Former Labour leader and prime minister Alfred Sant has suggested the building of “one or two yacht marinas” that will serve to boost the tourism industry in Gozo.

Writing on inews.com, Dr Sant said that in a visit he made to Victoria and Sannat he was reminded about the importance of creating more jobs for Gozitans in Gozo.

“The government must do its bit. Services that can be offered to the whole country from Gozo without extra costs should be transferred to Gozo. Somebody reminded me of the spokes that were put in our wheels when we tried to do this project in the past,” he wrote.

Without employment in Gozo, the island would not be able to enjoy the potential it has without losing its character.

The construction industry, he wrote, cannot provide much assistance as it was allowed to become smaller. What could have been done to safeguard and improve the industry was not done or done badly.

This leaves only tourism, he wrote. If it is pushed, it has so much room in which to grow. “I am convinced that the best measure, as happened in Cottonera, is the building of one or two yacht marinas. In bays that could allow (for such projects), the Gozitans insist that their traditions are respected. At Marfa... the sea is so deep that the building of a marina would be too expensive.”