Franco Mercieca
Idea for Gozo regional council
Gozo’s double insularity places it in a particular position that requires special attention to tackle its peculiar needs. Therefore the establishment of the Ministry for Gozo was most definitely a step forward to address this set of challenges which need tailor-made solutions.
The hurdles facing Gozo’s socal and economic development process are different from the challenges being faced by the mainland. Decision makers in Malta were, at times, perceived to be too far away from the realities and most pressing needs facing Gozitans. On an institutional level, line ministries were not always deemed to constitute the most effective response. Gozo’s double insularity necessitated the presence of an elected representative in the Cabinet to argue the case for and implement Gozo-centred policies.
However, in spite of the Ministry for Gozo, statistics published by the National Statistics Office point towards a Gozitan regional economy which is struggling to get its fair share of the wealth which the Maltese economy is registering. While the per capita incomes in Malta have attained approximately three quarters the average levels attained in the EU, Gozo’s income levels represent an even smaller fraction of European wealth generation per capita. Gozo’s labour market is overly dependent on the public sector, and to complicate matters, Gozo’s public service is more heavily dependent on relatively unskilled, consequently lower-compensated, activities than the Maltese public service. The Gozitan economy is clearly facing difficulties in generating an adequate demand for jobs and in keeping employment levels at comparable proportions to Malta’s. Worse still, whatever meagre employment creation is taking place in Gozo is not, in general, taking place in higher-value-added sectors. This cocktail of unfriendly developments, if unattended, will push Gozo’s reality further away from Malta’s level and pace of development.
In order to counteract this evident gap between the socio-economic growth of Gozo compared to mainland Malta, the Labour party back in 1994, in the run-up to the 1996 election, had proposed the concept of a regional council for Gozo. Between 1996 and 1998 the Alfred Sant administration launched a white paper on the idea. The Cabinet had approved the guidelines and action was being taken to implement it. In fact a location for the council had been identified and work on it was even started. Many still remember vividly that the proposal was badmouthed by a section of the PN Gozitan elite while others were pressured to stay cold on it even though in private they expressed full approval.
As our old fashioned partisan politics have it, in 1998 the concept was dropped like a stone by the Fenech Adami administration. Through the years gone by the Labour party continued pushing the idea of a regional council and in fact the concept was cemented in the policy document A Development Plan For Gozo As A Region which was approved wholeheartedly at the Labour’s general conference in July 2006. The specifics of a Gozo Regional Council which a Labour government would have set up is found in Chapter 5.3 of this document. This is probably the best document ever published on Gozo’s development. This was subsequently published as part of the SKS book of July 2007 “Pjan Għal bidu Ġdid” where the Gozo Regional Council proposal features on pages 584-585, as part of the electoral manifesto of 2008.
The idea behind the Council was to mobilise the island’s own think tank, from within Gozo, and with genuine central backing work to create dynamic entrepreneurial structures, both public and private. That would have been the main task of the Gozo Regional Council. The idea was to make Gozo operate as a real regional entity, within the constraints of our tiny archipelago, and to try and create meaningful structures for genuine participation that would limit the stifling consequences of centralisation as well as the rampant personal favouritism that operates at grass roots level.
So after years of snubbing Labour’s policy on Gozo’s development, on June 14, during a seminar marking the 50th anniversary of the Gozo Civic Council, a faction of the Nationalist party in Gozo stole the headlines that now it’s time to consider the concept of a Gozo Regional Council. Whether this is mere adulation of Labour’s proposal, as happened with the tunnel, or just to spite the other Nationalist faction in Gozo, we still have to discover but it seems that the rift between the Nationalist factions on that island are well beyond the litigation within the local political or band club.
It was high time, after a quarter of a century under Nationalist rule, to realise that the present setup of local administration has failed the Gozitans, because it never delivered the much awaited prosperity. No wonder we are now all keen on the permanent link, as in the present scenario this is our only lifeline.
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Franco Mercieca
Jun 23rd 2011, 21:56
@Mark Galea
It is good to know that we all agree on the concept of a fixed link for our precious island. However the reason for this article wasn't the tunnel but the concept of the Gozo regional Council. Therefore I do not understand your anger in my regards since we seem to share a common goal.
My article on the fixed link is http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110123/opinion/minding-our-gap.346633
Mark Galea
Jun 24th 2011, 11:08
Dear Franco
Quoting "we seem to share a common goal".
You really pointed it out perfectly. Note the word "seem". I am in favour all out for the permanent link, you are out there to get elected in parliament.
Our goals "seem" to be the same but they are NOT.
If our goals are the same, then you would take a clear stance infavour of the permanent link and promise it will be done in a PL administration. At least PN already started something - Joseph Muscat (on Xarabank) just attacked the messanger when confronted by the question to bid for time, then stated "he would continue any works on the permanent link should PN start them"
If the above is true, we should elect PN next general elections so the works start, and then PL in 2018. If you have a different opinion of what Joseph Muscat said, we can always refer to the program. It is easy to get the transcript by viewing the program streamed.
Christian Sciberras
Jun 24th 2011, 11:29
Mark, as much as I am in the forefront in getting this link done, I just can't agree with you asking people for a promise.
Call me naive, but I'm at least realistic and honest.
If for some reason(s) expert studies show it is impossible to create such a tunnel, I won't haunt someone/someparty for the promises he/they did.
Which is also why I don't expect them to do such a ridiculous statement/promise.
It's also worth noting that so far PN's vow is that of working on the concept of a tunnel, not that they actually will build one.
