2005: Gozo
It wasn't the busiest of years for Gozo and its people. The year 2005 will be remembered as the year when the Gozitans bid their farewell to Dominic Grech, the lead singer of the popular band The Tramps. A new helicopter service was launched, while the owners of Ta' Cenc denied any intention of developing a golf course. Prince Philip visted the island, and the Vatican accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Gozo and named his successor.
MaltaMedia's Gozo Correspondent brushes through his 2005 diary and finds out what made headlines in Gozo in 2005.
January 24
AX Holdings Ltd sells its shareholding in Rundle Gardens Ltd to Island Developments Ltd. The latter demolish the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, one of Gozo's oldest hotels, and start developing a complex of apartments, a shopping complex and a conference hall.
January 30
The Ggantija Temples undergo a three dimensional (3D) digital survey by an Italian company in order to establish a detailed and precise documentation of the temples' present state. This is the first time such a survey is being carried out in the Maltese Islands.
February 1
A 53-year-old man from Xewkija dies after falling from a one-storey balcony in Xaghra.
March 13
Nadur Mayor Dr Chris Said is the most successful Gozitan candidate in the Local Council elections with a staggering 1,041 first count votes, setting a new record for local elections in Gozo.
March 27
The Spanish company Helicopteros de Surueste starts operating a new helicopter service between Malta and Gozo.
April 8
The corpse of a man in his thirties is found on the seashore between Ghar Qawqla, limits of Marsalforn and Ghajn Barrani, limits of Ramla l-Hamra. The body is in a bad state of decomposition. The autopsy reveals the man drowned.
May 13
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority approves new designs for the construction of a sea passenger terminal at Mgarr Harbour.
May 28th
Nadur hosts the silver jubilee convention of the Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC). The convention lasts until June 5th, bringing to Gozo hundreds of Carnival enthusiasts from all over the world.
June 2
Raphael Axiaq from Xewkija is found not guilt of killing his father Toni Axiaq in 2002.
June 15
The Gozo Business Chamber expresses concern on the decline in the number of Malta-Gozo ferry passengers.
June 27
Mr Joseph Borg is appointed new chairman of the Gozo Channel Company. He replaces Maurice Zarb Adami who asked not to be re-appointed chairman.
July 3
Alternattiva Demokratika launches its campaign for a referendum on rent law reform in Gozo.
July 15
The Court hears how Benny Attard, 46, charged with the murder of Gozitan warden Fortunata Spiteri, had been found guilty of murdering his wife 19 years ago. Psychiatrists suggest that the best solution for Mr Attard is to be kept at the Mount Carmel Hospital rather than in prison.
July 16
David Zerafa, 31 of Nadur, and an unnamed individual are arraigned in Court, charged with the murder of Gozitan lawyer Michael Grech. Zerafa pleads not guilty. Michael Grech, 46, was killed in front of his residence in Marsalforn on May 26, 2004.
July 24
Kevin Sciberras is elected new Nationalist Party (PN) Gozo Manager after the resignation of Euchar Mizzi from the post.
July 25
A 24-year-old man, Frank Cini, is in danger of dying after being shot during an argument in Zebbug. The aggressor is under arrest.
July 28
A group of ten illegal immigrants are arrested near Zebbug.
July 30
A group of 206 irregular immigrants aboard a big boat disembark in Xlendi. The group includes 22 women and 10 children.
July 30
Joseph Portelli, of Zebbug, is arraigned in Court and charged with the attempted murder of Frank Cini by firing gunshots in his direction.
August 5
The court decides that from the evidence presented, there are enough reasons to accuse David Zerafa, 31, of Nadur, with the murder of Gozitan lawyer Michael Grech. Zerafa is pleading not guilty to all charges pressed against him.
August 15
Alternattiva Demokratika's Gozo Regional Committee quotes Ta' Cenc landowners saying they have no intention of building a golf course.
August 19
No one is injured in a fireworks factory explosion in Gharb.
August 23
Gozo mourns the death of Dominic Grech, the lead singer of the popular Gozitan pop group The Tramps. He was 55. Grech sang almost every song recorded by The Tramps, including the hits Xemx and Ghawdex Inti Djamant.
September 15
A British man dies at sea at Ramla l-Hamra. The man, who lives in Malta, was swimming with his relatives and friends when he lost consciousness.
September 28
The Gozo Ministry announces that more than 1,300 metres of residential roads in Gozo are to be rebuilt.
October 16
Gozo is promoted as a tourism destination at Vienna's Ares Tower, during a Gozo Workshop organised by the Malta Tourism Authority.
November 14
A British man, 57, dies at sea at Xwejni Bay, limits of Marsalforn. The man was diving with his friend when he found himself in difficulty.
November 14
Two Gozitan journalists, Pierre J. Mejlak and Alvin Scicluna, are amongst the winners of this year's Malta Journalism Awards for the work published on MaltaMedia.com and TVM respectively.
November 18
Two hundred illegal immigrants aboard a vessel sighted around four nautical miles off Dwejra refuse assistance from the Armed Forces of Malta.
November 23
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh start their state visit to Malta. Prince Philip visits Gozo.
November 26
The Vatican accepts the resignation of Gozo Bishop Nicholas Cauchi and names Canon Mario Grech as his successor.
Mgr Grech is currently the parish priest of Kercem. He will be appointed Bishop in January 2006.
December 9
The EU's Urban Audit 2005 reveals Gozo has the lowest rate of graduates, 4.5%, among more than 250 European cities and urban zones, in contrast to Paris' 37%, which is the highest.
