I refer to the editorial entitled A Subplot For A Yes, Minister Episode (Times of Malta, (August 17). Although it is not normal practice for the chairman of an entity such as the Malta Tourism Authority to reply directly to articles or opinion pieces in the press, I felt it was incumbent upon me to do so in this case and for various reasons.
Firstly, the piece in question appears to be focused entirely on me and my stewardship of the MTA over the past five months.
It is utterly incorrect on a variety of fronts and suffused with inaccurate assertions that shed a truly undeserving negative light on the MTA and, also, on myself; while, finally, I am also prompted to write directly, as it were, in reaction to the unusually scathing and vitriolic tone evident throughout the editorial, which is highly incongruent considering the issue at hand.
I am fully aware that we are at the height of the silly season that journalists know all too well. That, however, is no justification for extending the silliness further by jumping to erroneous conclusions based on misapprehensions and flawed premises from the outset.
In an effort to avoid pettiness, I shall refrain from replying to the many and varied ‘minor’ untruths prevalent in the piece, restricting myself to the principal points of serious contention.
The beaches’ agency, as proposed and planned, will actually reduce bureaucracy while greatly facilitating matters for anyone and everyone concerned, bar none. At present, there are still too many grey areas and lacunae of responsibility in beach and coastal management matters.
Many entities are involved in all stages of administration, not always in synch or in unison with each other, either, alas.
The concept of the beaches’ agency is to have a one-stop-shop entity that synergizes all the efforts of the different entities involved, co-coordinating functions. Enforcement of regulations and standards should become centralised and more efficient this way too, making life easier for operators, bathers and officials alike.
It needs to be pointed out that the MTA is not responsible for the management, maintenance and upkeep of all beaches and coastal areas in Malta and Gozo. In fact, it manages seven beaches, five of which have attained Blue Flag status.
The beaches’ agency aims to take the concepts being applied by the MTA in the management of beaches and extend the notion, standards and practices across the board. The support for this agency by all stakeholders is further highlighted by the MHRA’s statement to that effect, issued on August 17, wherein the MTA’s achievements in this area are duly noted and unequivocally.
Beach management is not just dealing with encroachment areas and sifting sand
I will also be the first to admit that beach management is not a ‘new’ idea. The MTA began with the beach at St George’s Bay some seven years ago, although a more comprehensive and holistic beach management approach was adopted and given much importance, rightly so, by the previous Tourism Minister, Mario de Marco.
The beach management carried out by the MTA over the past years, contrary to what was written in the editorial, has resulted in Malta and Gozo obtaining eight Blue Flag beaches as well as a Beach of Quality, to date. Efficient, effective beach management is a sine qua non and one of the most important criteria for achieving Blue Flag status. As are the quality of the water, sand cleanliness, facilities, overall standards etc.
The maintenance and improvement of these standards are also reasons why Malta has managed to achieve and retain the status of having the cleanest waters in the Mediterranean and in Europe for the past few years. It is also for this reason that the Maltese islands were voted among the top three best diving destinations in the world.
No, beach management is not just dealing with encroachment areas and sifting sand. The coast, the underwater environment, the facilities, the businesses, the bathers, the tourists... Looking after all that and much more is what the MTA has been doing for years and successfully. We now intend taking it up a notch and carrying on with the sterling work already being carried out, hopefully even more effectively.
With regard to the encroachment and concession areas, Times of Malta seems to be under the impression that this is child’s play to achieve and shame on whoever failed to set things right thus far.
As the newspaper very well pointed out, too, Malta has been attracting tourists since the late 1950s. It is also precisely since then that our tourism sector has challenging issues insofar as beach concessions are concerned.
For decades, successive administrations have made agreements, arrangements, exceptions, exemptions, turned blind eyes, given licences they shouldn’t have, not issued licences they should...
There are so many ‘stories’ and histories to each and every beach concession that it would require an entire legislation just to listen to each and every one. Similar to the Għadira ‘caravans’ and the Armier boathouses, among others, beach concessions have never been tackled seriously, holistically or effectively - and probably because this issue has always been such a Gordian knot to unravel!
So, yes, it is a breakthrough, from where most of us are standing, and augurs well for the continued improvement of our beach management efforts.
As for many of the beaches being in a deplorable state... I trust that the leader writer had a busy summer and did not have the time to go for a dip at any of the beaches being managed by the MTA. S/he will find, though, that the vast majority of bathers and beach-users, local and foreign alike, have a substantially different view on the matter.
The attempt to ridicule me and the MTA, by likening our efforts to a tragic-comic episode of Yes, Minister was not lost on anyone either. Irrespective of whether or not the allusion is well merited, considering the Fact vs Fiction ‘debate’, I must confess that I appreciate the comparison nonetheless, even though the intention was, shall we say, less than pure.
If memory serves me well, the Yes, Minister, and Yes, Prime Minister series always tended to provide an eventual and ultimate comeuppance to the rigid institutions, perennially resisting change tooth and nail.
From your mouth to God’s ears, as the saying goes.
Editorial note: The editorial did mention Dr Gulia but it was about the MTA not the chairman. In fact, it asked: “Where has the MTA been all these years?”
The editorial treated the past, present and future of beach management. So, rather than unwisely noting that “the piece in question appears to be focused entirely on me and my stewardship of the MTA over the past five months”, Dr Gulia should ask those who have occupied senior positions within the MTA for some time why things were allowed to reach the “deplorable state” the editorial speaks of. He may also want to see what the public thinks of the beaches, not just those falling under the MTA’s responsibility, as Times of Malta did when drafting the editorial.
Gavin Gulia is chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority.