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James A. Tyrrell
03 July 2009 15:22
 Where has all this clutter come from?
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The news that the Hondoq quay repair saga seems to have come to an end is welcome news for everyone especially the people who enjoy using the area so much. The Gatt brothers did a good job and as I said before they are to be congratulated, but it now appears that Hondoq has another problem.
I was with friends last night who have just returned from a holiday in Gozo and I had particularly asked them to pay a visit to Hondoq and take some photographs for me. I have included one of these photographs with this letter. It shows plastic deck chairs, umbrellas, signs for boat trips etc all over the area, which has just been repaired.
What doesn’t show in this photo but which my friends have told me about is a speedboat moored at the area of quay, which was repaired and big signs on the railings for boat trips to Comino, which obstruct the view. So where has all this clutter come from? Well it belongs to the people who run the kiosk at Hondoq. I’m told that at night the area around the kiosk contains several boats a caravan, canoes, banana boats, vans, cars etc. Now I know this person is trying to make a living here but when it gets to the stage that it is taking over the whole area then it becomes a problem.
My friends asked some people in the area if he was allowed to do this and were told that he didn’t have a licence and had been told by the Qala Mayor to remove the items from the quay. Apparently he tried to set up his deck chairs and umbrellas on the beach but the guy who already does this on the beach threw him off. Actually the guy who threw him off the beach doesn’t have a licence either!
They were also told that a lot of people were bringing caravans down to the bay, which were taking, up a lot of space. It seems that every person with a caravan stakes out their own little territory, which they seem to think is their personal property. Actually one of the guys who plonks his caravan in the area is from Qala, a big supporter of the developers who want to destroy the area and is campaigning day and night for the Qala creek project! Someone should point out to him that where he puts his caravan would be under water if the marina goes ahead.
I think its time that the ministry first of all come clean regarding their intentions for the Hondoq area. The Minister for Gozo has in the past shown her support for this environmental rape project. Is this still the case or is she going to throw her weight behind the people she is supposed to be representing? It is also time that the Ministry took the area back for the people as it is obvious that what is happening there now is becoming abusive. The Maltese have a saying that you offer someone a finger and they take the whole hand, which seems very appropriate in this case.
I was with friends last night who have just returned from a holiday in Gozo and I had particularly asked them to pay a visit to Hondoq and take some photographs for me. I have included one of these photographs with this letter. It shows plastic deck chairs, umbrellas, signs for boat trips etc all over the area, which has just been repaired.
What doesn’t show in this photo but which my friends have told me about is a speedboat moored at the area of quay, which was repaired and big signs on the railings for boat trips to Comino, which obstruct the view. So where has all this clutter come from? Well it belongs to the people who run the kiosk at Hondoq. I’m told that at night the area around the kiosk contains several boats a caravan, canoes, banana boats, vans, cars etc. Now I know this person is trying to make a living here but when it gets to the stage that it is taking over the whole area then it becomes a problem.
My friends asked some people in the area if he was allowed to do this and were told that he didn’t have a licence and had been told by the Qala Mayor to remove the items from the quay. Apparently he tried to set up his deck chairs and umbrellas on the beach but the guy who already does this on the beach threw him off. Actually the guy who threw him off the beach doesn’t have a licence either!
They were also told that a lot of people were bringing caravans down to the bay, which were taking, up a lot of space. It seems that every person with a caravan stakes out their own little territory, which they seem to think is their personal property. Actually one of the guys who plonks his caravan in the area is from Qala, a big supporter of the developers who want to destroy the area and is campaigning day and night for the Qala creek project! Someone should point out to him that where he puts his caravan would be under water if the marina goes ahead.
I think its time that the ministry first of all come clean regarding their intentions for the Hondoq area. The Minister for Gozo has in the past shown her support for this environmental rape project. Is this still the case or is she going to throw her weight behind the people she is supposed to be representing? It is also time that the Ministry took the area back for the people as it is obvious that what is happening there now is becoming abusive. The Maltese have a saying that you offer someone a finger and they take the whole hand, which seems very appropriate in this case.
