Two more ships to serve as wrecks in Gozo

Most of the proposals in the Labour Party's recently launched draft plan for Gozo were already being implemented or had been proposed for implementation, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said yesterday.

Commenting on the MLP plan, the minister said one could see that both political parties were viewing Gozo from a common perspective.

While the plan had proposed diving as a niche segment in Gozo, the ministry was working to install a decompression chamber, market an artificial dive site and another two ships would be scuttled in June or July to serve as wrecks, she said.

The minister picked on other points, which included improved roads, as well as restoration works at Ggantija and the Cittadella.

Regarding an alternative road to Mgarr, the ministry had allocated Lm80,000 for a study on the subject.

The MLP, Ms Debono said, had suggested there should be more MCAST and university courses in Gozo. Yet, the government had opened MCAST in Gozo three years ago, adding another institute last year and it would be going for a further extension next year.

The ministry had given every school a facelift and was investing Lm130,000 in a primary school at Xewkija.

Turning to health, the minister said current services were being improved and new ones launched. Wards had been refurbished and new ones opened. A gynaecology unit had been opened and the ministry intended to introduce a system of renewable energy so that, eventually, the Gozo Hospital chimney could be removed.

Ms Debono said she had set up the Gozo Tourism Association so that there now was a Gozo segment with dedicated funds within the Malta Tourism Authority. Moreover, there was Gozitan representation in the other segments.

On the problems faced by industry, the minister said it was true that some factories had closed down but most of the people who lost their job had found alternative employment, particularly in tourism and in construction.

Over the past 18 months, there had been an increase of 60 self-employed persons and in the past six years, 160 new companies.

Gozo deserved to be considered a region when it came to electoral districts, the minister said. To argue that Gozo was a region but then take a diametrically opposite stand in Parliament during the debate on the motion on making Gozo one district did not make sense, she said.