The Minister of Gozo, we learnt from this newspaper, has 13 paid, but non-elected, ‘consultants’ to advise him on his government role. They clearly have not, between them, been able to think of anything for him to do.

So desperate had he become to get his picture in the papers and on websites that he recently called a press conference and posed for pictures as he ‘inaugurated’ a public convenience on a beach. The only benefit of this to the electorate was that the lavatory provided a little relief in the summer season from Panama and other adventures. It gave them a laugh. That had not been the intention.

The problem for any minister for Gozo is that there is rarely anything about which he (or she) can boast. A few feet of tarmacadam laid here, a new shop there... He would attend the opening of an envelope, if he could see a photo-opportunity in it.

So why does Gozo have a minister in the first place? This one was heavily criticised because the ferry, after leaving port, once turned back to pick him up. Has he improved the ferry service as a result of his experience? Has he argued in government for more, and more-frequent ferries or for different ferry destinations? Is he working towards resuming an air link?

Has he done anything about the desecration of Blue Lagoon or Comino? Has he organised the resurfacing of Gozo’s coast road – the main route from the harbour to the island’s beach resorts?

Something needs to be done for Gozo. But nothing is being done at the moment

Has he proposed a better, safer access to the port or a ring road for the logjam that is the capital city? Has he helped find new industry for Gozo?

Creating a personalised fiefdom on an island, when the lord of the manor has nothing to do, and no ideas of his own, also creates an opportunity for allegations, or at least suspicions, of misbehaviour, even of corruption (Gozo, lest we forget, is a Maltese island...)

There have been no such suggestions – so far as I am aware – about the current minister... except that people see the doling out of taxpayers’ money to mates, disguised as ‘consultants’, as being somewhat questionable. The electorate, in any case, does not expect its minister to be Snow White (he is, after all, a member of the government and this is, lest we forget, Gozo...)

Meanwhile the courts, in their idiosyncratic Maltese way, seem to have stalled a decision on the relationship, if any, between the minister’s predecessor, a whistle-blowing building contractor, and a number of (allegedly) lucky party supporters.

Perhaps it’s time to consider whether there is any advantage in retaining the job at all.

Instead of a single minister, twiddling his thumbs while his cronies rattle their brains trying to think up a new photo-op for him, why not a Gozo ministry comprising all locally elected MPs? There are five of them, from different parties, and a small odd number would make it easier to reach decisions.

They could work together for a better Gozo. They were, after all, elected to represent their island. Their performance should acknowledge that.

Something needs to be done for Gozo. But nothing is being done at the moment.

Perhaps at least one out of five could come up with an idea, if none out of 13 can.