New candidates for April 12 election

A total of 17 candidates will be contesting the April 12 general election in Gozo, of whom three for the Nationalist Party, four for the Labour Party and two for Alternattiva Demokratika are contesting for the first time.

David Apap Agius (PN), a hotel purchasing officer, has been mayor of Gharb for six years, and has just been re-elected to the council in the March 8 elections, obtaining 319 votes. Mr Apap Agius' aim is to extend his work from a local to a regional one.

Anton F. Attard (MLP), of Victoria, told The Sunday Times that he decided to contest the elections to safeguard Malta's independence and freedom, which he describes as priceless.

Mr Attard is an educator, administrator, writer, broadcaster and poet.

He was secretary to the Housing Authority, acting housing secretary and director at the Ministry for Gozo. He has served on several government committees. He was also a full-time trade unionist when he was secretary of the public service section of the GWU for two years (1983-85).

Anthony Attard (PN), the mayor of Xaghra, is vice-president of the PN Xaghra sectional committee. Elected councillor in 1994 and mayor in 1998 and 2001, Mr Attard hopes that Malta joins the EU on May 1, 2004.

Joe Cordina (MLP), 40, of Xaghra, is secretary of the local MLP committee, a member of the MLP district committee and a Xaghra councillor.

A certified public accountant and auditor by profession, Mr Cordina believes that Gozo deserves better and that working towards a better education system, more job opportunities, successful and profitable business, healthier environment and better healthcare facilities are the first steps towards a better Gozo.

Dr Chris Said (PN), 32, a lawyer, has been involved in several associations, including president of the student council, executive member of the Moviment Zghazagh Partit Nazzjonalista, and executive member of the Nationalist Party.

Dr Said, mayor of Nadur for the past three years, believes that Gozitans should be given a better opportunity to take part in the decisions which affect Gozo.

Mark Causon and Ian Meli, the AD candidates, state that agriculture is a pillar of Gozo's economy and serves both as a main source of income through food production and also as a keeper of the environment which attracts Maltese and foreign tourists.

They believe that major projects such as golf courses should be rejected outright since they do not address today's and tomorrow's needs of Gozitans in a sensible manner.