17 comments so far.The death knell For Gozo or the Hondoq-ir-Rummien Project
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Readers Letter – It seems that there is a certain bunch of Gozitan ecological vandals who are intent on destroying this wonderful island and will stop at nothing to gain their Judas Euros in the process. These ecological vandals have already destroyed Fort Chambray and the harbour, they are in the process of trying to ruin Dwejra, Ta’ Dbiegi – the highest point on Gozo – was almost turned into a mushroom farm by one of them and Marsalforn will soon have its own high rise buildings to add hundreds of new apartments to the already thousands of derelict ones. The list is endless.
What is happening to the Gozo so many of us love and cherish and care for? Who is trying to destroy it? Who is backing them? How do they get permits to build the unimaginable? Who is paying them, and more important, who are they paying? I leave the answers to these questions to your own imagination.
The argument that the marina project in Hondoq-ir-Rummien will create numerous jobs for Gozitans is totally unrealistic and untrue. Several construction jobs may be created for a couple of years. However, we all know that the construction industry now uses foreigners whenever possible, so the number of new jobs created for Gozitans will be minimal. On completion, the complex will also employ foreigners, as is the case in the Kempinski hotel in San Lawrenz for example, and the upmarket hotels in Malta. This is unfortunate, but true.
Among other things, what this project will do, is destroy one of the last unspoilt sandy bays on the island – forever. The resulting pollution from the yachts/boats, hotel and apartments will cause irreparable damage to the marine ecology of the area, including the channel and the Island of Comino. The construction phase will cause air and noise pollution, not only in Qala, but across the whole island as construction waste and quarry stone is transported to and from the area. The need for additional stone will most likely result in permission being given for yet another stretch of arable or virgin land to be quarried.
Yes, there are many improvements that need to be implemented to make Hondoq more welcoming, however, remember that if the application for this unrealistic development project is approved, Ramla will be next, followed by Dwejra, and maybe St.Blas, Dahlet Qorrot and Mgarr ix-Xini as well.
It is time that ALL Gozitans realize that their island is very special and that they must do their utmost to save what little is left of it. The tourist industry is still the main source of income for the island, but hundreds of new tourist destinations have opened up all over the Mediterranean in the last few years creating fierce competition. Tourists no longer need to visit a polluted, noisy, concrete jungle filled with derelict buildings and surrounded by polluted water, to enjoy a bit of sun.
Wake up and stop the destruction, before this description really fits Gozo and there is nobody left to perform its Last Rites!
Lesley G. Kreupl
Gharb
Leave nature alone because when you lose it, maybe one day you want it back but a few days ago you wanted some euros but now you haven’t got HONDOQ IR-RUMMIEN and as for workers Malta always employs foreign workers.
I was born in Qala and I love Hondoq Ir-Rummien leave it as it is and one notice Every Australian that visited Gozo and seen Hondoq ir-Rummien said it is a very beautiful bay that you can swim and enjoy yourself and go home very Happy.
Remember one thing “you don’t miss what you don’t have” but in the case of Hondoq Ir-Rummien we already have it, so lets keep it. this is Joe Magro ( is Sajjak ) live in Melbourne Australia but this Summer I will see this beautifull Bay of Hondoq ir-Rummien again.
Hip Hip Hoooray to Lesley !!!!!!!
Let`s turn Gozo into a permanent live nativity set.
I WAS BORN IN QALA AND I LOVE HONDOQ IR-RUMMIEN AND WORKED AT HONDOQ I LEARNT TO SWIM THERE. MY GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER LIVED THERE.
MILLIONARS KEEP HAND OFF HONDOQ THIS PLACE BELONGS TO MALTA AND GOZO MAKE HONDOQ A BEAUTIFUL BAY BY PLANTING MORE TREES AND BE MADE INTO A NATIONAL PARK.
CHARLIE MIZZI
To Lesley Kreupl
Thanks for your ongoing support. We wished that you were here for the public hearing .
To Joe Magro See YA MATE as you said Hondoq belongs to everyone not for the few.
All you have to do look at the photo above how beautifull it is any one that change the look of that photo is not human, leave Hondoq ir-Rummien as it is. All you need to do is look where men changed the world, they tall buildings, tall Hotels, big appartments and today it looks like Ghettos. I sign off and I will be in Hondoq Bay this year swimming, God Bless Qala & Hondoq ir-Rummien.
What is happenning to this beautiful island Gozo? I am from Australia and have visited Gozo on three occassions and have always enjoyed the peace and tranquility it offers. Places like Hondoq should be untouchable. What is wrong with the present Government when it doesn’t intervene and stop these millionares before they ruin this beautiful island. Today Hondoq tomorrow somewhere else!
Remember if you say yes for the Marina forget about swimming in Hondoq Ir-Rummien, few are going to be rich and a lot of people from Qala Gozo and Malta will miss out on swimming and mind you the rich people are outsiders. Remember this.
@gozoroo Borg
rather a nativity scene than the Gates of Hell!
I THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THE YACHT MARINA TAZ-ZRIEZAQ.
AND A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THE TOURIST VILLAGE AND 5.STAR HOTELS TAC-CAWL
HONDOQ-IR-RUMMIEN,IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF QALA NOT FOR THE MILLIONAIRS KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF HONDOQ. HONDOQ SHOULD BE MADE A NATIONAL PARK .
NO MARINA AND TOURIST VILLAGE. HONDOQ IS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN’S.
I came to Gozo since 3 years. The reason is the natur , no hotels on the beaches. My eyes need a free view and not a view of buildings or how many stars the hotels have.
And this is the reason for all the other tourists. There are so many tourists they want to live in nature and not in luxus. This is the different client and they save the nature but people they are rich they can`t enjoy the nature they want more and more luxus and destroy first Hondoq bay and then the island. and for what? Only for a specialty group. This kind of people have a lot of luxus-places around the mediteran sea. And all the other tourists like myself we will looking for another place . You can earn money with nature-tourists. That is the future.
Don`t make the same error like Malta.
Greetings from Bettina in Germany
I visit the beautiful of Gozo every couple of years and travel about 30 hours from Australia to do so.
The reason I travel so far to Gozo is that it is relatively underdeveloped and natural. Hondoq, Dwerja and Mgarr ix Xini are all beautiful places to swim and will be ruined by the greedy developers and thoughtless politicians if these type of developments go ahead.
I think the Maltese government would be surprised at the number of tourists who visit Gozo because of they way it is – natural and unspolit. Lets leave it that way!
@Mr A Azzopardi
I love and adore my country but there is a whole beautiful world beyond Malta’s narrow horizon.
Have you ever tried any of the pacific Islands. Much closer, less expensive and don`t have to travel 30 hours for a peaceful vacation.I’ll visit Malta again when the construction dust settle down and the building frenzy stops!!
PS L Kreupl
You are inside the gates of Hell without even knowing.
These comments are great. They show how strongly people feel. It’s amazing that you never see comments that support the destruction of Hondoq!! But please everyone, remember that the main person who has given his heart and soul to stopping the development is Pawlu Buttigieg. For about 8 years he has tirelessly campaigned, risking his personal safety and his business at times. So, if you believe in the preservation of Hondoq, make sure you support Pawlu. Join the Movement. Of course he hasn’t done it alone and there are many others to whom we owe gratitude but Pawlu has been the torch bearer.
To reply to Mr.A.Azzopardi, Malta, Gozo & Comino are very beautiful Islands to visit but as I said in the past most maltese people don’t believe that these Islands. I come to these Islands every 2 years and after 3 months that I spend here I don’t mind going back to Australia because I am one very lucky guy to have 2 beautiful countries like Malta where I was born and Australia where I have the most wonderfull family in the world. So anybody who don’t want to visit Malta you don’t need to tell us to visit Asia because we are part of Asia.
To stop those who threat to destroy Gozo uniqueness and unspoilt Land we must develop an alternative economy that enhances them such as organic agricolture, bioarchitecture and green energy, the ECOGOZO Project
The recent tourism figures show that Gozo tourism is growing…not just in summer months but also winter. These tourists (including myself) come for the uniqueness that Gozo offers. If Gozo goes the way of other typical Med resorts with Marinas and High rise apartments then that uniqueness is gone – forever. Build your tourism on the basis of offering something different and sustainable.
Mr joseph o’k you’re wrong the recent tourism figures shows that in Malta tourist arrivals in January increased by 5.9 per cent but in Gozo sees drop. You can see the link below.
https://gozo.news/55691/arrivals-nights-spent-in-gozo-accommodation-down-23-3-26-5/