As a nation we tend to hold strong views on many aspects of life. Very often, we take positions on subjects on which we lack sufficient knowledge; nevertheless, we still tend to strongly air our views.
We normally treasure what we have managed to achieve. We do that because we appreciate that what was achieved, very often was the result of hard work, effort and personal sacrifice. We know that in life, very few things come without a price. In a small community like ours, we tend to appreciate this fact even more.
Despite our conviction that the law of gravity has wide applications, at times we still tend to take things for granted. We assume that once we achieve an objective, it will remain with us forever. Very few things work in this way; the majority do not. If we want to maintain something, we need to work on it on a daily basis.
This need to continue striving to hold what we have and to achieve further success is better understood on a personal level. As individuals we act with diligence and take all the necessary action to safeguard our successes. As individuals, we tend to go the extra mile to protect our status and many will give everything to see their offspring achieve more than they managed to do themselves. As individuals we believe that our success does not simply happen but is the result of our effort and this effort needs to be constant.
As a nation, we should adopt this same attitude. We must understand that the success and achievements of the last three years did not just happen by chance. They took place because there was a constant effort and drive to push on with reforms, to explore new growth avenues, and to remove the obstacles to investments.
Gozo’s success in terms of economic growth, employment, tourist arrivals, and the inflow of new investment did not just happen. It happened and is happening because this government is working hard. It happened because this government is not limiting itself to just being an administrator but is taking a leading role.
Taking a leading role means that sometimes errors are committed: mistakes which are often the result of our eagerness to do things without unnecessary delays.
If the national economy continues to grow at the steady pace of the last few years, Gozo will benefit. If employment opportunities in Malta flourish, Gozo will benefit. It will benefit directly, by giving the Maltese more spending power and thus the ability to visit Gozo more frequently. It will benefit Gozo indirectly as Gozitan youths and entrepreneurs will have more opportunities to explore prospects on the main island.
The employment opportunities in Gozo over the last three years have been on the increase. Official figures show this. However, Gozitans have traditionally always been open to take the challenge of more rewarding offers and prospects in Malta and even overseas. There is probably not even one family in Gozo who does not have relatives and family connections abroad; in Australia, America, Canada and more recently Europe. It is a fact that some specialised sectors will always thrive more in clusters and this ground is more fertile in Malta. As Gozitans we should not be afraid to take these opportunities. But there are other niche sectors which also flourish in a small island. This is the type of investment Gozo is seeking in order to create jobs in Gozo itself.
In order to move forward we must run faster. What we have achieved must not be taken for granted. The Opposition continuously tries to perpetuate the message that the success of the last three years will continue uninterrupted for many years, irrespective of who holds Office. We all know that things do not work this way. Without significant effort and good planning, both on a local level as well as on a national one, success will not be possible. So let us work together to see Gozo benefitting from the opportunities we can claim for this island.
Anton Refalo is Minister for Gozo