Gozo island region idea a stroke of a genius

You have no idea how glad I am to have taken the decision to run for election in the Gozo district.

After almost 10 years working in Brussels, getting back to my roots is such a wonderful feeling. Going out and about in the beautiful alleys and streets of Gozo and meeting warm Gozitan families fills me with so much energy. It’s such a beautiful feeling. It’s fun, I’m enjoying it.

I’ve met so many foreigners in the past ten years and those who’ve visited the island visit it again and again, and they have good reasons for that. That is probably why we Gozitans are so proud of our island and we feel a strong attachment to it. We all know that Gozo is beautiful, but we also think it has great potential to develop in a way that Gozitans have the option to stay and live a full life in Gozo, earning good money and raising their children in, without having to relocate to the main island. I personally chose to live in Malta for ten years and another ten years in Brussels. But that was my personal choice, and I’m glad I did it because it gave me a different perspective.

Indeed, there must be an option for Gozitans to remain in Gozo and this is what we the Nationalist Party is working for.

I do encourage young people to go and live abroad and broaden their horizons because this is, after all, what I did. But this must be a weighted choice, and the alternative of having a career in Gozo must at least be available.

To achieve this, opportunities must be created in Gozo. Much was done by successive Nationalist administrations in the past years for Gozo but more needs to be done and the focus should be clear and it should be sharp. A few days ago PN leader Simon Busuttil came to Gozo to announce strong, clear proposals for the island.

The inclusion of Gozo as a recognised region in our Constitution might not mean a lot to many of us, even worse it could be dismissed as political rhetoric. It’s most certainly not, and I know this from personal experience working in the European Parliament. This proposal is indeed a very strong political commitment that will forever change our islands’ status, for the better. It shows the direction our Party envisages for Gozo.

Put bluntly, this proposal means more money for Gozo and the Gozitans. It means more than €200 million for Gozo. There’s a real possibility that Malta as a whole, due to the accession of poorer EU countries, will lose its status which qualifies it as a major beneficiary of EU money. Yet, the recognition of Gozo as a separate region, will allow it to qualify for millions of EU funds irrespective of Malta’s general status.

So far, Gozo has received around 10 percent of EU money allocated to Malta, which have significantly improved the island’s infrastructure and restored the beauty of a number of tourist hotspots, including the Citadel, the Temples at Ġgantija, Villa Rundle, Ta’ Pinu, Wied il-Mielaħ and iżŻewwieqa.

The Nationalist Party’s proposal could mean up to €250 million in additional funding. It means more and better jobs for the Gozitans and a higher quality of live in Gozo.

Indeed, exciting times are ahead and I want to do my bit in this massive leap for Gozo and the Gozitans. You Gozitans have welcomed me with open arms in the warmth of your homes. There’s clear hunger for change and big investment in the island. This is very clear to me. I know what we Gozitans are yearning for. Let’s look towards the future with a sense of optimism and work together hand in hand for a magnificent future in Gozo.

The inclusion of Gozo as a recognised region in our Constitution might not mean a lot to many of us, even worse it could be dismissed as political rhetoric. It’s most certainly not. This proposal is indeed a very strong political commitment that will forever change our islands’ status, for the better.