Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/499233
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 22 APRIL 2015 News Blue Flag status for nine beaches GHADIRA Bay in Mellieha has been awarded Blue Flag status but only on condition that the Malta Environment and Planning Au- thority continues to monitor the construction of the kiosks to en- sure compliance with permits con- ditions and method statements, and that the operation of the kiosks is monitored to ensure full compli- ance with the Blue Flag criteria. The FEE International Jury has found no irregularities in the way MEPA assessed, processed and is monitoring upgrading works of seven kiosks along Ghadira Beach, after having evaluated a report which was compiled by the national Blue Flag operators last month. The International Jury has this year granted the Blue Flag status to a total of nine beaches in Malta and Gozo, with Ghadira Bay retaining its status. The other beaches which received the Blue Flag for the coming sea- son are Fond Ghadir in Sliema, the Westin Dragonara Beach in St Julian's, the Paradise Bay Hotel Beach in Cirkewwa, St George's Bay in Paceville, the Bugibba perched beach, Qawra Point, Ghajn Tuffieħa Bay in Mgarr and Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo. The Blue Flag is awarded to beach- es across the world which meet high standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and in- formation, the provision of services and environmental management. The International Jury congratu- lated Nature Trust (Malta) as the Malta Blue Flag national operator for its excellent performance. It granted a dispensation to Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, and asked that infor- mation about the dispensation be displayed on the information board, as well as pointing on the map the closest beach for the disabled, with the Quality beach label. It however said it was imperative that this beach have the appropri- ate waste separation bins as ap- proved for Malta Blue Flag. "Failing to have these in place will mean that the Flag will not be awarded next year," the jury said. It also asked that Blue Flag Malta work for a Blue Flag award for Gold- en Bay beach, pushing the local council and government to comply with the environmental standards which are necessary to be awarded the Blue Flag. "Blue Flag notes that this is al- ready in process and looks forward to seeing a positive evaluation for 2015. The International Jury there- fore asks that Blue Flag Malta re- ports next year to the Blue Flag International Jury about the status regarding Blue Flag implementa- tion at the Golden Bay beach, if it has not reached full compliance for 2016." About Ghadira Beach, the jury said it "encourages the national operator to keep a close discussion between Blue Flag Malta and Blue Flag International to ensure the beach complies with all Blue Flag criteria before it is awarded, and during the season. If there are fail- ures in the process the Blue Flag is to withdraw the Flag immediately from this Beach during the season. Furthermore it is recommended that more frequent beach inspec- tions are done at Mellieha Bay since this Bay has witnessed various problems over the years which may risk the retention of the Flag." MEPA said that over these past weeks it has been monitoring the permitted upgrading works on the beach kiosks to ensure that they comply with the method statement which was assessed and endorsed by the Environment Protection Di- rectorate. Although not requiring a full de- velopment planning permit, the processing of these applications was rigorous to ensure that all en- vironmental and planning consid- erations were addressed. "MEPA is satisfied that the Inter- national Jury has recognised the efforts that MEPA and the Govern- ment Property Division have made over the past months to ensure that Golden Bay will be awarded the Blue Flag status for the 2016 sea- son." Over the past weeks MEPA's en- forcement officers supervised the removal and demolition of a 465 square metre 'kiosk', which for years was located on the sandy beach at Golden Bay and the wooden stair- case that led down to it from the upper road. Tenor Paul Asciak passes away at 92 CELEBRATED local tenor Paul Asciak has passed away, aged 92. He is credited with having helped tenor Joseph Calleja begin his ca- reer. Asciak made his debut at the Radio City Opera House in Malta in 1946, playing 'Turiddu' in Mas- cagni's 'Cavalleria Rusticana'. He went on to study in Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, training under Mro Luigi Ricci and Riccardo Picozzi in Rome and in 1951, played 'Rad- ames' in the theatre's Spoleto pro- duction of 'Aida'. Asciak performed alongside a number of celebrated singers, including Anita Cerquetti, Peter Glossop, Benvenuto Franci and Maria Callas, as well as a number of acclaimed conductors through- out his career. He retired in 1961. That year he joined the Educa- tion Department and retired as Head of the Department of Music in 1984. In the meantime he was also Director of Music at St Ed- ward's College between 1967 and 1973. Between 1965 and 1988, he was also Honorary Representative of Trinity College of Music, Lon- don, for Malta and Gozo. He went on to 'discover' Joseph Calleja, training him in the tra- dition of fine singing and honing Calleja's unique style and voice. Asciak, pictured here in 1959, performed to critical acclaim both locally and overseas Blue Flagged Ghadira Bay