Update below: A Regional Council in Gozo with executive powers should be created that is elected by Gozitans and have the necessary finances with which to operate.

This was announced during a political activity in Ghajnsielem by Nationalist Party Leader Bernard Grech.

He said that a solid plan for the island needs to be developed, not just for the next five years, but even up to the next 20 30, 40, or 50 years.

Speaking about accessibility and the Gozo tunnel, he said that once the necessary studies have been concluded a decision as to whether it is the best solution needs to be made. Grech went on to say that the Nationalist Party “would see to it” that a Referendum would take place among Gozitans following the publication of studies.

A socio-economic plan for Gozo should also be drawn up, carried out in collaboration between the PN’s Regional Committee and the Party’s Deputies on the island in order to propose a way forward.

The Leader of the Nationalist Party said that Gozo deserves a more diversified economy, presently it is 50% dependent on tourism, while Malta is only 20% dependent, this imbalance was clearly felt by Gozo and the Gozitans during the pandemic, Grech said.

Dr Grech greeted and gave thanks to a number of Gozitan people, for their work in the past and present times. These included Cardinal Mario Grech, and former Gozo Ministers Anton Tabone and Giovanna Debono.

Update – The salient points from Dr Grech’s address are shown below:

• “Gozo is facing a particular problem. Among them is the fact that thousands of Gozitans are relocating to Malta or having to travel to Malta every day to work or study.

• Today there are around 3500 Gozitans who make this daily journey when in 2012 this number was 1,500 and despite this Government promising work in Gozo for Gozitans.

• Wages is another issue that affects Gozitans with the average wage in Gozo being about € 3,500 less than the average wage in Malta and the average income of a Gozitan family is about € 5,500 less than a Maltese family.

• The dependence of tourism on wealth creation in Gozo is 50% of total income while in Malta it is 20%. This confirms the great need for diversification.

• Gozo needs a comprehensive strategic plan that looks at how we want it to develop in the next 30, 40, 50 years. A plan developed by the Gozitans themselves and based on how to conserve the beauty of the island of Gozo, how to diversify the economy of Gozo so that Gozitans have the same working conditions as in Malta, a plan that to see Gozitan youth and workers working and living in Gozo again.

• We will not wait for the Government and therefore the PN Leader instructed the Regional Committee of the Party in Gozo to complete a socio-economic plan for Gozo in collaboration with the Gozitan deputies and with the participation of experts within a few months.

• This is a Plan that takes a look at Gozitan society, takes a photo today and plans how this society will develop in the coming years.

• A plan that also serves as a basis for the renewal of the policy of the Nationalist Party in Gozo.

• We have always been the Gozo Party and we want to remain the Gozo Party.

• The reality in Gozo today is very different from what the Government paints. In seven years it has already changed the Minister for Gozo three times but the results remain unseen.

• Accessibility is an issue closely linked to the competitiveness and sustainability of Gozo. The Nationalist Party has already stated that it is ready to look at the Malta-Gozo tunnel project in a constructive and positive way, but wants all the studies to be done first, to be published, to have a wide consultation with the Gozitans and the studies to be well explained so that everyone can understand them.

This is not being done by the Government and it greatly diminishes the Gozitans. We want the experts to be objective and independent and to convince us of the feasibility of the project, how much it will cost and how much it will cost to maintain and run it.

We need to weigh up how much we will really gain and how much we will lose from such a project, whether there are communication alternatives between Malta and Gozo that are as effective and feasible as the tunnel and that potentially have less negative impact.

We believe that no tunnel project should be started between the islands before a detailed masterplan is drawn up on development in Gozo, its quality, environment and aesthetics. If necessary, this plan will be passed by a law that cannot be changed except by a two-thirds vote and if necessary by a referendum among Gozitans.

• Therefore, in parallel with the studies on the tunnel, work and study on this masterplan for Gozo should begin.

Strenthening Gozo

• The PN wants to strengthen Gozo as a Region.

• It is time to give the concept of Region more strength by giving more autonomy to Gozo.

• In the case of Gozo we will propose a Regional Council which will be elected by the Gozitans and which will have executive powers with the necessary finances to operate.

• A Labour Government was afraid to take this step and a year ago created the Gozo Regional Development Authority – a powerful authority without any powers. It took a year to put the law into effect and a few weeks ago it “half-heartedly” put the law into effect and set up this “feigned” Authority – without any power and without any consultation with anyone.”

Permalink: Update – Regional Council should be created for Gozo, elected by Gozitans – Grech