2007: Gozo
by MaltaMedia News
While the Maltese Islands witnessed an eventful year in 2007, Gozo had its fair share of happenings, most of them positive.
Gozo tried to live up to its name in the traditional yet significantly different Carnival celebrations in February. The plan was to hold it over two week-ends but the weather was not in a cooperative mood and some events had to be postponed.
However Gozo made up for this with Notte Gozitana – Lejliet Lapsi, a week-end of open air events in May on the same model of the Notte Bianca held in Malta. A good number of Maltese also crossed on the ferry to join in the festivities.
The positive summer for the tourism industry also left its beneficial effects on Gozo. Various initiatives were launched by the government earlier in the year to enhance and promote Gozo’s tourism product, including the Gozo Attractions Incentive. The rise of Gozo as a distinct tourist destination from Malta was felt during the year. Indeed the Gozo Business Chamber (GBC) and the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) on separate occasions requested a seat on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).
They also urged to be represented in Brussels so that they can be updated of the latest European Commission measures that could affect Gozo.
Maltese Member of the European Parliament Simon Busuttil added his voice by calling on the European Commission to cover interests and needs of small islands like Gozo through its wide range of operations in various sectors.
Proof of Gozo’s development was given when Nadur was one of ten European towns and regions that received the European Destinations of Excellence Award (Eden) for Best Emerging Rural Destination, part of the European Tourism Forum (ETF) 2007.
The most important politically-related event in 2007 came in September when Parliament voted in favour of a change in the Maltese Constitution which made sure Gozo will remain a single unified electoral district despite its rising voting population above the Maltese average.
Local elections were held in several Gozitan localities in March. The Malta Labour Party has won the Local Council Elections. PN has lost Xagħra to the MLP while it barely managed to stave off the threat of the AD candidate in Munxar to keep the third councillor and thus the majority.
The environment in Gozo was a very hot issue in 2007, with all eyes on the requested development in the Ramla l-Hamra. A national protest was held in Valletta against this development which it was said was going to ruin the beauty of the beach.
Then in October the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) withdrew its permit for the development of the 23 villas on the hillside overlooking the beach.
Another project, the building of an extensive tourism complex at Ta’ Ċenċ, was also in the news, with yet another project raising concern over its effect on the natural environment.
Another negative story linked to a scandal that hit Gozo in 2006 saw a development this year. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami settled a lawsuit in which a former altar boy claimed he was sexually abused by Gozitan Fr Anthony Mercieca when he was around 13 years old and serving as an alter boy at St. James Church in North Miami, the United States.
by MaltaMedia News
While the Maltese Islands witnessed an eventful year in 2007, Gozo had its fair share of happenings, most of them positive.
Gozo tried to live up to its name in the traditional yet significantly different Carnival celebrations in February. The plan was to hold it over two week-ends but the weather was not in a cooperative mood and some events had to be postponed.
However Gozo made up for this with Notte Gozitana – Lejliet Lapsi, a week-end of open air events in May on the same model of the Notte Bianca held in Malta. A good number of Maltese also crossed on the ferry to join in the festivities.
The positive summer for the tourism industry also left its beneficial effects on Gozo. Various initiatives were launched by the government earlier in the year to enhance and promote Gozo’s tourism product, including the Gozo Attractions Incentive. The rise of Gozo as a distinct tourist destination from Malta was felt during the year. Indeed the Gozo Business Chamber (GBC) and the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) on separate occasions requested a seat on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD). They also urged to be represented in Brussels so that they can be updated of the latest European Commission measures that could affect Gozo.
Maltese Member of the European Parliament Simon Busuttil added his voice by calling on the European Commission to cover interests and needs of small islands like Gozo through its wide range of operations in various sectors.
Proof of Gozo’s development was given when Nadur was one of ten European towns and regions that received the European Destinations of Excellence Award (Eden) for Best Emerging Rural Destination, part of the European Tourism Forum (ETF) 2007.
The most important politically-related event in 2007 came in September when Parliament voted in favour of a change in the Maltese Constitution which made sure Gozo will remain a single unified electoral district despite its rising voting population above the Maltese average.
Local elections were held in several Gozitan localities in March. The Malta Labour Party has won the Local Council Elections. PN has lost Xagħra to the MLP while it barely managed to stave off the threat of the AD candidate in Munxar to keep the third councillor and thus the majority.
The environment in Gozo was a very hot issue in 2007, with all eyes on the requested development in the Ramla l-Hamra. A national protest was held in Valletta against this development which it was said was going to ruin the beauty of the beach.Then in October the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) withdrew its permit for the development of the 23 villas on the hillside overlooking the beach.
Another project, the building of an extensive tourism complex at Ta’ Ċenċ, was also in the news, with yet another project raising concern over its effect on the natural environment.
Another negative story linked to a scandal that hit Gozo in 2006 saw a development this year. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami settled a lawsuit in which a former altar boy claimed he was sexually abused by Gozitan Fr Anthony Mercieca when he was around 13 years old and serving as an alter boy at St. James Church in North Miami, the United States.