A quarter of a century of practically uninterrupted rule by the previous administration left Gozo a peripheral territory, quite literally an island in Malta's backwater. Its per capita gross domestic product was constantly growing at a slower rate than that of Malta; its population shrinking and aging and its youth migrating to Malta and beyond. A strong industrial estate, which thrived in the 1980s and provided an excellent income to hundreds of Gozitans, was allowed to vanish.
For decades, not a single euro was invested in Gozo from direct foreign investment. Industrial policy was non-existent; no planning was made for the new, digital era. In particular, a second fibre optic cable joining Gozo with Malta, vital as a backup for data traffic essential for contemporary enterprises, was never a priority.
But, worst of all, a fatalistic sense of resignation sank deeply into the psyche of my fellow Gozitans. After all, in their collective memory their ancestors were always treated as second-class citizens. The greatest obstacle was not the neglect with which Gozo was treated - except for electoral considerations - but the chronic lack of self-confidence.
My party came to power with a well-thought-out strategy. It was therefore in a position to hit the ground running. But we knew that, for the Gozitans, only seeing is believing. Apart from medium and long-term goals, a short-term boost, leaving tangible results, was sorely needed. This was achieved by initiatives such as free or reduced boat trips to the island accompanied by spectacular and popular events such as Bethlehem in Għajnsielem and Valentine's special weekend.
In 2013, bed-nights by foreign tourists reached 972,000. More encouraging is the fact that the increase includes the shoulder months.
For the medium and long-term, a tourist product distinct from that of Malta is being developed, consisting of particular niches such as cultural, religious and agro tourism, encouraging Gozo as a venue for international conferences, meetings and events. Another important niche will be medical tourism, which entails radically upgrading Gozo General Hospital.
An agreement has been signed this week between the government and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry for the establishment of a branch of Bart's Medical School. This is the biggest direct foreign investment ever made in the history of Gozo. This niche has a particularly high value-added for the economy and will leave a significant ripple effect all year round in terms of employment of medical and para-medical personnel, the renting of property, increased hotel bed-nights and the increased hosting of catering establishments. More importantly, it places Gozo on the international map in the medical sector.
Public spaces, especially town and village squares all over the island, are being embellished. The public infrastructure is just as important as the private one to enhance the tourist product. We procured €14 million in EU funding which were all but lost, due to neglect on the part of the previous administration, and revamped the Citadel, restoring it to its pristine glory. The water reservoir built during the first years of the British colonial period in front of the Citadel is being converted into an interpretation centre. Long-considered as Gozo's icon, the Citadel and its environs will be a showcase for an island at once steeped in history and striding towards a brighter future.
A 10-kilometre pipeline is being laid to pump water from the reverse osmosis plant in Cirkewwa to Hondoq and up to the reservoir at Ta' Cenc, to be distributed from there to the whole of Gozo. It is replacing the existing one which is 60 years old and performing well beyond its natural life. The project is costing over €4 million and is expected to be completed in November 2015. My Ministry is spending a further €1.5 million to resurface the roads through which the pipeline is being laid.
Maximum utilisation has been made of EU funds - for the Employment Aid Programme, for new equipment at Gozo General Hospital, for the second phase of the Junior College, for upgrading of the Żewwieqa Waterfront, for better facilities for fishermen at Marsalforn and for the installation of photovoltaic panels at the Taċ-Ċawla Housing Estate.
But our efforts are not directed at tourism and physical infrastructure alone. In the short-term, fiscal incentives for the start-up of new enterprises, as well as for expanding existing ones, have been put in place through the micro-invest scheme. In the medium-term, a study establishing the terms of reference regarding the laying of a fibre optic cable on the seabed has been concluded. Based on this preliminary study, a tender has been issued for a second study covering the technical and financial feasibility of the implementation of a digital hub in Gozo. €250,000 from EU funds has been allocated for this study. Although Gozo is already digitally connected, this back-up is essential for attracting contemporary enterprises of the digital era that require 100 per cent reliability in their connection. It is the most important kind of bridge connecting Gozo with Malta, enabling the creation of good and sustainable jobs in Gozo for Gozitans.
Most importantly, we have opened the first regional office of the National Statistics Office. This will gather sectorial information on Gozo's demography, work, health, education, culture, agriculture, fisheries and sources of energy. Had this office been established before, it could have helped Malta's case for Gozo to be considered as an EU region.
All this has been achieved in just 750 days. But we cannot rest on our laurels. Our main achievements will only come to fruition in the months and years to come.
Dr Refalo is Gozo Minister