Updated: Planned action in Comino foiled

Mike Farrugia

Aug 7th 2009, 11:43

This is why the whistle blower act never materialised....because the whistle blows the wrong way in Malta!
Inside information leaks all over. I am not surprised with the Super one campaign with the power station tender. Accountabilty at it's best.
GonziPN go home.

Joseph Micallef

Aug 7th 2009, 10:08

@J Farrugia and James Borg. This is not a blog and we are NOT bloggers. This is an online newspaper article and we are just commentators. Thanks

Charles Micallef

Aug 7th 2009, 09:32

That is Gozo for you, a friend of mine in the car hire business was conducting a surprise inspection at their Garage in Gozo. He did not tell a soul of his plans and left his car at Cirkewwa, only to find one of his employees waiting for him Mgarr Ferry Terminal, who clearly told him that a friend of his who was on the ferry phoned to inform them and he did not want him to arrive at Mgarr without any transport and knowing he left his car behind!

That is how close Gozo is, it is about time that such inspectors should start to arrive on charter boats and disembark at less conspicous ports, that should surprise them!

Raymond Sammut

Aug 6th 2009, 22:08

This is a matter for the Malta police rather than MEPA. To plant this many deck chairs and parasols, one would require some considerable logistics. Enough to say, by MEPA's own admission, the entire space of a boat was needed to carry the confiscated material back to the main island.

So how come the Malta police never identified any of the people who have done this? Since when Malta has become the island of the ghost police and of the ghost law-breaker. Where are the people that really matter in all of this. Is this the real role of MEPA, to cover up for the invisible law-breaker, and to try and distract us from the role of the Malta police.

The Malta police, eh. What sort of a uniform do they put on in the morning, just so I can make sure I can recognise them I see one.

M. saliba

Aug 6th 2009, 13:02

There was a spy leaking information. It wasnt incidentally. This happens a lot in Gozo when maltese mepa officials, lands or work divisions come to gozo to inspect the irregularities and the road government workers who tend to leave the workplace when the sun is still rising!

David Dalli

Aug 6th 2009, 10:37

The featured photograph does not begin to demonstrate the barefaced audacity of these people who have occupied and taken over Blue lagoon. Suffice it to say that 2 weeks ago I was there at 8 am and every inch of available space on foreshore was taken up by deckchairs and umbrellas. The only way to sit oneself down anywhere within 50 ft of the sea required the dismantling of deckchairs and umbrellas. Well done to Mepa for the raid. However surely enforcement does not depend on the occasional raid, does it?
And if a beach concession exists it should be revoked completely.

Ray Gatt

Aug 6th 2009, 10:01

There's not many a time that I agree with what Galea L has to write, but I agree 100% with him this time. I have bee complaining and reporting about a so called contractor's heavy vehicles (about 8) parked on a public piece of wasteland in triq is-saghtar Mellieha for the past 5 1/2 years. I was also told by Mepa that even before I started reporting, there were others who did and enforcement notices were issued. I reported to Mepa, the local council (today's PN Mayor and the PL one before him), the police, I wrote to the PM at his private residence, I intervened on Liliana Risiotts program on 101 when it was on, lately I wrote to Dr. Chris Said and I could go on forever. Up till this morning, the illegal parking and storing is still there and to be honest I feel I'm fighting a lost battle. I was told by friends of mine that the contractor is a fervent PN follower and there's no way they'll make him move them. One thing's for sure, I'm going to make certain that he cleans up this piece of land. I won't give up to bullying.

M Borg

Aug 6th 2009, 09:43

@ Victor Borg and Clyde Mallia.

pinpointing and stereotyping is so common with many people !! In the New Testament, we read that Jesus said: "he who is not a sinner, can throw the first stone"

You have the wrong impression that in Gozo there is the 'rule of the jungle', and that no laws are enforced.

You might have to blame the deficient Authorities (be it MEPA, ADT, etc), and the deficient Administration.

