Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543356
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 20 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS THE Gozo Business Chamber re- cently welcomed Thomas Bajada at its premises for a constructive and forward-looking discussion on the island's priorities within the European Union. The meeting centered on issues of strategic importance for Gozo, emphasizing the need to ensure that the island's unique realities and economic priorities are effec- tively represented at the EU lev- el. Chamber representatives and MEP Bajada explored avenues to strengthen Gozo's presence in ongoing European discussions, fo- cusing on sustainable growth and opportunities for local businesses. During the session, the Cham- ber reaffirmed its commitment to proactive dialogue and collab- oration, underlining its mission to safeguard opportunities for Gozitan enterprises while ampli- fying the island's voice in broader EU affairs. The engagement reflects the Chamber's ongoing efforts to build strong connections with Eu- ropean policymakers and to sup- port the sustainable development of Gozo's economy. Gozo Business Chamber hosts MEP Thomas Bajada for strategic EU dialogue The Gozo Business Chamber recently welcomed Thomas Bajada at its premises for a constructive and forward- looking discussion on the island's priorities within the European Union UOM academics warn of threat to Dwejra's dark sky heritage 135 academics from the Univer- sity of Malta have raised con- cerns over the recent legal no- tice allowing artificial lighting at Dwejra, describing it as a threat to the site's cultural, scientific, and educational value. In a statement submitted for publication and consultation, the academics emphasized that Dwejra is "far more than a sce- nic coastal site" – it is one of Malta's last remaining nocturnal landscapes, offering a natural darkness crucial for astronomi- cal observation, environmental research, heritage studies, and cultural exploration. The statement highlights that the site has historically served as a learning resource across dis- ciplines, enabling students and scholars to study the night sky in its natural state. Observers point out that the experience of an unpolluted night sky is cul- turally significant, connecting modern visitors to millennia-old practices of navigation, story- telling, and timekeeping. The academics expressed par- ticular concern over the Envi- ronment and Resources Au- thority's recent legal notice, which allows artificial lighting until midnight and applies re- strictions only to newly installed fixtures. They argue that this undermines Dwejra's designa- tion as a Dark Sky Heritage Area under Policy GZ-DARK-1 in the Gozo and Comino Local Plan, threatening a fragile cultural landscape whose defining char- acteristics may be irreversibly lost. "Protection of Dwejra is not simply a technical matter, but an ethical responsibility to fu- ture generations," the statement reads. The academics are calling on authorities to reconsider the decision and to exclude artificial lighting entirely to preserve the site's unique scientific and cul- tural significance. The warning underscores broader concerns over the preservation of Malta's remain- ing natural nightscapes amid increasing artificial light and visual intrusion. Dwejra