Each Budget the Gozitan Commercial and Business Communities justly submit their budget proposals to the Government. One notices though that these business communities proposals are directed to their members interests and not to the general benefit of all Gozitans.

I am therefore submitting my own proposals as a private citizen residing in Gozo.

General Health

Health is of the utmost importance to each and every one of us. In Gozo we have one hospital, now named “Gozo General Hospital” previously known as “Craig Hospital.” A Hospital which began under some controversy by a certain “Paulson” and some local bribery aspects. This Hospital was officially inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

This was an enormous step forward as Gozo went from a medieval hospital to a much better one. Better facilities were introduced, but as usual visits by specialists were at the disposal and whim of those agreeing to visit Gozo. It was and still is normal to make an appointment with a specialist at a private clinic.

In later years, under a Labour Government, things improved in this regard as mostly Foreign Specialists were engaged to look after the General Public Health.

During these years those requiring specialised care and cases of serious illness still had to cross over to the Malta Hospital.

Much needed medical machines were and still are lacking.

1st Budget Proposal

Gozo General Hospital lacks an MRI Scanner which is desperately needed, each and every patient requiring such scans has to travel to Mater Dei at unearthly hours and with great hardship. Whilst at Mater Dei there are several of these machines, why on earth do we Gozitans not have one in Gozo?

Millions upon millions are being spent, so why not provide this much needed machine for the Gozo General Hospital?

Not only is this machine urgently needed, other vital equipment and more specialists are sorely needed.

2nd Budget Proposal

Do not let the destruction of Gozo continue, it is being inflicted by a handful of speculators using one excuse after another to get building permits, even extending to Outside Development Zones, using one pretext or another. It is the Government’s responsibility to see that this stops immediately.

It is also the wish of the General Public that the Government withholds even previously approved building areas which came about because a former Minister saw fit to put pen to paper and add vast areas deemed as acceptable for buildings.

This was totally wrong and therefore has to be put right and must be rescinded by the Government.

The General Public is quite simply “Fed Up” with this unrelenting building frenzy.

Encroachments

Encroachments of our sea shore areas, side streets, embankments and pavements, are taking over all of our Island. Many stem from temporary permits which have become a fixed feature and these areas are now being taken over all year round.

The Government is appearing helpless and is also in cahoots with this rampant takeover, as the Authorities are not taking the required action to put a stop to these blatant abuses.

On the other hand a traffic warden can issue a person with a citation just for leaving a car window open, as recently happened to me.

In Maltese we have a saying “Jew Nejja jew Mahruqa”. (Either underdone or burnt.) Let the general public reclaim what belongs to them..

Historical Monuments

History and Historical Monuments are a past heritage showing the greatness of our forefathers. How they lived and what achievements they made illustrates the advancement of mankind living at a particular time and era.

Whilst I personally completely admire the enormous advancement and the restorations made continuously on the main Island of Malta, I find no such major restorations happening anywhere in Gozo, except for the restorations in Churches.

Chambray Outer Walls, Chambray Powder Room, the Knights Hall, Aqua-Dots, Trunciera in Zewwiqa, Ghar Gerduf, Punic Temple, and so many others are in dire need of urgent repairs, yet each and every time these historical places in Gozo are being left out of the much needed funding and repairs.

Valleys and Dams

Gozo is blessed with many natural valleys reaching all over the island. Yet there is only one water dam in all of our valleys – the one going down to Marsalforn. In the meantime the whole underground water level is now being contaminated by salt water due to the numerous boreholes making underground extractions.

I have long been highlighting this very important issue to one and all, unfortunately with no results whatsoever.

Building staggered water dams in these valleys will prevent precious rainwater from draining into the sea, it will instead percolate into the underground reserves to make up for the borehole extractions.

Farmers will also of course be able to utilise this water for their fields.

These are just a few of my suggestions for the forthcoming budget.

Lino DeBono

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