Can you please infomr the public of the percentage-wise number of enforcement notices in Malta and in Gozo, vis-a-vis the percentage-wise development applications submitted to MEPA?

or maybe we always forget that when someone from any part of Gozo (even when a Maltese with a Gozitan address on his ID) is in the news....he/she is referred to as Gozitan, and when it happens in Malta, we always refer to the name (....and when this happens!).

2 weights and 2 measures maybe????

R.Grech

Aug 5th 2009, 23:53

Galea L.
I cant have a say in the permits price but dont you think that permits like these should be given like any other beach abroad that rents out umbrellas and deck chairs ?
When you go abroad do you pack an umbrella in your luggage ? And no it is not a business for themselves ,money spent in comino is money spent in malta which will keep the wheel turning .Deck chair owners have been very helpful to tourists in any way possible.Comino is still a public place.. Every person that chose to take an umbrella with him did so , i was there last week and an owner gave the person the block of cement that keeps the umbrella standing cause you cant put an umbrella stand through rocks. Yes there should be a limited amount of how many deckchairs they rent and in which parts of comino of course. Another scene in marsalforn cause of the permits of tables.Restaurant owners applied for permits but they never got out, how can they work ? Cant they make profit ? Everyone pays taxes!

Frances Abela

Aug 5th 2009, 23:31

Joke of the year, no one is surprised with the omerta on Gozo and Comino. Simple - MEPA needs to make surprise raids on a regular basis, send undercover vat inspectors to see if receipts are issued, any umbrellas and deckchairs not within their boundaries should be confiscated there and then. Oh and by the way keep this hush hush between a small core group of people. As forewarned is forearmed. Also MEPA needs to make regular raids at Ghadira around 9am when beachbeds and umbrellas are already occupying public land - with no one using them!

Joseph Calleja

Aug 5th 2009, 23:20

As one can see from this picture, there is nobody occupying the space under these umbrellas, so why are they set up already? Umbrella vendors have to make a living too, as long as it is done legally. These umbrellas shouldn't be set up until one rents them from the Kiosk. The area where these umbrellas are to be set up, must be regulated and the vendor licensed, after all it is a business, and like any other business, tax has to be paid. I am sure that a mutual solution can be found between the authorities and the vendors. Also the pier should be clear for incoming and outgoing traffic. This should be done at all public beaches.

s frost

Aug 5th 2009, 21:55

how narrow minded can people get? i am english and i live in malta. i have been going to comino for the past 6 years and since then services have improved immensely! Strangely enough i was there today. Why doesn't anybody mention that there is no place in comino to shelter from the sun. How many tourists do you see coming out of the airport with a beach umbrella? There isn't any sort of medical help or assistance. There isn't even a landing zone for a helicopter. If there were somebody drowning would the lifegurd swim all the way from ghadira bay because that is the closest one available. Whenever i am in comino i always rent an umbrella. It is a MUST in the sun. Today i was amazed when i saw government workers being asked by tourists if they could rent an umbrella and chair.

also i was asked to be interviewed by a tv camera man and when i said yes the camera crew were sent off the island by officials.
this is the biggest tourist attraction in malta and this is how you treat tourists? drop them off on an empty island and cook them?

F Vella

Aug 5th 2009, 21:34

To all who are commenting about the police and how they should do their jobs etc, why not look in your own villages/towns I am sure that there is at least one place with illegal umbrellas, deckchairs, tables,chairs etc.
lets wake up and smell the coffee. Mepa are trying to save face!! simple,

the pontoon overturned, due to either over crowding, or poor design. hmm seems strange how Mepa now decides to remove the illegal furniture that takes up all the space of the quay, that forced all to be on the pontoon!!! food for thought.

@Frankie Cutajar, re life guards, apparently that is not on their agenda as that would mean that they would have to be up to some sort of standard. BLUE FLAG???? rather WHITE FLAG of surrender!!

