The GRTU recently had a very successful meeting with the Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo. The GRTU delegation lead by Director General Vincent Farrugia presented the following points.

The need for separate project Capital Financing for Gozo projects through the issue of special Gozo Development Bonds was one major suggestion. GRTU said that it “strongly believes that Gozitan depositors should be given an enhanced Bond offer, open also to Maltese and foreign depositors, to enable the creation of special financing bonds that can be utilised for the promotion of Public and Private projects in Gozo.”

On the subject of better access to finance for Gozo private enterprises, the GRTU isaid it is proposing an agreement with the Commercial Banks so that an agreed ratio of the total value of deposits by Gozitan depositors in Local banks is reserved for utilisation as the basis for advances for projects proposed by Gozitan business.

The GRTU said that it is giving all its support so that as soon as possible Micro Credit, Micro Invest and Micro Gaurantee schemes are immediately revamped with the special enhanced advantages for projects proposed by private entrepreneurs in Gozo.

Regarding parking in Victoria, the GRTU presented to the Minister proposals for the better utilisation of available parking spaces in Victoria until the Ministry’s proposed new Capital Investment in roofed parking is executed.

The Union “strongly urged the Ministry to take action against the use of car parking places in the Xlendi Bay parking area by boat trailers and boats and other non-car-parking.” The GRTU said that “too many parking slots are being occupied by trailers etc… The parking area should remain for the exclusive use of car owners making use of the services provided by the Business Community in Xlendi.”

GRTU stressed that too many unauthorised Monti are opening up in various localities “with Monti hawkers coming over specifically from Malta together with an increase in the number of foreign owned stalls.”

The GRTU proposed that these “Monti hawkers come under stricter control as they provide gross unfair competition to licensed established Gozitan retailers. This situation cannot be tolerated any further as these hawkers are acting with complete disrespect to health, safety, food hygiene, customer protection, guarantees, Eco Tax, Vat, and income tax laws.”

The Union informed the Minister that GRTU is conducting on a regular basis a door to door business survey and will be bringing to the attention of the Minister an up to date list of individual complaints by Gozitan businesses seeking solutions to their problems.

The Minister and his advisor Mr Frank Psaila gave a detailed explanation of the work and planning on new projects being carried out by the Gozo Ministry with the aim to advance the interest of enterprises in Gozo and help sustain the viability of Gozo Enterprise, highlighting especially the utilisation of EU Funding. A number of specific proposals were also presented for resolution of specific problems highlighted by GRTU.

GRTU said that it “is also insisting that Malta Enterprise should establish a semi-autonomous Gozo Enterprise. Decisions on assistance to Gozo enterprises should no longer be taken at Malta Enterprise in Malta. Gozitan enterprises through Gozo Enterprise should be able and capable to take decisions affecting Gozo enterprise directly. This includes any policies relating specifically to Gozo.”

The Gozo Minister was accompanied by Mr Frank Psaila, his advisor while Michael Galea, Vice President GRTU and Mr Maurice Borg, GRTU Council Member represented GRTU enterprises in Gozo.

It was agreed that the process of further structured meetings will continue

Permalink: GRTU representatives meet with the Minister for Gozo