An airport in Gozo would be one way of asserting regional autonomy, as Ryan Mercieca’s research on small island regions shows.

Every island state Mr Mercieca has analysed with similar characteristics to Malta’s shows that autonomy for secondary islands is strengthened through international accessibility by means of an airport.

“None of the island states I have reviewed have a permanent link between the main and secondary islands, but all have a sea ferry service and an airport,” he said.

He skirted the environmental controversy this would spark when we met in the aftermath of Gozo Minister Anton Refalo’s call last month for a bipartisan approach to a more autonomous Gozo.

But Mr Mercieca believes that any decision to have an airport in Gozo should be left to the Gozitans. This would be one aspect of decision making that regional autonomy could bring about, he added.

Regional autonomy is the subject of Mr Mercieca’s research for his doctoral thesis, Federalism and regionalism of islands and small states in the 21st century, under the tutorship of sociology professor Godfrey Baldacchino.

He carried out a comparative analysis of regional autonomy across island states with population and geographical characteristics similar to Malta and Gozo.

Mr Mercieca analysed the different models of decentralisation adopted by small island states to determine whether they produced better democracy and brought economic development to regions like Gozo.

A more autonomous Gozo should not lead to the ministry being abolished

Of note is the fact that Malta’s official name does not include Gozo, unlike the island states Mr Mercieca studied.

He believes that Gozo should become “a sub-national island jurisdiction”, which would help contribute to the well-being of Gozo’s economy and its citizens. In simpler terms, Mr Mercieca has called for the creation of a regional council with seven or nine members directly elected by Gozitans every four years.

This differs from a proposal put forward by the Gozo Tourism Association for a regional assembly that would include all Gozitan MPs sitting in the national Parliament, all Gozitan mayors and representatives of non-governmental associations.

Mr Mercieca said the elected members of the regional council should not be local councillors or members of Parliament.

The council, he continued, would have the power to determine the social and economic priorities for Gozo. These would include decisions linked to development, infrastructure and the use of natural resources.

“It should be able to legislate laws that reflect the realities and priorities of Gozo and handle matters relating to regional or international cooperation for development, investment and trade,” Mr Mercieca said.

He noted that the need of a breakwater at Marsalforn had long been felt, but with the decision being dependent on Maltese politicians, it never seemed to be a priority.

“An autonomous regional assembly can make that decision, because it would understand better the needs of the island more than anyone who is far removed from the region.”

Mr Mercieca said that the tourism niche seeking farmhouse accommodation started in Gozo and had, for many years, been left unregulated.

“Somehow, regulations were only introduced when accommodation became an issue in Malta,” he said.

Autonomy would change this, because Gozitans could legislate as things develop, whether the developments are a problem or an innovative concepts.

As is the case with all models that he has studied, international, military and security affairs would remain the sole remit of the national government in Malta.

Gozo has had its own ministry since 1987, bar the brief interlude between 1996 and 1998, when Gozitan affairs were absorbed within the Office of the Prime Minister.

The island also elects five MPs to the national Parliament, and a constitutional amendment in the run-up to the 2008 election ensured Gozo would always remain a unified electoral district despite population changes.

Mr Mercieca insisted a more autonomous Gozo should not lead to the ministry being abolished. The two are not mutually exclusive. “Having a Gozo Ministry is necessary to ensure that Gozitans have a voice in the Cabinet where important decisions are taken, but the portfolio can be widened to include local councils and other regions,” Mr Mercieca said.

And he believes that regional autonomy would challenge the perception that nepotism is rife in Gozo, which former Labour MP Lino Debono warned about in comments to this newspaper last month.

“Gozitans will no longer have to curry favour to get things done and attract business activity to their island, which means that the clientelistic attitude would be challenged,” Mr Mercieca pointed out.

His views are a radical departure from what has been contemplated until now. Whether they will be taken on board is another matter altogether.

Models for regional autonomy

St Kitts and Nevis
■ The secondary island, Nevis, has a population of 11,108, which makes up 19 per cent of the total. Covering 93 square kilometres, Nevis has an elected assembly of eight members. It has full autonomy, and the island also has an airport. The island is three kilometres away from the main island. The affairs of Nevis are also represented at the national level through a minister.

Sao Tomé and Principe
■ The secondary island, Principe, has a population of 5,000, making up three per cent of the total. It has a surface area of 136 square kilometres and Principeans elect their own regional assembly and government. The island enjoys full autonomy and has an airport. Principe is 181 kilometres from the main island.

Trinidad & Tobago
■ Tobago has a population of 60,874, making up five per cent of the total. The island covers 300 square kilometres and is 30 kilometres away from the main island. Tobagonians elect 12 members of the regional assembly, who join four appointed councillors. The island enjoys full autonomy and also boasts an airport.

Malta
■ The secondary island of Gozo has a population of 31,683, which is eight per cent of the total. Gozo covers 67 square kilometres and is six kilometres away from Malta. It has no regional assembly, and its affairs are handled by a minister, who does not, however, have full responsibilities. The island of Gozo has no airport.

Note: This is a sample of the seven countries in addition to Malta that Mr Mercieca analysed for his doctoral thesis.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com