I among many others question why our National Professionals only work in Governmental Institutions for half days and only in the mornings.

The most vivid examples of this are the Law Courts and the General Governmental Hospitals. These professionals only have working hours during the morning sessions, this, when the workload in both these areas is increasing thus failing to keep up with the increasing demands and needs of the general public.

Then whenever something drastic happens like the tragic incident at “Corradino” where the victim had made numerous complaints over several years with no action being taken by the Courts due to overloaded cases.

The hospitals are the same, appointments are only scheduled for the mornings after which all consultations stop. This when there are patients having to wait for many months or years to be seen by specialists.

So I ask, is it not time to change the present systems and adopt new ones. Can the Government not consider bring in foreign specialists from abroad as was done previously?

These are some of the serious questions that one has to ask so that the citizens and the general public can rest their minds that they are being adequately looking after and cared for in a more professional manner.

Whenever a person visits these places one often find them overflowing with patients in all categories, but then by early mid-day almost everything stops.

The Law Courts and Hospital’s clients have to wait for months on end, if not years on end, for their cases to be dealt with or even to to receive an appointment to be seen.

Newspapers and the general public have brought these issues to the authorities attention on numerous occasions but till now it all appears to have fallen upon deaf ears.

So, is it not time for having sessions in both mornings and evenings? This has to be urgently discussed and considered by both officials and the Government. Change is hard but it is urgently required and an absolute necessity.

Senior Citizens Home

How is it that the Old People’s Home in Ghajnsielem has been for so many years at a standstill and completely unfinished? There is such an urgent need for it as the Government till now still separates elderly married couples when they are admitted to the old peoples home?

Why is Government still renting places to house these senior citizens costing literally thousands and thousands of Euros when there are several buildings which could be easily adjusted for them?

It is time to act and act now.

New Law Courts

Another important issue are the Law Courts in Gozo which are situated at the Citadel, a location which makes it impossible for some senior citizens and the disabled to access.

One must question how is it that after so many years no solution has been found for an alternative place for the Law Courts?

How is it that only Victoria is being recommended for an alternative place when everyone knows that no such area is readily available in the Capital of Gozo were every square inch of area is already occupied?

I strongly suggest that it is time for the authorities to consider seriously extending the visiting hours of hospital consultancies and court appointments to both mornings and evenings.

We always say that the citizens should come first, but is this really happening in reality? Or are we subject to “the needs of the few to the necessities of the many?”

Gozo University

The Gozo University was introduced by Gozo Minister Anton Tabone during his first legislation as Gozo Minister. Everyone was pleased that finally Gozitan University students were going to benefit from this new University.

But what happened in reality is another totally different matter. Except for two classes which were always “Lacemaking” and “Regional Islands” courses, nothing else has been implemented.

So what is the University for?

There are literally hundreds of Gozitan students having to cross over to Malta on a daily basis, or having to rent property at astronomical prices who have to be supported by their families, with some even if having to borrow from banks or other relatives.

Why isn’t the technology of “video conferencing” not being used for these students whenever it is possible? How is it that when there are enough Gozitan students in any particular courses they are not being given their lectures at the Gozo University itself?

How is it that no research have been made regarding Gozitan students who have passed their exams but opted not to go to University for the 5 years period?

Conclusion

Gozo needs more attention from the Central Government and I am not referring to overall interference.

The Gozo Ministry has enough intelligent personnel and officials that can solve many of these problems, but sadly Gozo needs the backing of Central Government.

At least at last the Gozo Hospital is finally going to have the MRI Machine which is so important for one and all. About time too.

Lastly, we Gozitans were promised a new hospital. A promise it was. A promise it still remains.

There is no more space for patients as all places are occupied or have recently been so.

The time for action is now. Instead of spending millions upon millions on supporting films it is better to first support the local people, in this case Gozitans.

Lino DeBono

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