12 comments so far.Monstrosities and destruction galore by Lino DeBono
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“In a recent survey held in Malta, citizens have listed the problems which are most preoccupying them. The survey found that they were the large numbers of immigrants coming to our islands, conservation of our habitat and lastly the building frenzy.
My recent article published on Gozo News of “Money Talks – Money Walks” hits the nail on the head and indeed, the news highlights every day the senseless construction which is taking place and destroying our national and cultural heritage.
Now also Gozo is being targeted by both new and existing contractors. Gozo, which has been classified by Government with the European Union as a “Rural Island” and is therefore not classified as an “Urban Area.”
This has been put aside and the Planning Authority is letting the “destructors” similar to “Hannibal the Hun” on Rome’s doors, destroy our Culture, History and Way of Life.
Building monstrosities such as these photographs show, are completely ruining what Gozo has been praised for and looked up to, until now. How can such monstrous permits be issued as a 10 foot road right in the heart of Marsalforn?
The Planning Authorities when issuing permits do not see or consider the general surroundings and Village Core Aspects, but only base their decisions on pieces of paper and architects submissions.
Laws have been established, but also common sense and people’s regards and observations have to be looked into and considered prior to any permits being issued.
Why should people from Malta always decide what is good or bad for Gozo? Why not make a Gozo Authority under the Gozo Ministry regarding permits issuing? This will put pressure on the Minister who has to get votes during elections.
This way we can be assured of having a proper account on any permit issued. Who in Malta cares how Gozitans feel or have their opinions classified/valuated if they have no contact with Gozo and its inhabitants?
Marsalforn and Xlendi
From two pleasant and enjoyable summer villages, Marsalforn and Xlendi have been turned into a nightmare summer place.
Shops – Restaurants – Encroachments galore which are now legalised as these are occupied all year round – High Exaggerated Buildings – some Restaurants which issue bills on a plain pieces of school paper – Embankments blocked with citizens having to walk on streets – the Menqa Area taken over from both sides – Xlendi Ghar Carolina is also blocked by Restaurants – the Main Street you cannot walk to and fro – if one sits on Beach Benches one is frowned upon – so people whilst complaining and grumbling have and are losing all hope of any sort of order being established.
The High & Mighty have taken over in more ways than one
I remember when in the late 80s an encroachment in Xlendi was demolished by the Public Works Department. But it appears that what was illegal then is now legal and allowed by authorities.
People are rightly questioning “What on earth are our Islands coming to?”
Everybody knows to which political section I belong to, there is no mistake about which Party I support, the Labour Party, but I also can and am able to criticise what I believe is wrong and that strong action has to be taken by the Authorities not to let the sharks and hyenas take over our Islands.
How can people in Authorities take and make decisions only from papers submitted without verifying the places – localities only from the architects submission? Why are permits issued when the same Authority person responsible in making his/her submissions on the permits are not heeded? How can a Notary submit a claim that a person lived in a particular place about a hundred years ago, simply on where she died? When according to the Parish Records this woman lived in the Village Core.
Who will be held accountable? The Notary – the Architect – the Individuals or nobody?
I said that the “Huns” are at our doors. Sadly they have already come and destroyed the beauty which we citizens of Gozo and Malta have enjoyed for hundreds of years.
Progress is good. Destruction is not. Gozo village core aspects must be protected – conserved and preserved both for us living at the present time and even more importantly for our descendants.”
Lino DeBono,
Former Labour Parliamentarian.
Photos supplied by author
and even more importantly for our descendants.”
I agree with what Mr DeBono writes but the last statement which many writers and speakers use is ambivalent. I refer to ‘For our descendants. ‘Before I came here to write this, I wanted proof to what I am about to say and I went to Xlendi and tracked few tourists. I targeted ‘First time comers’ and asked them if they liked Xlendi and they without any hesitation said that it’s a very peaceful and quiet place. They liked it and I did not ask few but many. Those who had already visited said it was better but I asked their children and they spoke highly of the place. The loved what they found! What I wish to highlight is that our Gozitan and Maltese descendants will not see Xlendi as a nightmare because they do not have a memory of a Xlendi with Toni tat-Talija and his goats or his small bar or his famous rabbit stew!
You and I Mr DeBono love the Xlendi we know and our grandchildren (I do not have any) will love the Xlendi they find now. You and I see pictures of Xlendi before we were born and all we can say is that that must have been great. But we accepted the Xlendi we found and the many other friends you and I know enjoyed the Marsalforn they found. Now our descendants will love the places they find as they find them because they do not know other so while I agree with your overall concept I will never accept writers or speakers putting children in-front as the unlucky future citizens who are going to have to live in a nightmarish island. I might also be bold to say that if we have left Gozo as we found it they will say that we have done nothing for them!
