Gozo Channel would be posting a profit of over €350,000 for the first time in years following a €1.6 million loss under a previous Nationalist administration, Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said yesterday.
Winding up the debate on the financial estimates of his ministry, Dr Refalo said the company was a vital link in terms of accessibility.
To this end, the government planned to have a green air strip, connecting Gozo not only to Malta but also to the world. A cost benefit analysis and a socio-economic assessment had been concluded and an EIA was being compiled.
He acknowledged that both the government and the Opposition were motivated by the wish to do Gozo proud but he criticised Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil’s criticism of the Budget, describing it “as sowing the seeds of dissent”.
He said both Dr Busuttil’s speech and those of Opposition MPs were devoid of any real content on the future of Gozo.
The electorate had voted the PN out of office because it had no ideas and was not a viable alternative government.
Dr Refalo praised the Budget as being full of ideas addressing the problems of young and vulnerable people, such as those with a disability. Gozo felt such problems more acutely because the social network there was much smaller. What was good for Malta, the minister argued, was not necessarily good for Gozo.
The Budget was providing employment for 80 disabled people, doing back office work and that gave them a measure of independence and dignity.
Work on housing for the elderly was urgent because there was no space for residential care, particularly for elderly married couples.
What was good for Malta was not necessarily good for Gozo
Gozo should be able to provide services for all Gozitans and the island should be as self-contained as possible.
Gozo’s tourism sector was left to languish during PN administrations, Dr Refalo said, adding that in 20 months the government had done more for the sector than what the PN in government had done throughout all its years in power.
The fibre optic cable for enhanced IT network had been split up and new EU funds were being sought for a single fibre optic cable. This, he said, was causing a delay of seven years in this vital industry.
A sum of € 1.5 million was being voted to lay another buoy in Xlendi and have better landing sites. The sector was seeing major increases in both local tourism and foreign stays on the island.
Dr Refalo said that, by the end of January, the application for a law courts complex in Victoria would have passed through all Mepa stages.
Other infrastructural projects included the accessibility to the Citadel and the construction of a complex for youth and family affairs.
Dr Refalo referred to what he termed as “Gozo’s version of Smart City”, saying the government was developing a site where SMEs could operate from.
Over the past 20 months, more than 650 full-time jobs had been created in Gozo, mainly in the tourism sector. There were various schemes that were proving fruitful, such as training facilities for employed persons in the low season and financial rebates for those who upgraded the employment of a person from part-time to full-time.