Gozo’s emblem is that of Three Hills. This is also the third Labour Government Legislation. Gozo now has three important Ministries for its three elected Members of Parliament. The fourth was elected as a female representative.

Three Ministers in which each and everyone of them hold a very important Ministry.

Anton Refalo

The most senior Minister is Anton Refalo, he holds the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which are both very important aspects for providing food for the population.

Gozo is also very active in farming and fishery, especially with the numerous part-time workers and their individual family members who carry out this important work.

Therefore his interventions in this regard do carry influence and have a great aspect for a healthy life in Gozo and also help in providing vegetables on the table for many families.

Clint Camilleri

Clint Camilleri is very well viewed by the Prime Minister as apart from the Gozo Ministry he has also been given the responsibility for bird hunting and now the Planning Department.

From the initiation of Gozo’s first Minister Anton Tabone and Dr Justyne Caruana till now, all past and present have done good work for Gozo. More can be done to ensure that projects are completed on time and not take years upon years, stating that they are almost ready, but not quite.

The Old People’s Home in Ghajnsielem is now ready, but the Swimming Pool Complex, initiated under Anton Refalo and Justyne Caruana, is still not ready.

It’s about time that all of these projects are finished and start operating as originally planned.

A big challenge for the Gozo Ministry now is the Planning Authority. Gozo is fed up of all of the monstrous buildings ruining the Gozo landscape and our way of life.

One can hardly still recognise several villages as they originally were, especially the destruction of our two most popular bays Xlendi and Marsalforn. These two lovely bays have been literally turned into ugly jungles.

Now the proof will be in the hands and responsibility of the Gozo Minister. Therefore the burden and judgement of Gozitans and the general public will solely depend on the Gozo Minister.

Let us wait and see if more accountability and the stopping of the flow of destructive constructions will cease, or continue unabated.

It will certainly be the moment of truth for the Gozo Minster.

Jo Etienne Abela

The latest appointed as a Minister from the Gozo District is Jo Etienne Abela. Apart from having held the post as Active Ageing Junior Minster he has now been given the very important post of Health Minister previously held by Deputy Leader Chris Fearne.

This is one of the most important Ministries in any Government. Abela has proven himself as an able Junior Minister during the short time responsible for the Active Ageing and Old People’s Rest Home.

In Gozo we saw the establishment of Active Ageing Offices and also the opening of the New Health Centre in Gozo initiated many years ago by previous Gozitan Ministers. It took many, many years, but at least it has finally been opened.

Gozo Hospital

The new Gozitan Health Minister has a major challenge in front of him, which as a Gozitan he knows quite well. This is the Gozo Hospital which lacks so many things, it has been left almost as it was in its initiation way back in the late sixties/early mid-seventies.

Bart’s is a success and also a very useful advertising image for Gozo. Let us all hope this will continue to expand and initiate more extensions and extend the good name is has established.

The General Hospital is another thing. It has become outdated, its upkeep is in ruins and it therefore needs immediate interventions. Not stop gaps but real projections which will benefit the Gozo general public with modern buildings, better larger facilities, more professionals seeing and visiting Gozo Hospital patients.

Etienne knows very well what is needed as he himself is also a Specialist in Medicine.

It is now time to see that under his Ministry and as a Gozitan he can bring about the sweeping changes that Gozitans expect from having a Gozitan as Health Minister for the very first time.

Third Time Lucky

Let us hope that the proverbial saying of “Third Time Lucky” comes true for the Gozitan people. All of us here in Gozo hope and expect that we will witness substantial progress and, for the general aspects to be positive and fruitful to all of us both in Malta, Gozo and Comino. Three in all as well.

Lino DeBono

Permalink: The Three Hills Island of Gozo, by Lino DeBono