Gozitan NGO Ghawdix has spoken out about the so-called “holistic plan” being discussed for Comino by Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo.

Writing on Facebook on Sunday, the eNGO stated that “once again, the establishment is failing us for lack of willingness to protect the common good, and instead keeps abetting nepotism, favouritism and unsustainable economic activities.”

It said that in 2016, the Environment and Resources Authority had published The Natura 2000 Management Plan for Comino which clearly established that one of the top priorities was “to prepare and implement a tourism carrying capacity assessment of the Blue Lagoon and provide recommendations for management.”

Ghawdix pointed out the the report had further added that this was “to be accomplished following the first year from the start of the MP implementation period.”

It said that other objectives included controlling access to certain areas of the island to protect flora and fauna.

Another was avoiding conflicting activities (water sports, kiosks, hiring of umbrellas and deckchairs) which restricted the use of private areas on the foreshore, the organisation said.

However, here we are are years later, the much needed “holistic plan” for Comino “became Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo’s catch-phrase… but it stops at that,” the eNGO said.

Ghawdix added that in 2021 and 2022 he made “empty promises” that a plan would be in effect for the following summer. And yet, it argued, “every summer, the situation on Comino only got much worse.”

This month, Bartolo mentioned that some changes will be implemented for summer 2023, the eNGO said. “But these are only half-baked ideas, and the holistic plan remains altogether inexistent!”

Ghawdix said that the area occupied by deckchairs will be reduced (by removing 65% of existing deckchairs). However, no details have been provided as to how this will be regulated.

Improved service for waste disposal will be catered for by increasing the frequency of waste collection. But, the eNGO asked “what about incentives for waste reduction in the first place?”

It asked how monitoring to ensure cleanliness is going to take place?

Ghawdix also questioned the situation of the kiosks. “Is any capping to be applied on the number of kiosks and on what can be sold? Stating that kiosks would be required to take sustainable measures does not amount to much unless provisions are made for law enforcement and penalties in case of breaching the same.”

It went on to question if there were any noise restrictions, coming from kiosks, generators, and passenger boats alike

“Ultimately, and most importantly, when is the tourism carrying capacity assessment to be undertaken? Seven years have passed … and counting. There are too many unanswered questions, and lack of professionalism,” the eNGO said.

Ghawdix concluded by saying that “repeating the statement, year in year out, that a ‘holistic plan’ is underway does not constitute action. It’s just empty words, Minister.”

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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