https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148920 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 22:23:23 GMT 2026-10-07T22:23:23Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149031 Title: Perspettivi : a Gozo Review : issue 6 Abstract: Table of contents:; - The Monte di Pietà in Gozo 1910-1939 : a social perspective : the inception of the Monte part 1 - Pauline Vella;; - Coming home? A qualitative study of return migration to Gozo - Ylenia Refalo;; - Travel time and Gozitan commuters - Marthese Cini Davies;; - Predictive modelling of sea debris around Maltese coastal waters with special reference to Gozo - Mark Dingli Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149031 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149030 Title: The Monte di Pietà in Gozo 1910-1939 : a social perspective : the inception of the Monte part 1 Abstract: The history of the Monte di Pietà of Gozo has not been treated in Maltese history barring some cursive references in a few history books. Consequentially, one of the main problems was the lack of sources, especially secondary sources. The primary sources researched were the actual pawning tickets which had never been researched before; material which had been rescued from certain destruction in the hands of mould and neglect. After exploring the Monte’s inception and raison d’être together with the administrative aspect and perspective, the research moves on to its more important issue: that of the actual clients of the Monte and tries to understand the how and why of its usage. Gender and family issues come into relief in such a work necessarily set against geographic, seasonal and economic backdrops to these pawning activities. These conditions include the economy of the Maltese Islands, the nature of the work carried out by the inhabitants, employment opportunities or lack thereof, personal and family lifecycles and annual religious feast cycles. Another area which is investigated to complete the picture is familial and neighbourhood networking which supported pawning activities. However, for this two-part article, the focus is on the Monte di Pietà’s origin and function. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149030 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149029 Title: Coming home? A qualitative study of return migration to Gozo Abstract: Return migration is a part of the migration’s complex cycle. In part it is a continuing journey for an improved lifestyle and a movement by which emigration from the home country to a host country is followed by a return to the home country. This dissertation addresses Gozitan citizens who relocated to their ancestral homeland, and it explores the reasons for their relocation. It focuses on the transitory period upon arrival that respondents experienced and their aspect of ‘duality’. Using qualitative research methodologies, semi-structured interviews were held in Gozo with 25 respondents (twelve women and thirteen men), who lived in Australia, the U.S. or Canada and returned home. The latter together with the case studies from other countries in Europe, attempt to provide an understanding into the multi-layered issues of return migration and emphasize the roles of transitions and duality. The findings reveal that the main reason for leaving Gozo was economical, as Gozo was experiencing serious unemployment. However, this move was not an easy one and in fact along their migration cycle, returnees experienced both enjoyable experiences and hardship. Coming face to face with different religious beliefs and new social norms, returnees were influenced and they had to adapt to these new social norms of the host country. During their stay in the host country, Gozitans frequented, clubs and associations formed by Gozitan and Maltese migrants where they could meet and interact with each other and exchange their everyday experiences and problems. Interacting with fellow Maltese and Gozitans enabled them to keep practising their mother culture and maintain their duality. As time went by migrants started to return back to Gozo due to social attachments and strong family ties. This process of return migration can be reflected in the many house name plaques and house façade stone decorations in the island of Gozo. Participants were grateful to their host country for recovering them from the material deprivation of Gozo. As it is pointed out and suggested throughout the dissertation more support and recognition is being and should be given to these returned migrants. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149029 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149028 Title: Travel time and Gozitan commuters Abstract: This article investigates inter-island commuting behaviour and travel time. It specifically studies Gozitan commuters who travel regularly between Gozo and Malta. By comprehending the current situation and studying the performance of existing transport modes one can recognize some attainable recommendations to ameliorate the commute between the island of Malta and Gozo. Travel time studies are crucial for transport geographers, particularly on island archipelagos. Small islands like Gozo have to turn to outside connections for their infrastructure. The main areas that will be addressed in this article are about the current travel characteristics of Gozitan commuters, the current travel times experienced by commuters and their attitudes about the current ferry service that operates between the islands. It finally takes into consideration the attitudes of Gozitan commuters towards the value of time and a potential infrastructure upgrade such as the proposed underwater tunnel and the implementation of a fast ferry service between Gozo and Malta. The latter has been recently introduced. The proposed underwater tunnel will take a long time to be completed and the main focus of this article is the short to medium term solutions. There is not much evidence on the topic of travel time that is locally published. With the help of this research this gap in local literature concerning the Gozitan commuters crossing daily to Malta will be filled. Thus, this will reveal current and fundamental proof to assist decision makers and the community overall on the feasibility of a better and efficient transport infrastructure between Malta and Gozo. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149028 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z