bħala ċittadini tat-tieni klassi."

Awguri mill-qalb lil ĠuĠ.
Zuru is-sit tagħhom fuq http://www.gug.org.mt/

Shhhh...Ta' Cenc......don't tell anyone....

After all these years battling to safeguard Ta' Cenc pristine plateau, everybody knows of its national and international importance with regards to its richness in plant biodiversity and habitat, of geological and archaeological interest. This, not to mention Ta' cenc as the most important regional site for birds and its high landscape value.

Well if some Maltese tax-payer is still not aware, I will do good to remind that the Ta' Cenc issue is also currently subject to a pending infringement procedure for insufficient special protection area designation opened against Malta by the European Commission in June. The infringement procedure opened against Malta by the European Commission relates to an insufficient Special Protection Area designation for Ta' Cenc.

It is most unfair for the Maltese tax-payer to be asked to fork out money for fines due to negligence from the Maltese Authorities.


During the past days, new plans were submitted to MEPA by the developers. No you could not see these on-line from the mepa website. There was a very limited time for those concerned to go and view them at the MEPA Office. We at AD called for transparency in this issue and we said that the lack of it is 'disrespect to the citizens'. (Read HERE)

Following that, the developers held meetings with some of the environmental NGOs and the Sannat local Council.

Thank god that the people of Sannat elected an AD Councillor on their council. This way we at AD can keep you informed of the happenings whenever we can.


Whilst welcoming the meetings held by the Ta' Cenc developers with some of the main environmental NGOs and the Sannat Local Council, Alternattiva Demokratika firmly believes that information should be made more public. In particular, the Mayor of Sannat has a duty to inform all his residents of the Council's stand on the new plans. It seems that the MLP mayor opted to remain silent on this national issue. Such stand is unacceptable in this time and year considering the national and international importance of Ta' Cenc.

John Michael Mizzi, the AD Councillor in Sannat said that: "Following the meeting between the developers and the Council, the Public has a right to consider if any development of Ta' Cenc can be reconciled with the Government's policy of Gozo as an Eco-Island. It now transpires that the Hotel would be extending its building to cover the existing carpark on one side and extending to about 130metres from the cliff edge on the other. Can such a sensitive area designated as potential Natura2000 site be built so extensively?"

During a press conference held at ta' Cenc on the 13th of Sepbtember 2008, Prof. Arnold Cassola, the Green Party leader said that "Alternattiva Demokratika eagerly awaits press statements from those NGOs which attended the meetings. AD also asks that the PN and MLP to declare their stance on the Ta' Cenc Development. Politicians, especially those whose portfolio comprises the environment should not shy away from expressing an opinion. Ta' Cenc was designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) for its internationally important breeding colonies of seabirds including the Yelkouan Shearwater, the largest breeding colony of Cory's Shearwater and the only colony of European Storm-petrels outside Filfla in the Maltese Islands."

'Foreigners' asked to help 'foreign' players

A 'foreign' player for the Grab Ranger Football Club costs €300 a month plus incidental expenses, for nine months, September 08 to May 09.

A local, representing the Club is not having much luck with the locals when it comes to collecting the money to employ the 'foreign' player in order to bring the team up to strength.

Apparently no Gozitan in the village is willing to help and the club is now approaching "foreigners" (as they are still called here) for funds. One of these "foreigners" has guaranteed to make up the difference if the club is unable to raise the full cost. Others agreed to a monthly donation and will speak with other ex-pats who may be willing to do the same.

The point of this note is that the club representative said: "Gozitans will pay up thousands of Euros for fireworks or the church when the priest asks them, but they won't pay for local sport."

In view of a letter to the Times about fireworks and EU Food Aid for Gharb residents, (READ HERE) I agreed that this blog entry will do well as a follow-up of the eventualities.

It is also interesting how some locals are ready to approach the 'foreigners' for money and yet expect them to shut up when they speak up or write about the quality of life in our islands. Some extreme nationalistic locals even regard these EU residents in our islands as 'Aliens' - READ HERE.

