“I can’t fathom how many people year after year listen to promises and just ‘hope that the Minister will fulfil his obligations promised’. It is as clear as anything that no Minister want to solve the problem of the Deck chairs in the Blue Lagoon on Comino.

If they wanted to solve the problem or better still the corruption and injustice, they have many options which they do not even consider. Well it is a sea after all and I can easily say that there is ‘something fishy going on there’. (Pun)

Therefore: Licences of thousands of Euros should be issued to one operating company each year. All the present operators should be scrutinised and checked for any mismanagement as tax evasion and so on. Operating this important tourist service cannot be left to be run like the Wild West. Accepting the most efficient operators, then they can operate one season and the next season will go to another operator.

There is no need of competition and the chairs and umbrellas and operators should be of good standard and insured. Failing repeatedly in operating a good service during their season, would eventually remove the operator from the service in the future.

The total of deck chairs should cover only say 50% of the area. Bit of mathematics will give the number of chairs the operator can use.

Deck chairs can never be placed on the little bit of sand there is in the Blue Lagoon.

Prices of rent should be by the hour, should be discounted the more hours one rents it and the prices should be printed on a board for all to see.

The deck chairs are carried by the operators and placed where the customers asks them to place them except on the sandy part.

A ticket booth could be erected nearby where the visitors can buy their deck chair tickets. The tickets could also be purchased beforehand from boots at Gozo Channel Terminal. For an extra euro, the customer can book the deck chair beforehand and book the time especially if they are going with elderly or children. Buying and booking will also be available to be done on line. A company like ARMS can handle these sales.

The customers are urged to tip the operators who carried the deckchairs and umbrellas for them to show their gratitude and create a happy atmosphere.

When the operators collect the chairs, they are obliged to also remove any litter their customers might leave behind.

There should always be two beach inspectors at all times checking the total amount of chairs rented at one time. If there are more than permitted, all they have to do is report and the operator will be fined a hefty fine. The beach inspectors will also check that each individual has a day printed ticket and that no one sold them the ticket on the spot by underhand.

Beach Inspectors will be changed often so that they could not become corrupted by operators. There will be on-line cameras focused on the storage of the deck chairs and public places. They can be live so all can see.

Apart from controlling the number of chairs rented and tickets sold they will not let anyone, tourist, private person, boat on the water, food stand etc. play any music loud or soft. The Nature Trust declared the Blue Lagoon as protected and this also means from any artificial noise.

The Beach Inspectors do not have to be body builders because all the have to do is report the infringement. They will record the event on their mobile in video format, send it straight away to LESA or Police or their created company who will call the proprietor of the food kiosk to stop immediately. Still the fine will be issued because they have been properly informed and if they do not stop their business will be closed and their truck removed permanently. If someone takes his radio or booster speaker with him, the Beach Inspectors will both kindly ask him or her to use the earplugs. If they don’t conform the Inspector will throw the equipment to the sea!

Kiosks at Blue Lagoon. There is no need or room for a single kiosk! Imagine 6 kiosks! Spending some hours on Comino does not have to include a 3 course meal, not even a hamburger and chips. In that case go and spend your time at Santa Maria part where there is a hotel and you can have your 4 or 5 star food. Kiosks on the blue lagoon should move further back where they cannot be seen.

They should mainly offer essentials like some sandwiches and water for those dupes who do not pack some food with them. The sandwiches should be prepared there and given to them in their hands. Any litter will be eaten by birds. The blue lagoon is not a Lido but a gift from God or whoever created it to enjoy it in its natural best.

Smart people take enough water and food with them and they should be rewarded for their thoughtfulness by the serenity of the place. Fasting in food for one day will do everyone good. The foolish (as the foolish women in the Gospel) should not have it easy. They should be made to walk inside the island where there will be kiosks who will sell them their requirements but not on the bay but further in where they cannot be seen by the visitors at the Blue Lagoon and their generators not heard.

There should not be vending boats selling drinks and wrapped ice-cream. They are littering the waters with their running engines and wrappings and empty bottles.

Chartered big boats. Can’t they be scheduled when they can go and take passengers? Can an operator has some days and another operator has other days so as not to overpopulate the beach? You are killing the goose who has laid each summer a golden egg! All you have to do is read the trip adviser reviews of such charted boats.

Can we have our Blue Lagoon back so we can enjoy it and also share it with the World? It is all up to those few whom we elected last March.”

Anthony Zammit

Photo by Alain Salvary

Permalink: Blue Lagoon or Depressed Lagoon? By Anthony Zammit