Minister Godordo for the tragedy in Himara: New Legal Package for Life's Security

A tragic incident that has sparked protests in Tirana has put life security on beaches and other tourist destinations in order.

Earlier this month, Jonada Avda, a seven-year-old girl who lived in England with her Albanian family, was shot to death by the helica of a boat, led by a police officer, Arian Tase, who was off duty when she was playing with her father in the exclusive swimming area at a beach in Himara.

“We're dealing with an event where a completely irresponsible person has broken every law and order by crossing the security cord and making dangerous maneuvers that deserve maximum punishment,” told DW, Tourism and Environment Minister Mirela Godbaro.

However, the arrest of the incident's author and the immediate dismissal by the State Police of 15 local police officers, who were supposed to preserve the beach, have not diminished citizens' concern for life security. Along with flowers and candles in memory of the murdered baby girl, protesters seek justice and accountability from state institutions.

The criminal event, where Jonada Avria lost her life, was preceded last month by two other incidents, which unfortunately caused no casualties. According to official sources in July of this year, on the beach in Yala, but in the municipality of Himara, a couple of young people were hit by a rapidly moving boat, whose leader lost control. The boat ended up on the shore and struck the couple of young people, one of whom was hospitalised by severe injuries. A child on Vlora beach was hit on the beach by a boat and received hospital treatment. }

“We are preparing the package of new regulations for rating and co-ordination of maritime tourist activities. We have requested from State Police and Border Police strict monitoring of water space on beaches, as well as maximum penalties for counter-instigator”, Minister Godbaro says of DW.

Failure to Fulfill Legal Obligations

“State Police cannot fulfil the obligations of other state-run and non-state parties that have the license and fulfillment of legal obligations, as well as control of their fulfillment by the citizens who have licensed them,” says about DW, Gail Mullaj, Director of Communication, in the State Police.

Official sources told DW that the author of the fatal incident, former police officer Arian Tase, had licenses to run the boat, but the tragic incident questions the way he obtained his license as well as his knowledge.

According to them, he should have begun to slow 200 meters [200 m] before approaching the shore and shut off the boat's engine when speed was minimal rather than sea navigation. But the opposite has happened. The same sources told DW that when former police officer Tase stopped the boat without slowing the speed down, he put his family on shore and started the engine and took the turn instead to sail into the sea, the boat automatically took the high speed, in which he had turned it off. The boat got out of control and caused the engine propeller to die of the seven-year-old girl.

Right after the tragic event, State Police checked and verified the documentation of 200 shipping and marine entertainment tools. The Economic Crime Investigation Sector investigated whether there are cases of cleaning up criminal products, Interpol and the illegal trafficking sector have investigated whether these vehicles resulted in stolen or not, outside Albania,” tells DW Gail Mullaj.

He emphasises that “since the beginning of the tourist season Border Police has controlled 900 naval vessels, of which 65 have been punished with administrative measures and another 25 have been blocked because they did not have regular <x1) documentation.

The state police do not aim to block sea vessels that have regular documentation and rigorously implement sea navigation regulations but are aimed at increasing life security for vacationers on the coastline,” tells DW, Gail Mullaj.

Erdit Gega, president of the Albanian Federation “Beach and Rescue Monitors at water”, a nongovernmental, member of the world organisation “International Life Saving” (ILS) says of DW that the “beachmakers have been trained and certified by this federation with a higher standard cure approved by the ILS.

<x0) But irresponsible persons risk the life of the beachists, as well as impunity from the corresponding authorities” says of DW, Andrew Gega.

According to him, the greater the number of observers, the greater the security of life on the beaches”

The importance of the observer presence at beach stations is not being understood enough by the responsible structures. Our coast still has a lack of organisation among structures in the application of legal norms in force. Monitoring these stations is done by the National Coast Agency, (AKB), which should generate a lack of observers and implementation of legal criteria related to life security. The role of the KB is too hot and co-ordination and co-operation with our federation almost doesn't exist,” says of DW, Andrew Gega.

The legal basis for functioning of beach stations went into effect in Albania 10 years ago, under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. Its approach to relevant Mediterranean countries legislation and the EU is supported by the German government through the GIZ programme.

“If local and central authorities had done their duty as defined by the beach station law, the serious event of the loss of Jonah's life would not have happened. There is a serious lack of attention to the value of life and preventative measures to protect it,” says of DW, Andrew Gega. Despite the federation's limited number of observers, the number of casualties at sea has decreased.

Over the past year, observers have saved 100 people from drowning. Of 46 drowned in 2016, last year there were only 12. This year we have had casualties even as a consequence of the lack of water signals, respect for the water flow rules and lack of control on the part of authorities”, points to DW, Erdit Gega. ”

In the meantime, Albania has become a tourist destination that offers far more than the spectacular landscapes of the Renaissance, the sun, and the emerald waters of the Ionian Sea. Alps north and mountains in the south, rivers, lakes, cultural heritage, and archaeological sites of old attract tourists from Europe and across the Atlantic not only in summer.

According to office figures in the January-July 2022 period in Albania came 3,95 million foreign tourists, compared to 3.3 in 2019, considered the best year before the Devid-19 pandemic. “Albania offers a variety of tourist attractions on such a small surface and has free prices in relation to neighbouring countries -- Greece, Italy, Croatia or Montenegro -- which are giant European and world tourism --” says of DW, Tourism and Environment Minister Mirela Godbarto.

It notes that Albania's <x0 potential is for a tourist season in the 12 months of the year. “The goal is for the tourist advantage not to be the prices, but the offer of an elite tourism, the attraction of tourists not only for the sea, the sun and beaches, but also for mountain, natural and cultural tourism, or for international festivals under way in Albania, ” says Minister Godbaro.

But for that to happen, Albania must face some challenges other than ensuring life security.

The war in Ukraine, reducing Ukrainian tourists, increasing fuel and food prices threaten the development of a tourism for the 12 months of the year. No less threatening is the lack of labour force in Albania. INSTAT reports that over 42 thousand emigrated last year, and thousands of others have sought asylum. Hotels, restaurants and other tourist businesses are in trouble for the workforce. The quality of services needs substantial improvements. Greed to earn as much as it turns out to be on business logic and ultimately is damaging tourism. High transportation, accommodation and food prices have kept local vacationers at bay this summer.

Geographical positions, nature and history are very generous with Albania to establish a thriving tourism industry and develop the economy. This can happen year after year if iron - handed laws are implemented, criminals are punished and challenges won. / DW