As a very frequent visitor to Gozo, I am left with a very poor impression of the public bodies responsible for major projects. In 2005, the Ministry for Gozo, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, San Lawrenz council, Nature Trust (Malta) and WWF signed and published an Approved Plan for the Qawra/Dwejra Heritage Park. Almost nothing has been accomplished towards the goals of that plan and what has been completed is full of controversy.

Within that document were the plans for an interpretation centre that should have incorporated an audiovisual room (30m2), a souvenir shop (30m2) and an administrative office (12m2).

It also stated that the interpretation centre will incorporate a catering facility. Those plans were subsequently modified to allow a cafeteria (above) to be built on the roof of the interpretation centre once a suitable site was identified.

We are all aware of the fiasco of the concrete skeleton that was erected on the “suitable” site that was provided by the prospective cafeteria owner. It remained an eyesore for several years before it was partially demolished and rebuilt according to re-approved plans. While the cafeteria now seems to be in full operation, there is no sign of the interpretation centre. In fact, the building looks as though it was built as a cafeteria and not as an interpretation centre. Is this yet another case of the tail wagging the dog? The yet-to-be-opened interpretation centre appears to be a convenient storage facility for the cafeteria. Was planning permission granted solely for a cafeteria?

Second on my list of disappointments is the unfinished road from San Lawrenz down to Dwejra.

While I welcome the new, smoother road, the lack of proper boundary walls in some critical areas does leave it in a dangerous state.

Unless I am mistaken, the major portion of the funding for this road came from the EU. Do they know the road has not been completed?

As my country is a major payer into the EU, I feel aggrieved that someone is not monitoring the apparent cavalier attitude of the contractors.

Is this Gozo or go-slow, or am I misinterpreting something?