How can you think that the high rise nightmare that has now come to Gozo will be enjoyed by anybody except the developer collecting the cash! Your descendants will look back on the rampant destruction now happening in all corners of Gozo and weep for what has been lost. Only when every bit of open countryside had been concreted over in the name of progress will it end – do not be fooled Anthony – no one will love it then.
I have visited Gozo for thirty years, I fell in love with a beautiful, quiet seaside village. After spending a month last September there, with high rise flats being built, cranes and lorries everywhere I came to the conclusion that the beautiful village I loved had been completely and irreparably ruined. There is no peace there anymore, just busy people, dozens of tourist buses, and so many food outlets that is all you can smell wherever you walk. A very very sad outcome, I will never stop loving the Xlendi I knew, and one day you will all regret allowing this to happen.
My sentiments entirely, I first visited Gozo 45 years ago and three generations of our family and friends have enjoyed many, many happy holidays in Xlendi over the years. Sadly now because of the rampant construction (destruction!) the island it is not somewhere that we will come to again as it’s too painful to see what was once a beautiful quaint fishing village transformed into a hideous plastic fronted tourist hell hole.
I appreciate that you can’t turn back the clock on progress (thank goodness the water and electrictity aren’t as sporadic as they used to be) but for heaven’s sake just STOP THE BUILDING NOW!
It’s already too late for those of us who remember the island as it once was, but for future generations of Gozitans please try and save a little bit of the magic that made the place so special, as once it’s gone you will never get it back. Short term greed will lead to long term devastation.
I’m not alone in being a loyal frequently returning visitor who is now looking for pastures new, and this cannot be good for the economy. We were the tourists that came back year after year (and often up to four times a year) who truly appreciated the charm of the island and enjoyed the friendship of the local people.
Now it will simply be day trippers who will come to take a quick boat trip, eat pizza and leave, they won’t care about the place, they are not the happy families who will stay for two weeks every year.
It’s heartbreaking to see the demise of such a wonderful place, but I doubt that anyone will listen to our argument, so sad.
Its like talking to a brick wall, the local planners are only interested in MONEY, and nothing else its their daily bible one might say.What ever has happened to the tranquil island of Gozo we got to know over the years, all gone out the window.:::–
As a regular visitor from the UK to Gozo I totally agree that this devastation to this beautiful island is out of control and although I have no say in what happens to Gozo I agree it has to stop. I love the simplicity and charm of Gozo and its lovely people and that’s what brings in the tourists.
Just because we remember Gozo as it was 30-40 years ago does not mean that the rampant construction, over tourism & eco Gozo as a non event is acceptable! It’s not being on a nostalgia trip it’s the feeling of helplessness in seeing that greed & complete disregard for heritage is destroying this Island I love. As friends who have after many years returned to the UK commented ‘Gozo has lost it’s charm’ and I concur sadly.
I am in total agreement with all of you and I call a HALT for for such monstrosities. What I wanted to point out that its charm and beauty is lost primarily for us oldies because we know what was lost. (notice comments of people long time comers to Gozo) The ones who will come in the future will like what they find. It is good to try and leave them countryside and spaces but saying that it will be a nightmare for our descendants is not true. They will fit in. They will appreciate hotels and 5G WiFi, Tuck Tuck, double Decker buses, and high-rise because they are born into them and THEY KNOW NO OTHER. (except photos, videos and Lino’s comments)
Oh! Anthony get real!! Tourists will NOT come to an overcrowded, ugly concrete jungle………..there are plenty of places they can go that have not been ruined quite so systematically. Those of us who came from somewhere else will leave and those of you born here will be forced to grin and bear it. The only ones who win will be the developers laughing all the way to the bank before they jet off to holiday on some unspoiled rural island somewhere else.
I agree with “just and expat” ! We visited Malta a couple of times in the past 2 years and we decided to move to Gozo (as we fell in love with this beautiful island) as soon as my hubbie got pensioned! But we, sadly, already discussed what to do when Gozo will lose its charm…gets indeed overcrowded, and turns into an ugly concrete jungle………. We see the changes already and we don’t like it so how must that feel for the people who are born here? Short term greed will indeed lead to long term devastation!!
And its all happening under your friend in power which you praise everyday.
why not impose a monthly tax on unoccupied properties , a rates charge ,money going to local councils ?.just a thought !