Galea. L

Aug 5th 2009, 21:12

R Grech
What you should mention is that the beaches are PUBLIC property and NO one has any right to appropriate them for his own private profit just by paying a miserly sum to the Government. Beach concessions should be stopped and never given so that no part of any beach is allowed to be used for the profit of private persons. If you worry about the sun you should take your own umbrella. And by the way this is not business for Malta but business for themselves. PUBLIC property should remain PUBLIC not given to private exploitation.

It seems that the operators have been warned of what was supposed to be a surprise visit. So can anyone blame the people for believing that there is rampant corruption at MEPA?

R Grech

Aug 5th 2009, 19:59

IMPORTANT POINT no one mentioned ,owners of umbrellas and deck chairs HAVE permits to rent out ..What about all the concern of the damage the sun does ? What a fiasco from MEPA to just go there during business hours in AUGUST and make a whole scene !!!! Cant they find a more appropriate way to collabarate with the owners ? There where tourists asking for their money back from the boat services cause comino wasnt what they excpected to find , no deck chairs no shade nothing !! An abondoned island with no service. No one wants to sit on pointed rocks ! Im sure tourists that had today's experience wont come again. This is how we want to greet foreigners who visit Malta ? Let these people give a service, this is all buisness for Malta anyway so at the end of the day everyone will benefit ! We're already havin problems not having enough tourists coming to Malta. This is JUST what we need !

kevin francica

Aug 5th 2009, 18:09

Isn't a police officer stationed at Comino daily? Is he blind to this flagrant abuse? or is this just MEPA's field?

C DIMECH

Aug 5th 2009, 18:07

What a shame of an authority. Not even such a small secret mission could be kept secret. And seriuos people were so worried that A VERY INPORTANT FILE WENT MISSING . And nowbody takes responsability Again. REBUS SHIH.

j micallef

Aug 5th 2009, 17:00

The Logo of Mepa should be a bucket full of holes, and water is spilling out.

And such a bucket you throw it away Mr Primeminister, as it's usels to try to fix it, as soon it will leak again!!

joe farrugia

Aug 5th 2009, 16:25

Dear MEPA CEO,rest assured that this kind of news does NOT startle anybody in the mornings,one the other hand it gives of a "how can that happen" kind of smile to start of your day. Good job,boys !

Frankie Cutajar

Aug 5th 2009, 16:21

Dear MEPA, you saw the umbrellas and the deckchairs??? Why you dont saw that nonsense pontoon that was overturned couple of weeks ago. And Malta have to pay the consequences, because a tourist is sueing the Authority that gave permission to do so. Wake up Goverment or you are near the Beach??? Becareful because SOME bays are without lifeguards!!

J Farrugia

Aug 5th 2009, 15:50

The thing is that in Malta there in absolutely NO ENFORCEMENT. NO ONE IS REPONSIBLE. Neither from MEPA, nor from VAT, CIR, ADT, and all the other super powerful monsters we have as ''Authorities''.. I have several times took the trouble to report illegalities, but to no avail, In fact I will never ever report any other illegality I see around me. Nobody cares. Not even caring to read these blogs. Nobody is ever fired except for the unfortunate office idiot.

Paul Barrett

Aug 5th 2009, 15:16

The basic aim was achieved - it worked as a deterrent so just keep on trying - surely MEPA can just jump in a boat and zoom in at anytime on the spur of the moment if they really want to confiscate the chairs and umbrellas.

Talking of enforcement (other than from MEPA) - has the hunting season started - I thought it was supposed to be from 1 September but perhaps I am wrong or St Paul's Bay area has an exemption as there were gunshots at first light this morning.

James Grech

Aug 5th 2009, 15:11

I too don't like the situation in Comino, however given that politicians and other powerful and influential ppl are allowed to scrap through any wrong doings, why are you other bloggers amazed at what the "popolin" is able to do to avoid lynching?

clyde mallia

Aug 5th 2009, 15:10

and are you all very surprised?
doesnt that always happen when some enforcement action is going to happen in the whereabouts of the sacred island or the seas of GOZO....name it? mepa? VAT? ADT? we all know comino is their dominion, or should i say - one monarchy.
and... the Royals there are very influential!