Apparently not when it comes for money and donations! Ironic is it?

Happy Birthday to me :)

Happy b'day to me
Happy b'day to me

Happy b'day
happy b'day

Happy b'day to me

b.10th September 1969 (ma niftakarx il-hin, sorry), u jghidu li jien Vergni (cioe' Virgo).

Dialects celebrated at Gozo activity

Dialects flaunted at Gozo activity

I totally agree with Mr. Charles DeMicoli who commented on The Times-online saying that:

'celebrating', 'showcasing' or 'focusing on' are more suitable than 'flaunting', in my opinion. 'Flaunting' carries some negative, confrontational, connotiations.
However The Times 'new' editor choose the word flaunted :)

Inħibb dok li hiw tagħne

Illejle murna sal-Munxor. Ken hemm il-"Festival tad-Djaletti". Qett ma kint murt. Ġietnej il-kurżito wara li ċertiw Daphne Caruana Galizia (dejk li tiktib kwużuj kuntra kulħadd) kitbit hekk: "there’s a dialect demo in Gozo, should you be interested in this sort of minutiae of introspection". Mowr ġibe tgħejde bil-Multuj dejn il-kilme! Ma nofx lil mejn ma tippruvox twaqqa' għan-nejk din Daphnej wkill.

Don il-festivol ken urganizzot mill-NGO VersAgħtini - Il-Kelma Maltija, sabex iġijbu 'l quddem dok li jgħejdiwliw il-"linguistic heritage". Appuġġja din l-attivito' il-Kunsill Lukuluj tal-Munxor.
L-urganizzatriċej kienit Miriam Cassar li għandhe website li ta' min jaruha. (Agħfas hawnhekk)

Insumma jen murt ma' Mikielej Bajjuda. Ġet il-famulja tiegħew u ġet Miriam tiegħej ukill b'Savio.

Ċertu Francesca Mustija ppreżentot.

Bide Ġużi taż-Żejtiwn jitkellem bid-djelett Żejtuni. Dok ladarba jibde jitħaddit, ħadd ma jweqqfiw, anzuj, jekk jisimgħek treddin x'ħejn ikiwn jitħaddit hiw, jgħejdlik li sa taqtagħliw il-bewle. Tkellem fuq il-Multuj 'standard' u l-Multuj tar-raħal.

Warajh tkellem Mikilej bid-djelett tal-Munxor stess. Semme li f'dor fuq il-ġnen fejn kinne, ken trabba il-Prufessiwr Guze' Aquilina. Imbaghad qraw xi tfajlet minn ta' Sannot li wkill qraw bid-djelett tegħhim. Kien hemm uħra li malajr tintuna li mix-Xewkija għax kull kelme bil-Q tgħejde bil-K.

Tajba kinit ix-Xlukkajra li kienit bil-qiegħde ma' ġembej. Mhux biss tkelmit bix-xlukkajr imma kantot ukill bid-djelett tagħha. Isemgħewhe ftejt:






Insejt ngħidilkim li Francesca (dejk li ppreżentot) qrot ukoll xi riċerke li għamlit fuq id-djalettej.

L-urganizzatriċej durut fuquj bex jen ukoll nitkellem nitfa bid-djelett tal-Għarb. In-nes ta' l-Għarb il-GĦ iħissuha Ħ (bħal Għ(Ħ)arbi). Ismagħni nitfe:


Jekk trejd aktar tagħrujf fuq id-djelettej Maltujn agħfas HAWN u ssejb websajt bi prugrammuj minn CampusFM. Żewġ prugrammuj minnhim hume fuq id-djelett ta' l-Għ(Ħ)erb. Hemm Liże tal-Barruj. Isimgħewhe.

Dal-għodow ġibiw xa ħaġe fuq it-Times. Ura il-vidjow hawnekk

Kemm ġe sabujħ Savio tiegħej :)