All governments say, as it is also my utopian hope, that the amenities provided by the Administration are extended to and distributed equally across the islands.
It is the duty and obligations of the central government to do so. My mind wants to believe this but, as things stand, I believe I am living in a fantasy world.
I start finding flaws in my thinking and, so, I would put questions to myself. How is it that there is no direct internet link between the two islands to facilitate quick and fast online communications so necessary to industry, offices and local facilities?
While we make capital out of the gaming industry, many question why there is no fibre optic cable connection to Gozo.
Whatever the reason the end result is that Gozo is being bypassed and left in the wilderness. Yet, I know of many Gozitans who are employed in this sector and work in Malta. I believe that, with a little bit of a political will, this sector can also thrive in Gozo if, that is, the required facilities are provided.
Another example is the critical situation with regard to specialists visiting and providing services at Gozo General Hospital. Some do attend at the General Hospital but many others visit Gozo to provide their services in private clinics but not at the General Hospital.
I therefore ask the central Administration: why is this happening? Don’t the Gozitan people have the same rights as the citizens in the mainland?
Why should citizens living in Gozo pay for the services of a specialist when Malta and its citizens enjoy a “free healthcare service”?
Don’t Gozitans have the same rights as the citizens in the mainland?
I wonder whether, when engaging professionals in the health service, a distinction is made between serving only at Mater Dei Hospital (Malta) as against providing a health service in the Maltese islands? If the contract specifies that the service is only provided in a particular hospital, then I suggest the Administration should also include the Gozo General Hospital. Thus, citizens living in Gozo will be equal because the Constitution lays down that there should be no distinctions between equals.
Once I am referring to healthcare, I would like to point out that many Gozitans do not agree that the Victoria clinic should be moved to the General Hospital. Its present location allows easy access to one and all because it is next to the bus terminal, so transport is not problem. If moved to the General Hospital, no such transport service will be available, so it will be difficult to get there, especially in the case of senior citizens and handicapped people.
If more room is required, the necessary space can be found in the same locality.
To remain on the subject of health, I believe that strict surveillance should be carried out by the Administration about certain fees being charged by some.
The authorities should also look into ambiguous advice that some individuals seem to be giving as to where a patient is directed and referred to. Certain individuals – certain individuals and not all – seem to prefer directing patients to a private clinic rather than to the free facilities offered by the health services.
A service that I believe should be offered immediately is the facility for people living in Gozo to have the opportunity to apply and be provided with foreign citizens’ renewal permits in Gozo itself.
Such people have to cross over to Malta to renew their permits only to wait for long hours in queues only to be informed to return another day. Imagine spending hours travelling from Gozo and waiting in this heat and then told you must come back, going through the hardship once again.
Are we not all living in the same country with equal rights?
Is it so difficult to open an office in Gozo? I was repeatedly told that this was being done. That was many weeks ago and, yet, nothing has happened so far with everything remaining unchanged.
The new Administration has been in office for five months now. Many of us, myself included, who wanted change want to see such change happen now and not later. This, especially, if it is about catering for citizens’ urgent needs.
The normal citizen had very high hopes that the autocratic element of the past would be done away with. Come on, then, let’s see it happening in practice.
In my last article Fruitful Projects For Gozo (July 30), I had written thus: “Xwejni area, up to and prior to Qbajjar Bay area, can also be turned into another yacht marina”. At the editorial stage the words “up to and prior to Qbajjar Bay” was changed to “Xwejni area up to just beyond Qbajjar Bay can also be used for a yacht marina”.
This rewording changed my view of things as “prior to” being subsisted to “just beyond” completely changed my concept of things and views in this regard. I definitely am not of the opinion that Qbajjar Bay be changed or be included in a marina.