“Gozo has been totally forgotten by the Minister for Finance and the Labour Government. This clearly shows how a PL Government looks at Gozo,” the Nationalist Party has said.

In a statement, the Oppositions Spokesperson for Gozo Chris Said said that “Minister Camilleri boasted of the capital vote for Gozo. What he failed to say is that Gozo is being given only 2.8% of the country’s capital expenditure.”

“This is miserable capital expenditure when you consider that Gozo has a territory that covers one third of Malta and that has to cope with the double insularity,” he said.

Said went on to say that, “the PL had promised work for all Gozitans in Gozo itself. Today we know from the facts that there are three times more Gozitans working in Malta than there were in 2013.”

He added that, “it is now confirmed that in order for Gozitans to have decent working conditions they must go to work in Malta. In Gozo the Government has only created schemes, precarious work with the minimum wage and works with contractors who offer services to the Government. No productive, well-paid jobs have been created.”

In the Budget there is no new project planned for Gozo. “Lost among the budget speech are projects that have been promised for years and have not been completed,” he said.

These include “a primary school in Victoria; the restoration of the aqueduct is mentioned again for the fourth consecutive budget; an investment in the Heliport was promised when we were told 4 years ago that the air service was to start immediately; the reverse osmosis plant in Hondoq will be completed when it should have been completed two years ago,” Dr Said said.

On the other hand, he said, “projects that have been promised for years in every PL Government budget have now been completely forgotten, such as the home for the elderly in Ghajnsielem, the construction of a new court, a cruise liner terminal, yacht marina and much more.”

“The Gozo Museum is mentioned again as it has been for the last six budgets. The Minister failed to explain why €5 million of EU funds were lost on this project,” he said.

Dr Said stated that, “an explanation is also needed why two years ago two million in EU funds were spent on six coaches and they were never used. Someone has to explain about this wasted money.”

“To date, in two years, more than €10 million have already been paid for the rental of an old ferry. It seems that Gozo will be left with a fourth ship that is not adequate. The Government does not invest in the connectivity between Malta and Gozo which is so important.”

The PN spokesperson argued that that “the budget fails to mention any measures or initiatives on agriculture and fisheries in Gozo – two areas that are so important in the Gozitan economy and that are dying little by little due to lack of aid by the Government. This is despite the fact that the Minister for Agriculture is elected from Gozo.”

“The same can be said for the education sector where the Minister is also elected by Gozo. The only project mentioned is the primary school in Victoria which has been mentioned in seven consecutive budgets and is not yet complete. There is no other initiative in this important sector,” he said.

File photo by Alain Salvary

Permalink: Budget: Gozo has been totally forgotten by the Government” – PN