During the first year of this legislature, Gozo remained at the centre of the present government’s politics.

This was the main message delivered by the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, during a press conference held yesterday to mark the end of the first year of the Ministry for Gozo’s performance during this legislature.

Minister Debono explained how the political programme, proposed within the vision 2015 document, puts Gozo into perspective by giving attention to several socio-economic sectors on the island, both within a national as well as a regional context. Amongst other issues, this programme proposes that Gozo becomes a centre of excellence as an ecological island. The Minister for Gozo gave details on how intensive works carried out during the past years was consolidated throughout this year resulting in further benefits for the island’s infrastructural, social and economic sectors.

The main endeavours during the past year included:

1. Better standards of accessibility and services through a new terminal at M?arr which complemented improved accessibility on the island through the building of new roads according to European standards;

2. During this first year (Mar’ 08 – Feb ’09), almost 4 million passengers and more than a million and two hundred thousand vehicles used the transport services operating between the two islands, through the Gozo Channel company;

3. Endeavours to continue to promote Gozo as a distinct tourist destination, both within the foreign as well as the domestic market;

4. The launching of a project for the installation of a cruisliener buoy in Xlendi with ongoing studies for the evaluation of the possibilities of further cruiseliners facilities at M?arr;

5. A new Institute for Tourism Studies in Qala;

6. Continued works for the restoration and preservation of Gozo’s cultural and historical heritage (including the Cittadella Masterplan and restoration of bastions) as well as competition for the submission of designs encompassing the enhancement and regeneration of the popular bays of Marsalforn and Xlendi;

7. Educational facilities on Gozo contiued to be given high priority on the Ministry’s agenda. Works were continued to be carried out on the new school for boys, involving an investment of €7million over three years, whilst other refurbishment works were effected in other schools throughout the island;

8. 780 Gozitan students attending courses at the University of Malta or other educational institutions received between them €800,00 in financial assistance towards accomodation costs whilst €39,000 were distributed as travelling costs refund for such students;

9. New facilities at the Gozo Centre for art and Crafts resulted in the provision of 55 courses in art, design and crafts together with the possibility for the establishment of courses in collaboration with ETC. These courses are aimed to increase and diversify the abilities of workers or the unemployed;

10. A number of courses were organised benefiting disadvantaged workers or others who wished to improve their work prospects;

11. Through the Employment Aid Scheme managed by ETC on behalf of Malta enterprise, 264 job opportunites were created with 85 enterprises that offered them employment sharing €1,280,000 in incentives;

12. Contacts were established with a foreign companies that showed interest in investing in Gozo. One of them was referred to Malta Enterprise and is expected to establish operations in Gozo in the coming months;

13. Initiatives taken with regards to the protection of the environment formed the basis for the eco-Gozo strategy as part of the commitment to turn Gozo in a model for sustainable development. Through the Waste Water Treatment Plant, 90% of the sewage in Gozo is being treated whilst the possibility of using treated water as second class water is being studied;

14. A public consultation opened a widespread discussion which led to the submission of various relevant suggestions for the drafting of the eco-Gozo strategy;

15. Preparatory works were undertaken in order to start the new EU funded projects. These projects will continue to strengthen various sectors amongst which helath, roads, and human resources;

16. In order to achieve the aim of better quality of life on the island, works were initiated or otherwise continued on projects within the social sector as well as through other projects that will provide new sports and administrative facilities;

17. Two cold stores for gozitan fishermen were installed; courses as well as training and advisory services were given to farmers as part of the Ministry for Gozo’s commitment to support these two important sectors that contribute towards the island’s economy as well as its rural environment;

Minister Debono also said that throughout this first year the Ministry for Gozo’s performance was aimed to use the island’s potential. The results strengthen the Ministry’s commitment in its endeavours to impliment the projects on plan.

Permalink: Ministry for Gozo Sena Hidma Report March 2008 – 2009