Gozo was once again at the centre of the campaign trail yesterday where Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi met supporters in Għarb, one of the smallest Gozitan villages.

“This is the third or fourth time we have come to Gozo in this campaign and we have not come empty-handed... We never do,” he said, highlighting the array of Gozo-related initiatives in the PN’s electoral programme.

He said stipends were an important and worthwhile investment that was reaping results.

“This is one of the secrets to Malta’s success,” he said, adding that the number of students furthering their studies had risen at an impressive rate.

If the Government had not created 20,000 jobs in the past five years there would be mass unemployment especially among young people, he added, urging young people to continue studying.

One young graduate told Dr Gonzi that she worked in Malta not because there was no work in Gozo but it was her choice to work there.

“A Nationalist Government will continue working hand in hand with you.” It was positive that the number of courses in Gozo had grown and the next step was to introduce exams in Gozo.

He spoke about the importance of health tourism, a sector developed over the last few years thanks to the investment at Mater Dei Hospital.

Although he acknowledged problems at the hospital, he said he was frequently thanked for the high level of medical service in Malta, which could also generate business.

Referring to his visit to the Kempinski Hotel’s spa, he said he wished to see more high quality hotels investing in health tourism to attract tourists during the shoulder winter months.

He said businesses investing in Gozo would benefit from three years of tax credits of up to €200,000 if they employed at least two people.