2 comments so far.NGO draws attention to “alarming state of Comino” in letter to Ministers
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
Moviment Graffitti has written to five Ministers demanding that they address the “theft’ of Blue Lagoon.
A letter has been sent today to Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri, Minister for Public Works and Planning Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Minister for the Economy, EU Funds and Lands Silvio Schembri.
The NGO said that the letter draws attention to the “alarming state” of Comino, a Natura 2000 site.
Moviment Graffitti said that the letter also draws attention to what it calls the “ecological disaster currently unfolding on Comino, a repetition of disasters of previous years, particularly in the summer season.”
“This ruinous state of affairs has destroyed the unique, precious and fragile natural state of the Natura 2000 site of Comino,” the NGO said.
In this regard, Moviment Graffitti has set forward six urgent demands:
1. “Sunbeds and umbrellas should only be rented out on request by persons physically present at the beach and should never occupy more than a stipulated percentage of the beach so as to ensure that public access and enjoyment of the bay and the foreshore is left unencumbered, in conformity with the Public Domain Act. This number should form part of a policy document for Comino in keeping with the recommendations of ERA’s Comino Management Plan (2019).
2. The number of kiosks around the beach should be far more limited to prevent congestion and over-commercialisation of the area and must form part of a policy document for Comino, also in keeping with the recommendations of the Comino Management Plan. It must be urgently ensured that kiosks sell drinks in biodegradable material and that straws are also biodegradable.
3. Any commercial activity around Blue Lagoon must operate on the basis of permits issued by the government which cover a financial contribution for the upkeep of the bay. Commercial operators that do not abide by established rules should see their permits revoked.
4. Government must take urgent action to ensure the upkeep and proper patrolling of the island of Comino including but not only distributing rubbish bins in the appropriate areas and making sure rangers have the authority to enforce the rules in place.
5. Urgently abolish music from kiosks and boats and loud generators.
6. Urgently launch work on a policy document for Comino which includes carrying capacity in keeping with the recommendations of the Comino Management Plan. This policy must prohibit large ferries (such as catamarans) from entering Blue Lagoon and place a limit on the amount of ferries that can daily enter the bay.”
Photo: Moviment Graffitti
Hopefully, Malta will come to its senses and get out of the EU which caused all this ugliness in Malta.
That would be the only way to bring back the country like it was and they need a tough President to get out of the EU. Malta has lost its identity and culture when it joined the EU.
You cannot recognize it any more. Shame. Malta looks like a slum with water.
Maltese people sold their island to the EU for greed and Malta is finished unless people get out of EU to bring it back to what it was like.
Shame. More Chinese massage parlors it was reported than pastry shops in Malta. Get out of EU like England did before it is too late for you and your kids and grand kids.
Let us hope that these 6 demands are actioned. I come to Gozo every year but have not been to Comino for five years because of the congestion. It is no longer the relaxing place to visit when you have to fight to get to the beach and then can’t even find a small area to sit. Please action these demands to make Comino beautiful again.