To say that this has been a difficult week for the Nationalist Party in Gozo is an understatement. It has been tumultuous, with Giovanna Debono – so long portrayed as the party’s heroine on the sister island – resigning from the PN (after a not-so-gentle push) as a result of her husband being charged with ‘works for votes’ allegations.
Why she did not also resign as an MP – as would have been the more honourable option in this case – only she can answer, but the longer she remains the more damage she inflicts upon the Nationalist Party. It is time for a new, untainted face to take up the position and represent Gozo as it should be represented in Parliament.
Simon Busuttil deserves praise for taking the bull by the horns in her regard – the only question being, did he have to wait for charges to be instituted? – though his other move is equally intriguing.
The PN leader also asked the party’s secretary general, Chris Said, not to stand for the post once it comes up for election at the end of the month. The reasoning seems straightforward enough: Dr Busuttil wants him to focus on Gozo where the Nationalist Party has clearly lost ground.
But questions inevitably emerge given that no PN general secretary has ever relinquished the post after just two years: Was Dr Busuttil happy with Dr Said’s performance? Was their relationship strained? Did the Nationalist Party leader deliberately hand him a lower profile role to strengthen his own position? These all seem to require answers.
However, the ‘works for votes’ issue has not just posed questions for the PN. Labour has some explaining to do too as allegations have also surfaced regarding works carried out at private residencies by the Gozo Ministry under Labour minister Anton Refalo.
For some reason, these do not appear to have been investigated by the police. They must be, as otherwise the arraignment of Mr Debono would give the impression that it is politically motivated.
What is also needed – though hardly likely – is an independent review into the way the Ministry for Gozo operates, in an attempt to cut down on excessive clientelism which Gozo is notorious for.
The Nationalist Party now has the difficult task of rebuilding itself in Gozo. Gozitans no longer consider the PN to be their natural party of government and this was evident in the swing towards the Labour Party at the last general election as well during last month’s local elections.
The PN is not in an easy position; of its three elected MPs, Ms Debono now sits as an independent and Frederick Azzopardi is not seeking re-election at the next general election. Dr Said, the third MP, must now re-engage wholeheartedly with Gozitan voters to try and earn their trust once again.
The feeling among Gozitans is that the Nationalists were becoming increasingly distant from their concerns and this provided Labour with the opportunity to make inroads.
If Dr Busuttil wants to reverse this trend he must come up with concrete proposals on how a future PN government would deal with the particular problems and difficulties faced by Gozitans on a daily basis and how it would encourage increased investment into the island.
He should not try to copy Labour’s policy of promising everything to everyone – this is bound to backfire one day – but should make it a point to support initiatives that would truly benefit Gozo and the people who live there.