Comino: Prevailing apathy toward creating meaningful change is regrettable – Nadur Nadif

by Gozo News · April 5, 2024

Nadur Nadif, in a statement regarding the ongoing problems on Comino, said that, “the prevailing apathy toward creating meaningful change is regrettable, particularly given the intrinsic allure of Comino Island and its potential to captivate quality tourism and enrich the heritage of future Maltese generations,” said the NGO.

The local NGO said that throughout last year it “diligently coordinated multiple cleanup efforts across the scenic island of Comino.”

Nadur Nadif explained that the primary objective was to “shed light on the detrimental impacts of illegal dumping on the local ecosystem.”

“Our endeavours culminated in the collection of over 200 garbage bags, spanning from the renowned Blue Lagoon to the Santa Marija Tower,” it said.

Nadur Nadif highlighted that “constructive dialogues were also initiated last year with key governmental entities, including the Ministry of Gozo, Tourism, and the Environment Resources Authority (ERA), aimed at exploring viable solutions to enhance environmental protection measures on Comino.” Comino: Prevailing apathy toward creating meaningful change is regrettable - Nadur Nadif “As the imminent arrival of summer looms, we have revisited the island to assess its preparedness for the forthcoming influx of visitors.” Nadur Nadif said that “regrettably, our observations have revealed a disheartening reality. Despite assurances and pledges for heightened enforcement and environmental stewardship, tangible progress appears elusive.”

The NGO stated that “as of 8:30am on Thursday, the 4th of April, portions of the island surrounding the Blue Lagoon remain marred by garbage, a situation deemed intolerable for a designated Natura 2000 site.”

It added that “the spectrum of litter ranges from commonplace items such as cups, bottles, and cigarettes to more egregious examples like discarded pineapples. Compounding this issue, bins are either inadequately labelled or not labelled at all, exacerbating the challenge of proper waste management.”

Moreover, “the incessant hum of generators further disrupts the island’s tranquillity, eclipsing the natural sounds of the waves and avian life,” said the NGO. “While commendable efforts have been made in tree planting initiatives by previous environmental stewardship, the abandonment of plastic netting that surrounded the trees that die detracts from these endeavours.” Comino: Prevailing apathy toward creating meaningful change is regrettable - Nadur Nadif Nadur Nadif, stressed that “achieving a harmonious equilibrium between economic prosperity and environmental integrity necessitates proactive measures. Numerous pragmatic solutions have been proposed during collaborative engagements with governmental authorities.”

The NGO said these include for instance:

• The implementation of clearly demarcated bins akin to those seen on mainland beaches in Malta and Gozo, which would streamline waste disposal processes.

• Designating Comino as a plastic-free zone could curtail ecological degradation and reduce the burden on cleanup efforts by employed cleaners and volunteers.

However, Nadur Nadif insisted that “even with these suggestions, there’s a noticeable delay in turning words into action.”

It added that “as we approach the onset of summer 2024, we fervently hope for an improvement over preceding years.”

Nadur Nadif concluded by saying “it is incumbent upon all stakeholders to conscientiously fulfil their responsibilities in safeguarding our environment.”