Roundabouts and public gardens in Gozo would become showcases for the work of local artists and sculptors as part of a project aimed at embellishing the island’s roads, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said yesterday.
About 120 artists from Malta and Gozo submitted samples of their work for consideration, the minister said during a Nationalist Party meeting in Xagħra.
Mrs Debono spoke about the ongoing projects in Gozo that included the building of new roads and the recently-approved regeneration of Cittadella. Last week, the planning authority board approved a master plan to restore the fortress city to its former majesty.
Gozo had recently applied for EU funds so that all its schools and the general hospital would operate solely on alternative energy through the installation of photovoltaic or solar panels.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke about the importance of investing in Gozo while ensuring that it maintained its unique characteristics. He recounted how, while at a restaurant, he met a group of 30 German divers who praised the sister island for the facilities it offered divers.
The divers told him that two of them were involved in an accident and had to be rushed to the decompression chamber at the Gozo hospital. One even said she would be writing an article in a prominent newspaper back home praising the island.
Dr Gonzi said this was no coincidence because the government had worked hard to ensure Gozo was properly equipped for divers. The government’s work in various areas was yielding the desired results.
He quoted statistics released by the Employment and Training Corporation that showed that full-time employment in May rose by 2.2 per cent when compared to the corresponding month last year.
The number of registered unemployed dropped by 9.7 per cent to 6,366 in the same period. He noted that these results were achieved as the Libya crisis raged on, forcing Maltese businessmen to abandon their businesses there.
Dr Gonzi criticised Labour leader Joseph Muscat for attempting to paint a false picture and trying to make people believe unemployment was on the rise.
He challenged Dr Muscat to come up with concrete suggestions on how to improve the economy, health services and education.