The Prime Minister has just announced major projects. Good, innovative ones. Many will, no doubt, write about those announced for Malta. I will limit myself to those earmarked for Gozo because few, if any, write and talk about Gozo and its necessities.

Previous governments had spoken of a Gozo Plan that was never published. Another idea was to turn Gozo into an eco-island, with no feasibility studies or programmes being published.

With the benefit of hindsight, we now know that what we have heard in the past was just all gimmicks. Those who smoke, like myself, know that when puffing, smoke appears but then vanishes into thin air. No substance or value. This is exactly what happened with the ‘policies’ on Gozo that had been enunciated and adopted by previous administrations.

The Prime Minister has unveiled projects that can contribute to the revival of Gozo and the Gozitans

Now, the Prime Minister announces concrete projects for Gozo. They are major projects that can contribute to the revival of Gozo and the Gozitans.

Let’s lists the projects.

There are plans for Mġarr harbour to become a marina and a cruise liner terminal. This initiative will enable Gozo and its inhabitants to start breathing some fresh air and hope of more work and a better standard of living coming their way.

Imagine having a cruise terminal that can handle big cruise liners. This will give such passenger ships the possibility of visiting both Malta and Gozo. This can help Gozo flourish. Add to this a yacht marina, where hundreds of pleasure boats can berth. This will enhance property investments by foreigners on the Island, something that Gozo has been rapidly losing over the past years. Foreigners were selling their property instead of buying.

Such yachting facilities will provide much-needed revenue for Gozo. They will also provide employment, create storage, repair and cleaning facilities, even through the building of a slipway etc.

A much-needed reform of the ridiculous regulations imposed by the previous government on real estate purchases could entice many to acquire property in Gozo. This can be the desired shot in the arm for the dying building industry here. The building industry and its workers/investors could thus hope of a better future.

This new scenario would raise the possibility of attracting foreign investment to Gozo. For these last years, such foreign investment was dead on this tiny island.

The promise of a casino in Gozo also adds to its attraction. I know there is interest for more casinos opening in Gozo. Good luck to everyone, I say. If one wants and is interested in investing in casinos, why impose limits? It is only the investor who is shouldering the financial burden.

Another important aspect that will definitely lead to more work in Gozo is the €5,000 grant to every new employee. The €50,000 tax rebate incentive in relation to the creation of new jobs and in the first four years is also welcome.

Through the Health Minister, the Government also announced major investments in the Gozo General Hospital. Most important of all, specialists will also have to visit the General Hospital as part of their duties.

This is as should be and is in sharp contrast to what used to happen in the past and still happens now when various specialists only visit Gozo to attend at private clinics but not at the General Hospital. For private visits, patients are charged in the region of €70.

Having old people’s centres in Gozo is not only an urgent necessity but also a social justice. At present, there are only two centres that function as an old people’s refuge. These are situated in the General Hospital. The one at St Anna Centre caters for women and there is another for males.

Apart from these being full to capacity, it is cruel and inhuman to separate a wife and husband in different wards. This is the present situation in Gozo. The wards being full, one has to wait for a patient to die before another patient can be admitted.

May the Health Minister’s ideas of better facilities for Gozitans be expanded to include more technologically-advanced machinery and also an expanded physical infrastructure.

I believe the Prime Minister has more projects in mind for Gozo, such as University courses for local and foreign students at the General Hospital.

I suggest the Prime Minister and the Education Minister should take a closer look at and indeed commission a feasibility study on Gozitan University students. At present there are about 1,200 University Students when, in the past, there were but a handful. Then, having University courses in Gozo may not have been justified. Now it’s another different story.

There is a good number of Gozitans who are qualified enough to be University lecturers. These could be trained to conduct popular courses that Gozitans tend to go for. This would enable Gozo to have full-time University courses. Modern technology could also be availed of in this regard.

So let’s be adventurous and improvise. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

It was also announced that Gozo will have a judge to deal with appeal cases. That is something Gozo really needed and a major step in the right direction by the new Administration.

May many more initiatives be implemented for the benefit of Gozo and its citizens.

Lino DeBono is a former Labour MP.