2 comments so far.Dwejra one year on marked by complete inaction – AD
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On the anniversary of MEPA’s enforcement to stop further construction of a 2-storey concrete building in Dwejra, Gozo, Alternattiva Demokratika celebrated symbolically this “first anniversary of shame” when the Party’s two European Parliament candidates and members of the Gozo Regional Council visited the site.
Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros, AD’s candidate in the forthcoming elections for the European Parliament remarked, “It is truly shameful that the Prime Minister, responsible for the environment and its impact on the tourist sector, failed to take action to safeguard this unique site in the Maltese islands. On the pretext that the Authorities are investigating irregularities concerning its approved plan, he permits such a scandal to remain stark naked a year later to all the thousands of visitors in guided tours to the Inland Sea.”
The Party’s General Secretary and spokesperson for Gozo affairs, Victor Galea, said, “For one whole year a number of environmental organizations have been appealing to the Prime Minister to settle various issues regarding this officially heralded Heritage Park, intended to be the first of its kind for Gozo.”
“This project stuttered from its very beginning when MEPA took over one and a half years to sanction the Dwejra Action Plan. In March 2007 European Union funds for this project were no longer available. Since then no steps were taken for the continued protection of this site; consequently, we have today a glaring scandal of this advertised heritage zone, listing 80 irregularities ranging from illegal structures, unsanctioned extensions of stone quarries and illegal dumping of construction waste and other refuse on public pathways.”
Dr Arnold Cassola emphasized, “It is absolutely urgent that an illusory Management Board wakes up from its deep slumber, and that site managers are appointed according to the recent recommendations of the European Union which had provided adequate funds for the continued protection of this site. The Dwejra Management Board shoulders a grave responsibility and is urgently requested to settle the issue of this monstrous concrete structure already one year on since MEPA declared these works to be in contravention to its own approval plan.”
“It is unfair that whereas the ordinary citizen faces stiff fines, Government and its affiliate authorities carry on in their routine administrative tasks as if no illegalities did ever occur. The public silently stands to watch these injustices.”
Prof Cassola concluded by saying, “Alternattiva Demokratika again calls upon the Gozo Associations, especially the Gozo Tourist Association and the Gozo Chamber of Commerce to represent, as they are bound to do, the issues that interest Gozo best, to positively criticize where needed and not to prioritise their political alliances at the cost of delayed development of Gozo as a European region.”
This is purely 2 weights 2 measure .
Dr Gonzi promised us that he will do the necessary changes in MEPA
What a Joke I think by the time they will arrive this monster will be finished
I, and many others, have been writing about the disgusting condition of Dwejra for years and absolutely nothing has been done. Nobody took any notice of the complaints about the Dwejra disaster when it was built a year ago or when the area (including the DD) was selected as a possibility for the new 7 world wonders – what a laugh!
It is all very well for the tourist organizations to complain that there are no facilities on the island (read airport for example, the solution to all our problems) but GDS we can’t even look after the facilities/natural wonders that we have!!!
This island could be a gem, but unfortunately it seems that nobody in power, such as the government or the church, really cares. It seems that it is more important for the former to convict people for having fun than to take care of the environment and for the latter to build destructive cemeteries! Shame, shame, shame on you all!