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Comments
natasha - 09 May 2010 23:47
im commenting on the remarks that people are saying about hondoq and the people that are running the kiosk. if alot of people mind there own buisness and got there facts right there would be no story about it. but because alot of maltese and gozitans are bored and put there nose in other peoples buisness like to listen to gossip thats not true. i know the people who run the kiosk and the boat buisness and they have full licences and never kicked the umbrella guy off the beach! the guy who previously was running the beach past away, this is why alot of people should mind there own buisness and get there facts right!
david debattista - 26 July 2009 12:02
Dear Maltese and Gozitans
I have been in Gozo for the last 20 years and have seen
much which leaves me no other choice, AS LONG AS IT IS THE TRUTH but to state the following. I call on all Maltese and Gozitans to take their husbands hands along with their children and make YOUR OWN STAND,LET YOUR OWN VOICE BE HEARD. Politicans will never do anything. IT is YOU THE PEOPLE who can bring a change and left this curse from our islands. Abuse unchecked would only escalate its consequences, and we have such consequences by the TONS on both islands.
The day a politican comes along who is faithful to the truth
regarding the environment, HE will have my suppoert.
IT IS THE ONLY WAY
michael - 16 July 2009 12:55
Hondoq is always full of swimmers ,
If someone like this cowboy keeps on putting his umbrellas ,people will hve less and less space where to sunbate .
Hope that the local authoritees will take immediate action
ANON - 15 July 2009 18:32
GVERN TAS SINJUR
Jason - 15 July 2009 17:09
Hondoq should be protected and not given away on a silver plate to greedy people who`s only interest is how to make money at the expence of all of us
jj - 14 July 2009 17:54
This Gov only protects the buisnessmen .
We the common people keep on suffering with this type of nepotism .Why should we pay when we can have things for free
george b - 14 July 2009 07:57
Open spaces should be protected .
That area is needed for the common people and not for a buisnessman to make profits at the expence of all of us
John Xerri - 13 July 2009 19:15
Hondoq must be protected from these type of people who`s only interest is nothing more than greed
W.W - 11 July 2009 09:27
when no action is taken by the top people, I think it's time to not keep voting for them don't you think? But alas, it seems, that those who do vote for such people do so because they like to have advantages over others, and that makes it a full circle of vested interest! Who is going to break that circle? People are, by nature greedy and that is what makes this world "Malta" go round!!!
louis d - 10 July 2009 23:57
Let`keep what we got .Prime Minister Hondoq belongs to everyone not the few ,That place is always very busy .
Those deck Chairs must be moved IMMEDIATELY .THEY ARE OBSTRUCTING PEOPLES RIGHTS doing so they can make more money at the expence of Joe Citizen
Emanuel Scicluna - 09 July 2009 07:26
All the beach concessions must be frequently inspected by the lands department together with the police and if there's any irregularities they must be severely fined. Those people are occupying public property. Beaches are to be kept clean at all times and everyone must feel free to enjoy our lovely beaches around Malta and Gozo.
Dunkin - 08 July 2009 13:43
Would something like this be included in Mepa PROMISSED reform .
We are sick and tired of places like this that belong to the general public being turned into
PRIVATE PROPERTY
zack - 07 July 2009 19:07
A claer message to the Lands Department
DO SOMETHING
We go sunbathing there and on Sunday there were a lot of sun beds unattended ,Why should we pay on GOVERNMENT land
Cuschieri M - 07 July 2009 18:35
All of you are completely right. It's not just this case that our authorities must be ashamed of but, the arrogance of a business man who almost made Paradise Bay his own. When I went there with some of my friends we noted that all the beach is covered with plastic deckchairs and branded umbrellas. Being a few minutes there was no good time for us, especially with the employees of such lido pestering us to hire a deckchair and an umbrella, when telling them no they also try to give you such an arrogant glance. Authorities have to take action, or else the authorities only want to punish the small ones and leave those who are being arrogant continue with what they're doing
mario - 07 July 2009 17:40
The lands department should act immediately and FAST.
