Earlier this morning Gozo University Group (GUG) continued their work on the University campus as Gozo week entered its second day of activities.

Minister for Gozo, Dr. Anton Refalo and PN candidate Mr. Ryan Mercieca also paid special visits to the GUG stands. It served as a way to get familiar with the students on quad and discuss issues related to Gozo. Their attendance provided a great deal of encouragement to the organisation, while other guests are expected to visit throughout the remainder of the week.

Musician, Leigh Holmes played throughout the remainder of the day and traditional Gozitan food and was also passed out to the students around the stand.

‘Gozo Week’ continues till Friday and hosts a Debate related to Gozo tomorrow (Wednesday) starting at noon.

This debate is being organised with the aim to discuss the main issues and opportunities Gozo is facing, in collaboration with Insite Malta, and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Several issues will be discussed, among these the connectivity issue, investment and entrepreneurship.

Gozo is lacking in each of these, when compared to Malta; if Malta is insular then Gozo is doubly so, it is widely stated.

Thus what is seen widely as the defining issue is Gozo’s connectivity. This is not just defined by the presence of a bridge or not, but their are other issues. There is only one fibre-optic cable connecting Malta to Gozo (what will happen if something happens to this?); their is no air link and no service connecting Gozo to other islands (Sicily).

Investment in Gozo is also lacking; no large companies exist in Gozo and most Gozitan workers are overqualified in fields not present in Gozo, hence the daily mass migration to and from Malta.

During this discussion several different stakeholders will have the chance to speak about their vision, mainly youths (from the GUG and Gozo Youth Council), members of the Gozo Tourism Association and also representatives from the Labour Party, the Nationalist Party and Alternattiva Demokratika.

Partit Laburista PL – Fan Page Ufficjali Partit Nazzjonalista Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party

The representatives on the panel will be:

Representatives from the youth organisations:

GUG: Mr. Jonathan Mintoff

GYC: Mr. Eman Borg

Representatives from the political parties:

AD: Chairperson Prof. Arnold Cassola

PL: Dr Josianne Cutajar

PN: Mr Ryan Mercieca.

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