Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545039
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 22 MAY 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Addressing a press confer- ence, Minister for Home Af- fairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri said the invest- ment forms part of a long term plan that has led to what he de- scribed as a major transforma- tion within the Civil Protection Department in recent years. Camilleri said that more than €10 million worth of new equip- ment for the department had been inaugurated during the first four months of the year alone, adding that the invest- ment was contributing to great- er safety and preparedness for families in Malta and Gozo. "This is an investment that did not remain on paper. It is an investment that has been deliv- ered, is being used by our work- ers and is making a real differ- ence," he said. Among the new additions are two vehicles for the depart- ment's Hazmat Unit valued at nearly €3 million. The vehicles are equipped with technolo- gy for analysing chemicals and hazardous materials, modern communication systems and specialised protective equip- ment for emergency personnel. The minister said the invest- ments are focused on improv- ing efficiency through the use of technology while strengthening coordination between teams operating on site and the de- partment's headquarters. The government also an- nounced a further €4.5 million investment in two industrial firefighting vehicles intended for large scale emergencies and complex industrial incidents. The vehicles include advanced water and firefighting foam sys- tems, high powered pumps and additional operational equip- ment. Camilleri said the investment reflects what he described as a broader shift in how the coun- try is investing in workers and essential services. He added that the government would continue investing in the department's resources and workforce, including improve- ments to working conditions following the signing of a new collective agreement. While stressing the impor- tance of investment and pre- paredness, Camilleri said pre- vention remained the best form of protection and that aware- ness and educational initiatives would continue to be strength- ened to help prevent incidents before they occur. Civil Protection Department Director General Peter Paul Coleiro said the new equipment would strengthen the depart- ment's preparedness for indus- trial incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances across Malta and Gozo. Coleiro noted that chemicals and hazardous materials are used across multiple sectors throughout the islands, making rapid and efficient response ca- pabilities essential. He also highlighted the im- portance of decontamination systems, saying they protect firefighters and emergency per- sonnel during operations while allowing large numbers of peo- ple to be treated safely during major emergencies. Coleiro added that the strate- gic distribution of specialised equipment across Malta and Gozo is intended to ensure fast- er response times and minimise damage to people, property and the environment. Investment includes specialised vehicles for hazardous materials incidents and industrial firefighting operations CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The paper also examines the presence of alien species, identifying 61 non-native taxa, 12 of which are considered in- vasive in Malta. While only a subset is ac- tively spreading on Comino, species such as Acacia salig- na, Ailanthus altissima, and Oxalis pes-caprae are already established and contributing to ecological change on the island. Beyond the botanical survey, the research provides a broad- er ecological context, outlin- ing Comino's geology, natural habitats, climate, and long his- tory of human influence. The authors also identify ongoing environmental pressures, with tourism highlighted as a key concern. Furthermore, according to the study, Comino has experi- enced intense visitor pressure over the past 15 to 20 years, with peak days bringing an estimated 10,000 visitors to coastal areas such as the Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay. The researchers have warned that this level of tourism is overwhelming the island's limited ecosystem, which is part of the EU-designated Natura 2000 network. Study finds that over-tourism could have negative impact on ecosystem of Comino Other important endemics are Matthiola incana subsp. melitensis), as it extends its natural range, which mostly falls in the western part of Gozo; Senecio pygmaeus; Linaria pseudolaxiflora Lojac; and Allium lojaconoi Brullo, Lanfr. & Pavone Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri said the investment forms part of a long term plan