Gozo: It's all about the future

As I do my house calls in connection with the election, I am often reminded by people of a certain age about my late grandfather Anton Tabone's total commitment for Gozo's well-being. Younger people refer to the 40-plus years of service which my father had dedicated to the Gozitan cause and to public service. I address them mostly about the future of our island.

Do not get me wrong, I am immensely proud of the half a century of dedicated and selfless service which my grandfather and father have collectively offered. My grandfather was one of the four Gozitan MPs who voted for Independence in Parliament in 1964. My father served as a backbencher for 30 years, shadow minister and eventually Minister for Gozo and another 10 years as Speaker of the House of Representatives, voting for the Republic Constitution in 1974 and presiding over Parliament when important decisions such as European accession were approved.

I have therefore much cause to be proud of their service and achievement. I am also extremely grateful to them for the values which they have passed on to me.

But I am primarily concerned with the future, based as it is on the foundations of the past.

As Election Day approaches, I find that the future holds out much promise for Gozo. Of course, it is a future which all of us can help mould. The future of Gozo must be entrusted to that political party which is able and equipped to make it happen.

The Nationalist Party proposals for Gozo provide us with a very exciting programme for the next five years. The set of proposals not only target Gozo as an island but primarily the Gozitans. The economy, tourism and the environment are the three pillars on which Gozo's future will be built. The creation of jobs, both in manufacturing and the service industry, will be given a boost. This is an area which is very close to the Gozitans who have in the past suffered because of lack of Gozo-based jobs. Innovative and technology-based, these jobs will provide a higher income than the traditional jobs of the past.

In terms of tourism, Gozo will be promoted distinctly from Malta and there will be infrastructural projects to improve areas around the coastline. The environment will be given a boost when the whole of Gozo will become an ecological island.

This will result in better living standards for the Gozitans and Gozo will provide a more attractive destination for tourism.

The utilisation of alternative sources of energy, which will cater for Gozo's total needs, will ensure that the 30,000 Gozitans and hundreds of thousands of visitors will enjoy a clean, pleasant atmosphere. This will, in turn, encourage investment in eco-tourism.

All of this will be complemented by better access to Gozo. The transport service has always been of fundamental importance. The already up-to-standard ferry service will be further enhanced by a reliable air service from and to Malta.

Upgrading of the general hospital will ensure a medical service possibly equal to that enjoyed in Malta.

Gozitan students will be further encouraged to continue their education up to tertiary level, thus affording them the opportunity to fill the high-tech jobs created in Gozo and to prepare themselves for the exciting prospects presented to both Gozo and Malta by an incoming new Nationalist Administration.

The beefing up of the Ministry for Gozo will strengthen the administrative infrastructure, coordinating all activities on the island. In this regard, the island-region of Gozo will be able to continue to draw on European Union sources both for its financial needs as well as its technical support.

These are some of the reasons why I look forward to the future rather than dwell on the past. I have accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to be a candidate for the 2008 election because I believe that younger politicians should seize the opportunities being presented to work towards the betterment of life in Gozo.

The past two years, which I have spent as the mayor of Victoria, have brought me in contact with a number of people. The experience has taught me how satisfying it is to further strive to improve the living standards that our people enjoy.

We have now been given an opportunity for a holistic approach to the immediate future of our country because the Nationalist Party manifesto clearly sets out the steps to be taken to make of both Malta and Gozo a modern European nation with the highest standards attainable. Being given the opportunity to be part of this change is indeed an exciting prospect which I accepted as soon as it was offered to me.

We have promised much to the people of Malta and Gozo and what we have offered is attainable, given the track record of the Nationalist Party. But to make this happen the party has to be voted to office once again. It is therefore incumbent on voters in Gozo to cast their vote come Saturday in favour of the party which is able to make the future happen.

Mr Tabone is an election candidate of the Nationalist Party for the 13th district.

roberttabone@onvol.net