Compiled by J.J. Markie Lepre
It wasn't the busiest of years for Gozo and its people. The year 2005 will be remembered as the year when the Gozitans bid their farewell to Dominic Grech, the lead singer of the popular band The Tramps. A new helicopter service was launched, while the owners of Ta' Cenc denied any intention of developing a golf course. Prince Philip visted the island, and the Vatican accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Gozo and named his successor.
MaltaMedia's Gozo Correspondent brushes through his 2005 diary and finds out what made headlines in Gozo in 2005.
January 24
AX Holdings Ltd sells its shareholding in Rundle Gardens Ltd to Island Developments Ltd. The latter demolish the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, one of Gozo's oldest hotels, and start developing a complex of apartments, a shopping complex and a conference hall.
January 30The Ggantija Temples undergo a three dimensional (3D) digital survey by an Italian company in order to establish a detailed and precise documentation of the temples' present state. This is the first time such a survey is being carried out in the Maltese Islands.
February 1
A 53-year-old man from Xewkija dies after falling from a one-storey balcony in Xaghra.
March 13Nadur Mayor Dr Chris Said is the most successful Gozitan candidate in the Local Council elections with a staggering 1,041 first count votes, setting a new record for local elections in Gozo.
March 27
The Spanish company Helicopteros de Surueste starts operating a new helicopter service between Malta and Gozo.
April 8
The corpse of a man in his thirties is found on the seashore between Ghar Qawqla, limits of Marsalforn and Ghajn Barrani, limits of Ramla l-Hamra. The body is in a bad state of decomposition. The autopsy reveals the man drowned.
May 13The Malta Environment and Planning Authority approves new designs for the construction of a sea passenger terminal at Mgarr Harbour.
May 28th
Nadur hosts the silver jubilee convention of the Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC). The convention lasts until June 5th, bringing to Gozo hundreds of Carnival enthusiasts from all over the world.
June 2
Raphael Axiaq from Xewkija is found not guilt of killing his father Toni Axiaq in 2002.
June 15
The Gozo Business Chamber expresses concern on the decline in the number of Malta-Gozo ferry passengers.
June 27
Mr Joseph Borg is appointed new chairman of the Gozo Channel Company. He replaces Maurice Zarb Adami who asked not to be re-appointed chairman.
July 3
Alternattiva Demokratika launches its campaign for a referendum on rent law reform in Gozo.
July 15
The Court hears how Benny Attard, 46, charged with the murder of Gozitan warden Fortunata Spiteri, had been found guilty of murdering his wife 19 years ago. Psychiatrists suggest that the best solution for Mr Attard is to be kept at the Mount Carmel Hospital rather than in prison.
July 16David Zerafa, 31 of Nadur, and an unnamed individual are arraigned in Court, charged with the murder of Gozitan lawyer Michael Grech. Zerafa pleads not guilty. Michael Grech, 46, was killed in front of his residence in Marsalforn on May 26, 2004.
July 24
Kevin Sciberras is elected new Nationalist Party (PN) Gozo Manager after the resignation of Euchar Mizzi from the post.
July 25
A 24-year-old man, Frank Cini, is in danger of dying after being shot during an argument in Zebbug. The aggressor is under arrest.
July 28
A group of ten illegal immigrants are arrested near Zebbug.
July 30
A group of 206 irregular immigrants aboard a big boat disembark in Xlendi. The group includes 22 women and 10 children.
July 30
Joseph Portelli, of Zebbug, is arraigned in Court and charged with the attempted murder of Frank Cini by firing gunshots in his direction.
August 5
The court decides that from the evidence presented, there are enough reasons to accuse David Zerafa, 31, of Nadur, with the murder of Gozitan lawyer Michael Grech. Zerafa is pleading not guilty to all charges pressed against him.
August 15
Alternattiva Demokratika's Gozo Regional Committee quotes Ta' Cenc landowners saying they have no intention of building a golf course.
August 19
No one is injured in a fireworks factory explosion in Gharb.
August 23Gozo mourns the death of Dominic Grech, the lead singer of the popular Gozitan pop group The Tramps. He was 55. Grech sang almost every song recorded by The Tramps, including the hits Xemx and Ghawdex Inti Djamant.
September 15
A British man dies at sea at Ramla l-Hamra. The man, who lives in Malta, was swimming with his relatives and friends when he lost consciousness.
September 28
The Gozo Ministry announces that more than 1,300 metres of residential roads in Gozo are to be rebuilt.
October 16
Gozo is promoted as a tourism destination at Vienna's Ares Tower, during a Gozo Workshop organised by the Malta Tourism Authority.
November 14
A British man, 57, dies at sea at Xwejni Bay, limits of Marsalforn. The man was diving with his friend when he found himself in difficulty.
November 14
Two Gozitan journalists, Pierre J. Mejlak and Alvin Scicluna, are amongst the winners of this year's Malta Journalism Awards for the work published on MaltaMedia.com and TVM respectively.
November 18
Two hundred illegal immigrants aboard a vessel sighted around four nautical miles off Dwejra refuse assistance from the Armed Forces of Malta.
November 23
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh start their state visit to Malta. Prince Philip visits Gozo.
November 26The Vatican accepts the resignation of Gozo Bishop Nicholas Cauchi and names Canon Mario Grech as his successor.
Mgr Grech is currently the parish priest of Kercem. He will be appointed Bishop in January 2006.
December 9
The EU's Urban Audit 2005 reveals Gozo has the lowest rate of graduates, 4.5%, among more than 250 European cities and urban zones, in contrast to Paris' 37%, which is the highest.
Compiled by J.J. Markie Lepre