Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1181922
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 NOVEMBER 2019 NEWS MCAST is an equal opportunities employer. • Draughtsperson - ERDF 9.036 (678/2019*). Closing date Wednesday, 6th November 2019 at noon. For further details, requirements and application process go to MCAST job portal http://jobs.mcast.edu.mt *Jobsplus Permit Number MCAST IS RECRUITING Opera onal Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a compe ve and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Project part-financed by the European Regional and Development Fund Co-financing rate: 80% European Union; 20% Na onal Funds JAMES DEBONO HERITAGE authorities have expressed concerns on plans to resurface the only road leading to the picturesque Blue Lagoon in Comino, warning against the pristine site's excessive 'formalisa- tion'. According to the Gozo Ministry, the road lead- ing to Blue Lagoon is in such a dilapidated state that large boulders from the edge of the road fre- quently dislodge and tumble towards the bathers below. A project description statement states that the resurfacing of the road will be done using "eco- friendly" local hardstone blocks as a surface over a concrete sub base. The proposed design for the 170m-road incor- porates a raised stone edge and railing along the extent of the road "so as to prevent both vehicles and people from accidentally falling over the road's edge". But while welcoming the ministry's decision to abandon plans to extend mooring facilities, the 12-member Cultural Heritage Advisory Commit- tee has said the road to the Blue Lagoon should be "retained and repaired as a dirt track". The committee, chaired by Cultural Superin- tendent Joe Magro Conti, warned that the intro- duction of "any other surfacing material" would "be alien to the site" and "would rescind a char- acteristic that distinguishes Comino from Gozo and Malta". The committee is also requesting that the pro- posed railing along the road, meant to improve safety, is replaced by a masonry wall built in the traditional rubble wall technique, "thus not intro- ducing alien materials on the site". On its part the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage warned against the "formalisation" of the area through the creation of embankments and retaining walls. "The works as proposed would impact on the scenic context and promote vehicular traffic, with incrementally increasing impact on the landscape," it warned. The Environment and Resources Authority has also expressed reservations on the proposed ar- tificial embankment wall on part of the existing natural rock face. ERA is also objecting to the re- inforced concrete road sub-base. Don't touch Comino's dirt road, heritage authorities tell Gozo PAUL COCKS VETERAN journalist Bran- don Pisani (pictured) has been tasked with leading the police Community and Media Rela- tions Unit (CMRU) after the unit was left without an appoint- ed point of contact for a number of years. Pisani took up the position this week after being seconded from the Public Broadcasting Services, where he worked in the newsroom since December 2013. Pisani first joined Union Print in 1995, working as a journal- ist for l-Orizzont and It-Torca from 1995 to 2008, before mov- ing to Favourite Channel and then to One News. In the past, the corps had in- termittently appointed police inspectors to spearhead the CMRU, but for some years now, the unit had remained leader- less. Media organisations often complained at the lack of a des- ignated point of contact within the corps as well as to how long the unit took to respond to newsroom's queries. Pisani told MaltaToday he looked forward to work closely with all newsrooms on improv- ing the CMRU service. "I have been a journalist for many years, and have often been specifically tasked with reporting crime. This gives me a leg-up as to knowing what a newsroom's needs and priorities are and as to how to go about delivering that service." Pisani said all departmen- tal heads in the corps will be informed of his appointment within the coming days and said he hoped to meet newspaper editors in the coming weeks to determine their concerns. Veteran journalist heading police media relations unit Fishers hope for KARL AZZOPARDI MALTA will be proposing a set of management measures for the 'kannizzatti' used by Mal- tese lampuki fishers who are being chased off their fishing grounds by belligerent Tuni- sian fishermen. In talks starting tomorrow, Malta will propose measures of anchored Fishing Aggravated Devices (FADs) at the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). The proposal will be filed by the European Commission, and has been placed on the meeting's agenda. The GFCM, of which Malta, Tunisia and the EU are all con- tracting parties, is the body in charge of fishing in the Medi- terranean Sea. Last September, MaltaToday revealed how Maltese lampuki fishers were being harassed by Tunisians wielding machetes and Molotov cocktails. The Maltese fishermen say their FADs, popularly known as kannizzati, were being over- run by the Tunisians, who use strong-arm tactics to stop the Maltese from accessing their equipment. Fishers lay out their kanniz- zati, floats under which fish shelter, along long lines in ar- eas defined by the authorities. The first floats are normally laid out some eight miles from the Maltese coastline, heading out for a further 100 miles. According to local fishermen, the Tunisians are departing from the port city of Sfax. Wit- nesses also spoke of a large ves- sel, nicknamed the Bin Laden, which is called upon by the Tu- nisians to ram Maltese boats out of the way, as other smaller vessels continue fishing. Informal talks have already been held at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council between Malta and the European Com- mission. "It will also be premature to disclose any further details at this crucial stage since it can undermine the negotiations that will be taking place during such meeting," Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Clint Camilleri said. Malta heads into talks over lampuki wars and theft of kannizzatti on high seas by Tunisian fishers