After Visiting Idyllic Azores Island, Maltese Traveller Breaks Down How Poorly Comino Is Protected
After visiting an idyllic island in the Azores, Portugal, Mark Debono couldn’t help but think of Malta’s own version, Comino, and the differences in how it is protected.
“There aren’t any kiosks; if you want a drink, you bring one with you. No one lays out sunbeds or umbrellas; bring a towel and a hat,” Debono wrote on social media in an introspective post that quickly went viral.
Comparing what he saw on the Azores to what is happening on Comino, Debono listed a number of undeniable facts that showed just how poorly Maltese authorities were protecting our own idyllic island.
He recounted how there were also limits imposed on how many trips can be made per day, following a fixed schedule.
“There is no ice cream boat, nor boats blasting out music, no one selling burgers, and no goddamn pineapple drinks (even though the Azores are the only place in Europe where pineapples are grown).”
The visit to the island was full of restrictions – restrictions that only bring good for the safeguarding of the natural environment – something that is still foreign to Malta.
Flying drones is not allowed, due to the disturbance that this might cause to the indigenous birds found on the island.
“From the beach, you are not allowed to climb past a certain point, because that’s the wildlife refuge, and if you’re seen climbing, rangers with binoculars and whistles will yell at you to come down, and you will get fined.”
“Please take your garbage back to the bigger island and don’t leave it here, you’re told.”
“You’re allowed to go there and swim, stay for a few hours, then leave, without leaving a trace. And that’s that. It really isn’t that hard to understand,” he said.
He made reference to efforts made by the Portuguese government to achieve a balance between managing tourism and the needs of the locals.
“By ‘balance’ I don’t mean allowing fewer sun beds or only one beachfront operator. I mean allowing none of them. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada.”
He made reference to the current Comino situation, referring to private beach vendors as “parasites” that have already stolen a lot from Malta’s heritage.
“These parasites have a chokehold over huge ribbons of Malta and Gozo’s coasts already. We don’t owe them a living from our public goods. They’ve all stolen enough already, and they didn’t get taxed on it,” he stressed.
“In the decades since they set up shop in Comino (and everywhere else), we’re the losers in the story, and they’re the ones who raked it in, robbed tourists blind, put insane pressure on a delicate habitat, left tonnes of garbage behind, pressured man-child politicians to pour more concrete, forced us to pay to enjoy that which is enshrined in our laws, and never issued a VAT receipt.”
“The only equitable balance possible at this point would be to kick them all off Comino and return the land to its natural state, with well-funded, well-organised wardens guarding it against further devastation and exploitation,” he suggested.
“But of course, sea birds and plants don’t vote, do they?” he concluded.
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