As I have previously said, this was a social budget which provides a vast number of benefits to both the general public and businesses. Kudos to the Minister of Finance and the Labour Government, which still shows the same socialist values that I and many others uphold.

In the budget Gozo was mentioned several times, with the Hon Prime Minister expressing his beliefs, as do the majority of Gozitans, against having Hondoq Ir-Rummien Bay developed in any way, shape or form.

The Prime Minister can not only air his views like everyone else, HE ALSO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO STOP THESE EXCESSIVE DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING ALL OVER GOZO AND MALTA.

Specifics Needed

Millions have been pledged for Gozitan Projects – but NOTHING WAS ACTUALLY SPECIFIED. It would be helpful for us Gozitans to know exactly WHAT the monies for such projects are to be used for?

During My Time in Government

Around 1985 I pushed for the demolition of “The Tapie Block” in the middle of St Francis Square. This was done when one and all of the property holders or tenants were given alternative premises.

a) Government Departments and Law Courts were scheduled to be moved to the area in front of the Seminary.

b) Beforehand excavation of the open space was to be carried out to provide underground parking for a large number of vehicles.

c) The four buildings from Main Gate Street to St Francis Square were to be demolished so that traffic could flow in both directions. At that time only one family actually lived there and they were already in the process of moving to another house.

d) Today this is still a continuous bottleneck for traffic as sadly the project was dropped due to a change of administration and no alternative has yet been provided.

These Last Years

These last years several administrations have all complained that a new Law Court is needed urgently in Gozo and lawyers have held a protest strike due to the current poor condition of the court facilities.

This much needed project can still be achieved and this is something I plan to expand upon in future articles.

Ideas and Planning

We need imaginative people to submit their ideas and plans for discussions with both our government and our citizens.

We Gozitans must not let others, or business bodies dictate what is good for Gozo and we Gozitans. The views and aims of these bodies and the Gozitan general public are not always the same.

Impending Failure

Lastly the Airport Project, this is destined to become a failure before it even starts. The entities involved will soon start calling for the government to subsidise the service as has already happened with the fast ferry service, which anyone with a little bit of brain knew would happen. One simply does not spend millions without first having comprehensive financial surveys carried out.

In Conclusion

The budget was excellent but very short of details regarding the specified projects for Gozo, further enlightenment is sorely needed.

Lino DeBono

File photo – Gozo News

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