In 2013, following an uninterrupted 15-year PN administration, the Labour government inherited a Gozo in which foreign direct investment was absent, and tourism was stuttering.

The current minister embarked upon a series of projects to reverse this negative trend. Gozitan economic growth in 2015 was 10 times that registered in 2012, with a staggering GDP growth of 9.6 per cent surpassing economic growth in Malta and enabling Gozo to narrow the gap between the islands. Tourism last year registered a 42 per cent growth when compared to 2012.

Companies like KPMG are reopening in Gozo. The largest investment ever in Gozo is the establishment of Barts Medical School, and medical tourism will be a new niche for Gozo to exploit. Millions of EU funds have been obtained to transform the derelict MMU site into a creative, digital hub and €3.2m will finance an alternative fibre optic cable between the islands, attracting new jobs. This in addition to 1,000 jobs created in Gozo during the first three years of this legislature.

In October 2016, the government stated in its Budget speech that “in 2017 we shall issue a White Paper intended to set in motion a consultation process concerning the devolution of certain responsibilities for the island of Gozo.” This is not the first time a discussion as to how Gozo is to be administered has cropped up.

Munita col suggello della Nazione Gozitana – provided with the seal of the nation of Gozo. This iswas stipulated in the letter appointing Francesco Pace as ambassador of Gozo in the Court of Palermo, within the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The letter is dated 1798, a period within which Gozo experienced 22 months of de facto independence. Archpriest Saverio Cassar was Governor-General of Gozo and administered both the internal and foreign affairs of the island.

Following the devastating effects of World War II, Gozitans elected three candidates of the Gozo Party and two candidates from the Jones Party, in the 1947 election, which parties’ main interest was to safeguard and promote the Gozitan interests. Both parties disappeared a few years later. In 1961 the Gozo Civic Council was set up by statute to enable Gozitans to participate in the direct administration of the island. This Council was eventually abolished.

In 1987 the Ministry for Gozo was established to coordinate the activities of the various ministries, and to take initiatives to ensure that Malta and Gozo enjoy the same level of development. Unfortunately, looking at March 2013 figures, the ministry had failed to reach this target since Gozo was lagging behind its sister island in economic terms. In fact, during Malta’s EU accession negotiations, Gozo’s level of economic development stood at just 70 per cent of the national average.

In its EU accession negotiations, the government failed to obtain special status for Gozo. The island was classified at NUTS 3, only to be considered as a region for statistical purposes. The government resorted to the attachment of a unilateral declaration to the accession treaty, recognising Gozo as having special needs. However, the Commission has made it clear that this is only a unilateral declaration, and contrary to what Outermost Regions or the Åland Islands enjoy, such as derogations from provisions of the internal market in agriculture, fisheries, taxation, customs and state aid, Gozo, does not enjoy any exceptional status or protection.

The announcement in October is also a reminder of the White Paper published in July 1997 proposing the setting up of a Regional Council for Gozo, which was approved by Alfred Sant’s Cabinet shelved in the aftermath of the 1998 snap election.

As to the upcoming White Paper, the consultation process needs to be wide and informed regarding administrative and fiscal functions, and activities directly relating to Gozo, which could be entrusted to the management and direction of a body operating from Gozo itself. This forms part of a process of decentralisation that at the same time gives a stronger voice to Gozo. Any devolution of power needs to be tailor-made in order to bequeath a stronger set-up and a better Gozo for the next generation. Archpriest Cassar must be smiling.

Christian Zammit, Chief of Staff, Ministry for Gozo

Gozo is the home of Gozitans and any special status given to the island has to be based on this principle. This means that Gozo needs to be comfortable to live in, able to provide its inhabitants with good opportunities and a decent living and would also be easily accessible.

To achieve such a principle, the Nationalist Party is proposing a form of regional autonomy for Gozo, hence, an instrument for the island to decide on matters key to its development, such as education, investment and promotion, and accessibility.

The status of Gozo as a region is a sine qua non. Gozo’s geographical situation of an island, forming part of a State composed of islands, suggests this. Once in government, the Nationalist Party will confer Gozo with this status. This will necessitate a redefinition of the levels of power on the island.

The Gozo Ministry, which, over the years, proved to be a success story, will be retained and its role will be principally executive.

The Gozo minister, together with the other four members of Parliament elected from the district will continue to represent the island in the national Parliament.

Local councils, which, over the years, have also proved to be a success story, will be strengthened.

The present regional council will be revamped. It will be directly elected by the Gozitan people and its functions will be principally legislative. Consequently, legislation on predefined matters relating to Gozo as a region will be enacted at this level.

More regional autonomy should translate in an education system that is tailor-made for Gozitans. Over the past years, the educational set-up in place did well but it fell short of generating enough community leaders. Together with the flight of the best minds from the island, this led to a lack of leadership in Gozo and to an inevitable decline.

The Nationalist Party wants the educational set-up in Gozo to generate more leaders and this has to start from the early school years. More leaders on the island means more Gozitans capable of being creative and of taking the initiative in all spheres. The revival of the community will be consequential.

Investment in Gozo and promotion of the island are aspects, which, at present, are unsatisfactory. An effective special status for Gozo has to address these issues. Attractive incentives have to be devised and, in this respect, cooperation between the Gozo Ministry and the regional council will be crucial.

The Gozo Ministry will set up a team of experts with the specific aim to facilitate investment in Gozo and to promote the qualities of the island both in Malta and also abroad. These experts will also see that the benefits emanating from European Union funds are the maximum possible.

The Gozo Ministry has to sell the Gozo brand effectively and the incentives referred to above will be critical in this scenario.

The insularity of Gozo necessitates efficient links between the island and mainland Malta and even beyond.

Links have to be physical, namely by land, sea and air, as well as technological, that is, internet and telecommunications. These links are quintessential for Gozo and the Nationalist Party recognises this and is determined to take the necessary action, regardless of the feasibility obstacle caused by the island’s small size.

Once in government, the Nationalist Party will entrust the sector to a specialised authority, since projects will be of certain complexity, such as the permanent link.

The Nationalist Party’s vision is to eliminate the sea barrier from the lives of Gozitans.

Kevin Cutajar, Pn Electoral Candidate On The 13th District

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