The Labour Party Spokesman for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo has said today that the changes in the budget for the Ministry for Gozo would have a direct impact on work, the elderly and tourism in Gozo.

Dr Refalo commented that Gozo’s elderly population “has been ignored by the present administration, with no residential home for the elderly, no night shelter, no structures for dementia sufferers and there is even a lack of respite care services.”

“The Home Help Care Service, which is the only service available to the elderly in Gozo, has been reduced by a further €20,000, with fifty families waiting for the service despite having been assessed as in need,” he said.

Dr Refalo also discussed the tourism sector, saying that it “is vital for the island of Gozo and with a reduction of 35% in the budget for the Gozo Institute for Tourism Studies, it now means that the administration will have to struggle to run the school for a year on a budget of only €78,000.”

“Funding for eco-Gozo has not been changed,” Dr Refalo said, “despite the fact that these funds are being used for purposes not related to the eco-Gozo concept.”

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