T.Camilleri

Aug 5th 2009, 14:36

Every time I read contributors' comments and specifically where a Government related entity is concerned, I notice a high degree of sarcasm and cynicsm and I get very concerned - whether it's bus drivers and taxi drivers taking ADT for a ride with their emissions or MEPA being made to look silly by developers and mere citizens who take the law into their own hands by building (or erecting caravans) on Govt public property or extendign existing properties beyond what is allowed. In this case, the word was out and MEPA officals made to look stupid again.

I wonder how things would look if Government and its entities and departments were run purely on strict commercial/business basis and on the principle of hire and fire - you do not perform, then buzz off. No, we have become so accommodating given that jobs are for life in this sector. No way do heads ever roll in these sectors.

Lorraine Vella

Aug 5th 2009, 13:51

i hope that whoever leaked the info will be punished. things like these are secret to the personnel involved, or not?

Sue Mercieca

Aug 5th 2009, 13:40

I was on Comino last weekend. The landing at Blue Lagoon is quite a feat as the deck chairs are put right till the very edge of the concrete -- the way up the hill is also a via pericolosa and one has to be with his eyes very wide open in order not to step on the people or their belongings because of the overcrowded area. The showers on the top of the hill were quite decent though. The police station at Santa Maria Bay is also quite helpful- and the roving police on guard made sure the swimmers area was respected and dogs taken care of on the beach. But the so called campers' generators till 2am were certainly uncalled for. Action is very much expected and needed not just around Blue Lagoon.

victor borg

Aug 5th 2009, 13:37

remember boys, Comino is considered part of Gozo, and no sooner has an enforcement officer touched the ground in Gozo off the ferries, that the word has already spread around to each corner of the island.

It has been and it will always be like that.

M. Gauci

Aug 5th 2009, 13:34

Enforcement my foot. Get all those doing illegal business off the island and give it back to the people.

jcmicallef

Aug 5th 2009, 13:34

This would be laughable if it did not offend the people's intelligence.

In a separate article, http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090804/local/police-impress-us-instructors - it is said that the Maltese police (favourably) impressed the US instructors.

Perhaps these US instructors should pop over to MEPA.....

P.Cassar

Aug 5th 2009, 13:20

I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT FOREWARNING WAS, AS IN MANY OTHER CASES, BY DESIGN. BUT , AT LEAST, LET ME JUST HOPE THAT THE UNSIGHTLY UMBRELLAS ETC WOULD BE GONE FOREVER. OF COURSE OTHER INSPECTIONS ARE VITAL

Leli Agius

Aug 5th 2009, 13:11

I'm not worried with the situation for just one reason. I find nothing wrong in a Person informing someone that action is going to be taken and . At least the Enforcement was Still done without problems and the desired result was achieved. To the contrary it would have been extremely bad if the MEPA officers go and find the people breaking the law confronting them when they have no right at all which is what usually happens. there were also occasions where the offenders where also armed with fire guns. If all the illegal action had to be solved in this way it would be great

Chris Finch

Aug 5th 2009, 13:07

If they know who is doing this, why not just slap them with a massive fine. That would surely stop them doing it again.
Alternatively, if they are putting these up illegally, why doesn't the policeman rouse himself from his slumber and and arrest them?

J. Borg

Aug 5th 2009, 13:04

does anyone in his right senses believe that all these umbrellas and deckchairs are transported to and from Comino daily?
the owners of the two "mobile" kiosks that supposedly sell "only" drinks and food at the BL can surely illuminate the "enforcement" officers...

Joseph Calleja

Aug 5th 2009, 12:57

OOOOOOOps another one got away. I am sure the authorities know who these vendors are and so does the RAT that leaked the surprise raid. If the authorities wait a couple of weeks, maybe days, those same vendors will be setting up the umbrellas as usual. And the " GOOD OLD BOYS " theory goes on. I guess planned action in Comino was not planned too good. Now all they have to do is find the rat that spilled the beans?

