James A. Tyrell, Larne, County Antrim, N. Ireland
Commercial clutter at Hondoq quay
The fact that the Hondoq quay repair saga seems to have come to an end is welcome news for everyone, especially the people who enjoy using the area so much. The Gatt brothers did a good job and as I said before they are to be congratulated, but it now appears that Hondoq has another problem.
I was with friends the other night who have just returned from a holiday in Gozo and I had particularly asked them to pay a visit to Hondoq and take some photographs for me. The above picture is one of them. It shows plastic deck chairs, umbrellas, signs for boat trips etc all over the area which has just been repaired.
What doesn't show in this photo but which my friends have told me about is a speedboat moored at the area of quay which was repaired and big signs on the railings for boat trips to Comino, which obstruct the view. So where has all this clutter come from? Does it belong to the people who run the kiosk at Hondoq? I'm told that at night the area around the kiosk contains several boats, a caravan, canoes, banana boats, vans, cars, etc. The whole area has been taken over. Has a licence been issued for this to happen?
A lot of people are bringing caravans down to the bay and taking up a lot of space. It seems that every person with a caravan stakes out their own little territory, which they seem to think is their personal property.
I think it's time that the ministry comes clean regarding its intentions for the Hondoq area. The Minister for Gozo has in the past shown her support for the environmental rape project. Is this still the case or is she going to throw her weight behind the people she is supposed to be representing?
It is also time that the ministry took the area back for the people as it is obvious that what is happening there now is becoming abusive. The Maltese have a saying that you offer someone a finger and they take the whole hand, which seems very appropriate in this case.
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Alfred Amato
Jul 4th 2009, 19:31
What used to annoy us are the amount of caravans pitched at one part of Hondoq, and all the rubbish left behind, have these people got a licence to stand there or what?. i think more bins should be provided to keep this lovely area tidy and maybe wardens control, However i think that the kiosk provide a good service and lovely snaks, if only there were less congestion with people pitching tents and caravns all over and spoil the attraction of beautiful Qala and Hondoq.
Danny Taylor -UK-
Jul 4th 2009, 14:06
We certainly will not be visitng Hondoq for the very same reason., tighten up your belt who ever is in charge or be a looser for the rest of the season and months to come., We are British visitors to Gozo, but although its not our place to complain or whing as a lot of Maltese seems to have painted us with this slogen, when one is paying alot of money to visit your islands we expect a good service and Hondoq is not one of them sorry to say, its becoming too over crowded with caravans and commerce. if only we could turn the clock back and revert this lovely piece of History to what it used to be before. Just my opinion as a frequent visitor.
a.e.camilleri
Jul 4th 2009, 11:47
I completely agree with Mr. Tyrell re Hondoq. I too have noticed these developments recently at the Bay and they bothered me and the other visitors to Hondoq. I have already expressed myself on these issues some time ago in similar occasions. Have the campers go the permit to spend days on end at Hondoq? Has the firm/person which is running the boat trips /sunbed/shades/canoes/ banana boats etc (probably the same people who run the kiosk at this Bay) got the required permits to do such work there? They are spoiling the beauty of Hondoq, and this is NOT what we want out of our Hondoq Bay. Minister Debono and the Local Council, please look into these issues and communicate to the public through the press ASAP on the situation. Thanks for allowing us to continue to ENJOY Hondoq Bay. I too will be taking photos in the future on separate occasions and at regular intervals so as to show progress, if any, on improvements. And thanks to James Tyrell for his contributions on our lovely place.