Recently in an article that I wrote about abusive building permits issued, for Gozitans to express their voices, I was told that Gozitans do not participate in Mass Public Protests. This is the absolute truth. Gozitans do not participate in Mass Public Protest. One can count these public protests by Gozitans on the fingers of one hand.

There exists a very exemplary explanation for this which I will try to show in a clear way how Gozitans think, and are also threatened by the overall authorities in Malta from time immemorial.

A recent comment was made on Maltese History on an M.T.V. documentary of how when the British took over our Islands, the authorities treated Gozo simply as an extension of Malta. Thus Gozo and the Gozitans were left going their own way without any help, assistance or developments.

Gozo was left to fend for itself by the Knights during the 1551 invasion by the Turks when all Gozitans were taken as slaves and also by the British, except for the Citadel where they installed a sort of military base.

One important exception is that the Gozitan Clergy led the Gozitans under the guidance of the Archpriest of St George’s Church revolted against the French Forces of Napoleon and defeated them.

Gozitans depended only on themselves individually on a personal or family contacts basis. Their conflicts were based on property, making a living and raising their own families. Protestations were based on individual issues and never on a national level.

On a personal level Gozitans tend to fight till the very end, on a national level though, only on a few occasions and only when led by the Gozitan Clergy.

Political Issues

Gozitans were led on a national level on these few occasions. First in 1921 when “Il-Mizzjani” led by Fortunato Mizzi (himself from a Gozitan Family) agreed with Mons Penzavecchia that his Party would only contest in Gozo, and the Panzavecchjani only in Malta. On the initial political meeting Mizzi had all Gozitan Parish Prelates joining him on the Political Truck (Platform).

The second occasion of Gozitan protests was in 1931 in Qala, when the Qala Parish Church through a Priest, objected to Strickland holding a political meeting from his “Rolls-Royce” in the Qala Square. This was also the first time that Church Bells were rung to prevent a political speech.

The third occasion of the Gozitan Clergy gathering Gozitans in their masses was for the Mass Protests in 1961 against the meeting of the Malta Labour Party held under the leadership of Dom Mintoff.

All Parish Priests had organised Masses, Pilgrimages, Rallies, prior to and on the day of the meeting itself. St Jacob’s Church Bells never ever stopped ringing. Public transportation which originally started in the morning was stopped. Shops were all made to close, etc. etc.

These were the only public protests taken by Gozitans always directed and led by the Gozo Clergy.

Gozitans Amalgamated But Left on Their Own

I will now speak on personal experience when I took the initiative as a General Workers Union Official to enlist and organise Gozitan Workers in the Union. I was assisted and helped by two people in this, who were both Assistants Secretary Generals of the G.W.U. These were Mr George Agius and Mr Vincent Esposito.

I used to pick them up in Malta, as I used to live in Hamrun, cross over and hold meetings with Gozitan Workers. (The photograph below shows me addressing Gozo Government Workers).

In a short while I managed to enlist quite a good number of workers into the Union.Factory Workers

At the same time, being accompanied by Mr Pawlu Xerri (Ta’ Gawdenz) who was also a Shop-Steward, we started visiting Gozo factory workers at their homes, I was even threatened by an individual with a shotgun in my face, but still in two weeks we managed to enlist over 900 workers.

Workers who at that time were exploited left, right and centre, especially in Gozo, whenever they wanted or needed assistance, reverted to a union representative in Gozo, but had held no real authority. Assistance was then asked for from the General Office in Malta.

Help only came whenever the Official/Section Secretary was so disposed and chose to cross over the channel, causing weeks of delay, much to the Gozitan Workers frustrations. The Workers were frustrated about this as their problems were not being addressed, workers need help when required and not when an official simply deems fit. This led in my previous and also my present opinion to the mass resignations of workers from the union.

First and Only Workers Protest March

The first and only protest march by factory workers was organised by myself with the help of Messer’s Lorry Apap – Charlie Magro and Charlie or Sammy Bugeja. This happened when the then Bluebell and G.I.E. Companies were closing their Gozitan Factories whilst keeping those in Malta.

Both these factories employed over 500 workers each. So once again Gozo and Gozitans were being sacrificed in, and I still believe this was because of the time consumed travelling between Islands.Gozitan Workers used to have a superior output of 27% according to factory researchers which made up for the double handling issues.

The final result was that the Gozo factories were closed and those in Malta kept open.

The Second Protest March

The second protest March was also initiated by me through the General Workers Union Section led by a former friend of mine Mr Joe Vella. Several Gozitans who sympathised with the Labour Party but had no income except for their engagement as impressed drivers within a government department, were all “dismissed” from their employment.These individuals were left with no income whatsoever. Their registration didn’t count at that time as unemployed with the consequence that when these came to a pensionable age, their weekly registrations were not classified as eligible. Thus these individuals were and still are left with a miserable pittance as an income.

This is an insult added to injury. Workers in all Corps – Enemalta – Telemalta – Ports and others were rightly helped and assisted by the present Government, except for these few individuals.I ask on their behalf that these few workers are also included in that list and adequate and just interventions are made in their name.

Gozo/Valletta Merchant Cargo Ferry

The fourth occasion of a national protest by Gozitans, occurred when farmers, traders and small businesses protested when the Gozo Channel Board Directors wanted to stop the cargo Ferry Service provided by the Pisani Family from Mgarr/Gozo direct to Valletta.

Being a Director on the Board of the Gozo Channel, I objected to stopping such a vital service for small commerce which trafficked on a daily service from Mgarr to Valletta Harbour. Numerous individuals contacted me complaining against the stoppage so I agreed that I would take up the issue with the other Board Members.I then managed to convince the other Board Members that before discontinuing this service a meeting should be held in Gozo at the Don Bosco Hall. Fr George Borg, the then Rector of Don Bosco, when asked – gave his approval and offered the hall free of charge.

I was really surprised to see such a large attendance of these small commercial daily consumers.

The meeting turned out to be very hot, agitated and very, very ugly. At one time this meeting almost came to an end but I managed to convince, together with the Chairman, with a promise that the service would continue.

Conclusion

It is never ever too late for the authorities to adjust for any injustice that has occurred in the past, these may be a few, but for an individual it means everything for him or her.

This article also shows why Gozitans are not active in general protests as they know that they still are not treated on the same “Par and Level” with their brothers and sisters in the mainland.

For those who may question my quotations I will state that my personal family is divided by persons from both Islands.

My Mother was born in Floriana – My Father in Qala – Myself from Victoria – My Wife from Hamrun. My Daughters – the Eldest from Hamrun – the Second from Xewkija.

So one can see that my personal family is split exactly between both Islands. But I as a Gozitan who was raised and live the premature and later years of my life in Gozo, can distinguish between what is Gozitan and Maltese. Both have their positive and negative sides.

Lino DeBono Former Labour Parliamentarian.

Photos supplied by author

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