This photo was taken on Good Friday - these two children were having fun running around in the sun and getting rid of some energy, probably after being confined indoors for hours during a nice family lunch. However, their energy and inquisitiveness could have had dire consequences. One little slip, a gust of wind, a wave, another bit of concrete breaking off.... It is not deep, but the rocks are razor sharp and the water icy. The temptation to look too great...
Ħondoq ir-Rummien was severely damaged by storms in the middle of January. Since then the beach has been graded and some of the boulders have been removed and dumped on the parking ground. A couple of notices have also been erected warning people not to venture any closer (not much use as children normally do not or cannot read signs) and the surviving ladders have been painted. That is the extent of the repairs which have been carried out during the past 12 weeks! Wow.
To be fair, I realise that the dreadful weather must have hampered repair work at times, however, the huge gaping hole can still be approached from all sides - there are no safety barriers whatsoever. If this situation continues into the summer season, which is after all just a few weeks away, the potential danger created by this hole will be immense. I can just imagine "brave" kids daring each other to venture down to explore it, worse still trying to jump or dive down into it. Night-time visitors stumbling in the dark, or even a car driving just too close!
In addition - as far as I could see - the boulders which were washed up against the quay, where people dive from, are still there, which means that the water is no longer very deep and therefore unsafe for diving.
This bay is in an extremely dangerous condition. Not only that, it certainly no longer exudes the welcoming charm people have come to expect and love! I feel sorry for those few tourists who will hopefully visit Gozo again this year - what a disappointment they are in for!
The repair work cannot be carried out, or paid for, by the Qala local council as the damage is simply too extensive.
Therefore, the Ministry for Gozo and the Malta Tourism Authority are duty bound to carry out the necessary repairs and embellishments to this bay without delay.
The government keeps on complaining about poor tourism figures, pays millions to consultancy companies to tell them what they are doing wrong and yet doesn't seem prepared to do anything to improve existing facilities. Shame. How sad for those whose livelihood depends on tourism!
Editor's Note:
Ms Kreupl copied the Gozo Ministry whose Department for Projects and Development has let us know that works to clear the dangers mentioned in the letter will be completed before the summer.