Ta' Cenc eviction

I was devastated when a friend and fellow Sannat resident called me at home and told me in a distressed tone that he had been obliged to file a police report after he was manhandled by the Ta' Cenc Hotel owners during one of his usual walks last Sunday morning. It appears that his public objection to owners' plans to develop the plateau made him persona non grata from the public road which crosses it, his daily walk.

As an AD candidate for Sannat I will continue to fight to ensure right of passage and public access. The eviction of a Sannat resident is in violation of the owner's obligation to allow public access. In no way can the chairman of the Gozo Tourism Association discriminate who uses the public right of way at Ta' Cenc and who does not. Is this the best way to attract the best visitors of all, foreign residents?

I am sure that my English friend will tell his story to the 126 foreign Sannat residents and I am sure they will mention it to hundreds more. At this point does it make sense to complain that tourism in Gozo has nose dived? What else are we doing as abysmally wrong?

Editorial note: The owner of Ta' Cenc has denied the claim that he manhandled the person in question. He said he simply asked him to leave.