M Saliba

Aug 5th 2009, 12:53

This is an eyesore ; There are 30 and four deck-chairs and not a single person. People needing an umbrella should either bring one with them or hire one and put it up themselves.

I am not in favour of umbrella hirers monopolising the sea-side by occuping space with their umbrellas.

J. Borg

Aug 5th 2009, 12:52

haven't these umbrella guys issued a single VAT receipt since they have been operating since last year?

So it not just MEPA regulations that have been flauted but also VAT and Tax.

Send 2 reliable VAT inspectors....with a camera.....let them hire everything possible....and then after requesting receipts &/or identification....issue an assessment for the whole of summer.

Criss Camilleri

Aug 5th 2009, 12:46

MEPA, you really have to do something about the 'Mole/s' you have in your Dept. This really shows that MEPA has enemies within, and these type are what you should be afraid of.

Joseph Vella

Aug 5th 2009, 12:44

How about some action at Ghadira? I am here this morning and I could not pitch my umbrella next to the shoreline as it is taken over by the umbrellas belonging o the kiosks. Aren't they supposed to have a boundary. Maybe these MEPA officials could have stopped here on the way down from Comino (I believe this is the only way they can go back to MEPA), at least they would have done something useful.

J Cilia

Aug 5th 2009, 12:44

Last Sunday at 8.30am, Ghadira Bay was littered with sunbeds and umbrellas supplied by the local business outlet. The only thing that has changed is that last year the beach front used to be occupied and this year the positioning has retreated by a couple of meters. At this rate (2 meters a year) it should take 5 to 6 years to rid ourselves of this illegal practice.

Mario Tabone

Aug 5th 2009, 12:44

What a laugh !!!! Same old story, blame the government for everything.
Why don't we just admit that the I'm all right Jack attitude still prevails in our country.
There is only one way to secure the beauty and heritage of our islands and that is to educate the younger generation.
In the meantime,well done to the authorities.

Julian Borg

Aug 5th 2009, 12:41

Don't we have an internal affairs division in this country that takes action on these leaks. The LGA was running with obvious conflicts of interest for a number of years before the government finally did something about it. We have to learn to nip these things in the bud before they get out of hand. Look at the VAT department scandal, and not to mention the stuff that goes on at MEPA regardless of how much of an eye the country already has on it.

We've done remarkable things in the past 20 odd years; let's continue to be remarkable, and set an example to our EU neighbours.

Charles Micallef

Aug 5th 2009, 12:39

This is a repeat of how the bus drivers were informed that there buses were being summoned to undertake an emission test, someone in the know gave inside information!

steve busuttil

Aug 5th 2009, 12:38

Sherlock Holmes would be proud of you guys! You should team up with the ADT since they too cannot catch busses belching smoke that can be seen by anyone else!!!!!!

Adrian Camilleri

Aug 5th 2009, 12:32

Hahahaha. What a sham.
MEPA needs to do a better job of keeping these kinds of thing on the down-low until they spring into action. As the old saying goes "You can't fart in Malta without half the island hearing it and the other half smelling it".
Being Maltese means one has to contend a culture of gossip and friends of friends (no, I am not implying corruption). Nothing is secret here and everyone has an agenda.

Eric Camilleri

Aug 5th 2009, 12:31

IDDAHHKUX !!! If you want to get hold of these people and charge them you have all the means and supposed brains to do just that. The truth is there is NO WILL.

P Debono

Aug 5th 2009, 12:25

Why is it that MEPA cannot even do such a straightforward thing right?
What a disgrace.

D. Bugeja

Aug 5th 2009, 12:19

What about officials going undercover, in bikinis or swimming pants, pretending to be Italian tourists or something... with only a handful officials knowing about this! The fewer people knowing the plan, the better. Malta is too small, and people know each other... so they warn their friends beforehand! If the news leaks, then there will be only one or all of these handful to blame.

n xuereb

Aug 5th 2009, 12:16

now find out who told them

Chris Borg

Aug 5th 2009, 12:12

What an awful sight!!