Last week two people were injured when the pontoon jetty in Comino overturned due to being overloaded.

Just a week or so before the incident took place, this newspaper had published an editorial about Comino and its exploitation by the beach umbrella army and pleasure boat navy.

The purpose of this particular editorial is not to revisit what we said last time, except to perhaps touch on a suggestion we had made.

TMI had said that the Comino setup needed to be taken into the context of the newly set up swimmer zone. This zone is reserved exclusively for bathers and prevents marine craft from entering.

The measure was a good one and it certainly makes for a better bathing experience in Comino’s Blue Lagoon for locals and tourists alike.

But this is where it came a cropper. While TMI did not hit the nail exactly on the head in what it suggested, it was close enough. TMI said that the area beside the swimmer zone had become completely congested with boats, with people embarking and disembarking from the pontoon and water taxis having to dangerously thread their way through other pleasure craft.

TMI had suggested that boats should anchor just off the side of the swimmer zone, facing Gozo. Effectively, if one can visualise – we are speaking of the area ‘round the corner’ from the Blue Lagoon.

We understand that the Malta Maritime Authority placed a floating pontoon so as not to damage the environment in Comino – a temporary structure that can be removed anytime it is felt necessary or surplus to requirements.

However, one must say that not every measure taken with good intentions becomes a success. It is clear that the pontoon system must go. What this newspaper is suggesting is for a small jetty to be built ‘round the corner’. While mariners might come up with potential problems due to wind and current considerations, we are sure that a site can be found for a (semi)permanent jetty.

As we have said, this does not have to be within the confines of the Blue Lagoon itself. A five or 10-minute walk on Comino is not going to do anyone any harm and the permanent structure will certainly be safer than a floating one.

Unfortunately, as we have mentioned, the best of intentions can turn sour. The pontoon was not only used as an embarkation and disembarkation point. It was used as a place for people to sit and dangle their feet in the water, a jumping platform for kids, a play area to splash the people above from underneath and a fairground ride for children.

While the patrols organised by the Police’s ALE team certainly help keep the boats in order (having said that they seem to have managed to self regulate), a physical presence on land might help no end.

We are not talking Baywatch here, but we also have to acknowledge that one lone policeman stuck in a hut in the boiling heat does not really have much of a presence. What is needed is a team which is at least present on weekends. There should be a police officer or two, a paramedic team, lifeguards and even perhaps an official from the MMA (in shorts and tee-shirts).

This does not have to be on a daily basis (although it would be better), and would definitely help administer Comino better.