This is something I very much agree with, in fact, if they did what you are asking, I'll definitely criticize them for a promise they could be forced to break, therefor an empty promise.
This isn't about politics, but using your brain and being darn realistic.
Mark Galea
Jun 24th 2011, 12:52
@Christian Sciberras
Well then, if you say so ... if I understand you right, then it is in our best interest to put PN in power in next elections, and PL in 2018.
Christian, PL easily promised 50Million for tax on registration, will find 10Million (b'daqqa ta pinna) for Enemalta bills ... don't you think that an election that will be fought in the 13th District (where PL's message finds it most difficult) is not worth more than that? Moreover, seems you are "tal-qalba" with PL, is it true that Joseph Muscat is considering Gozo as his district for next election since he fears problems in the 13th?
Mr C Camilleri
Jun 24th 2011, 15:47
@ Mark
Just remove your GonziPN blinkers. End of the story.
@ Franco - do not waste your time answering ppl who all they have in mind is harming you. Just move on, you are doing a very good job
Adrian Farrugia
Jun 23rd 2011, 16:37
Franco, with your deep reflective thoughts you always hit the nail on the head. As a maltese living in gozo for the past 8 years, however i think that some of gozo 's woes have been self afflicted by the deep political divide that exists. which is draining alot of the immense creativity and talent that the gozitans possess. Gozitans need to be united in their aims and move forward under the umbrella of a unifying force
Ms Marija Falzon
Jun 23rd 2011, 10:51
Gozo needs someone with energy to drive it forward. Just like you said Franco, after 25 years, if there were any real plans which would have brought prosperity to Gozo, by now it should have come to its fruition. But unfortunately, everything is being created artificially.
Christian Sciberras
Jun 23rd 2011, 09:21
Franco, as much as I agree with several points in the article, we all know we can't change history.
As such I would really try to leave politics out of it.
In my opinion, Franco, politics is half the problem. Competition is only helpful where there's enough space.
Sadly, this is not the case in Gozo.
Gozo doesn't need reds and blues, it needs someone to lead it forward.
Mark Galea
Jun 23rd 2011, 08:41
Quoting "No wonder we are now all keen on the permanent link, as in the present scenario this is our only lifeline." Is this a declaration that PL is against the bridge/tunnel?
I am a Gozitan - if this is all you can say about the tunnel/bridge project, and instead spend a whole article on regional councils, etc, beware. In reality, this mean that you, one of the most prospective PL candidate for the next years, a possible new voice for Gozo, has already been MUZZLED, already you lost the freedom to express your opinion. We "accidentally" overhear much talk on the ferry, dear Franco.
Christian Zammit
Jun 23rd 2011, 11:24
For clarity's sake, it must be pointed out that PL's leader, Muscat, has on numerous occasions declared he's in favour of a link which could enhance Gozo's accessibility...and in addition, one must further jot down that it was originally a Labour Government which appointed a board of technicians to check about the feasibility of a physical link between Malta and Gozo, way back in the early seventies....Moreover, it is opportune to state as well that is was the same Franco Mercieca who ignited once again the discussion concerning the creation of a permanent link, months ago.
Mark Galea
Jun 23rd 2011, 14:09
Dear Chistian
THEN WHY DOES HE NOT TALK ABOUT IT?
All PL MP's, would be MP's, party officials shy away when making statements about the tunnel / bridge.
Even Muscat was evasive on Xarabank last Friday.
PN looks that is way ahead of PL on this issue - PL just states it was their idea in the 70's. No need to say that the party that supports a permanent link has my vote, even if it means changing sides ...
What is PL waiting for? That the bishop of Gozo pronounces himself infavour as well?
Joseph Attard
Jun 23rd 2011, 15:32
If I remember correctly it was Franco Mercieca who placed a first article about the tunnel linking Malta to Gozo back in January 2011. Mr Galea should get his facts right before putting pen to paper. In the meantime , over the tunnel issue a technical presentation was made earlier last week by a Norwegian expert on the subject matter who placed his own views in respect to the technical parameters and the types of tunnels with pros and cons.
And for correctness sake Franco Mercieca will never be muzzled by any political party . He stands tall with integrity and no political party will ever own him.!
Christian Sciberras
Jun 24th 2011, 11:23
As I noted earlier (and ToM decided to waste my comment), I was asking Mr Galea here how he understood that Mr Mercieca is against the tunnel, when in fact, as far as I can tell (from the article itself), this wasn't stated at all.
Mark Galea
Jun 24th 2011, 11:33
@Joseph Attard
So why is PL always saying it was his idea ... then PL should promise it in the Electoral programme ... ahhh I forgot, the PL electoral programme will be issued just before election, so if, among other things, PN does not put the tunnel on the Electoral programme, PL will do the same.
PL has a good chance to win next election (by default) but it seems that PL is going back instead of forward ... will they manage to lose the 15,000 advantage again?
Joseph Attard
Jun 24th 2011, 20:46
@Mark Galea
A PL s candidate idea does not have to be endorsed by the PL. It is an idea worth considering for the linkage between Malta and Gozo. However there could be issues of a technical nature which could eventually make this tunnel both possible or not possible. Of course a political party , beit PL or PN should not promise what it cannot deliver. Being realistic is the best way forward. If within four years from now, technical studies show that a tunnel is feasable, then any government of the day should proceed .If on the otherhand, studies show that it is not all that feasable, then no Government of the day should proceed with such a project.