Well if they do so hope that they will not relocate them like they did in Ghadira .
The area is literally taken up by this family .They have got a lot of illegal structures which the land department should take notice off.
NN - 07 July 2009 13:27
As a person who has been swimming in Hondoq since i was a kid, all i can say about this is a big PASTAZATA for a beautiful beach which is loved by a lot of Gozitans. Where is the government??? Where is the Qala council??? Where are the famous wardens???? Where is the minister of Gozo???
I remember people at Hondoq having their lunch or a beer on the same place where now there is all this clutter....They didn't even leave some space for people to sit down and enjoy the lovely view. It is their own property now.
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHERE ARE THE LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY.....WHY ARE THEY STILL THERE IF THEY HAVE NO LICENCE???
I hope the authorities do something about this.
Michael S - 07 July 2009 12:15
Just one person with a kiosk dictates what happens over there . IMAGINE if the developers gets their way to built Marina and the rest . Can`t you all see what will happen ?
michael - 07 July 2009 11:08
Lands department PLS wake up and treat everyone the same .
A lot of squatters have been taken away from other places .Why do these people keep on disobeying the local authoritees .
From all the comments that I have read below .it looks like these people hav got a GUARDIAN ANGEL looking after them .
We will wait and see
Joanne - 06 July 2009 21:12
Is this going to keep on going then they will take action at the end of summer .
What actions has the authorities taken so far ? The area is full of people and adding deck chairs is too much
Peter P - 06 July 2009 12:59
This should stop Open areas should be for everyone ,not for the few
MrT - 06 July 2009 07:00
Par Idejn Sodi .(Pair of steong hands)The Joke of the year .This was promissed by PM on this type of activities .
What amazes me is how these type of people seems to get away with whatever they want at the expense of the normal people on the street
albert - 05 July 2009 23:43
Well it seems that this quay was fixed to accomodate this buisnessman who hires umbrellas ,speed boat etc .
It will be a joke to let all this drag on without any regards to the general public
peter - 05 July 2009 22:42
Have just read that
Is this going to happen in Hondoq too ?
@ Roger We wait and see if they will be removed from there .
While I see this sort of attitude I always believe that people like this COWBOY must have a helping hand to keep on ignoring all these illegalities
Roger - 05 July 2009 12:45
I have just been there and the deck chairs are still there .
Can the police take action .
It is absurd how this person does not listen to anyone .
I hope that what I am thinking is not true .That perhaps he has got orders coming from the TOP to stay there
janiffer - 04 July 2009 19:07
I do go there all the time and that area should be enjoyed by everyone .
Are the people above the law ? Hope not
NN - 04 July 2009 18:33
That area should only be for people and not for buisnessmen .
Thank you Mr Tyrrell for informing us and keeping an eye for us .
The way things happen and get the necessary push over here is when they go public .
Another thanks to Malta Star for publishing these type of articles which are of high value.
Martin - 04 July 2009 15:53
Imagine if the developer who wants to destroy Hondoq manages to get a permit he would not only put sun beds there but dig that whole area for a yacht marina .
By By Bar B Ques ,Parking etc etc
From what I am seeing there is one thing that everyone needs to put it in his head .Things start small till a permit is issued and then they will take over .
That is what actually and surely happening here
mario - 04 July 2009 12:46
Mr Tyrrell you are 100 % right on. This person pretends that he is above the law and do what he wants .
This week Mepa has cleaned up Ramla l Hamra of illegal structures ,Boats jet skies etc .
Let`s wait and see if this will happen over at Hondoq .
Minister Govanna pls take note