History is nothing but the activity of many people in pursuit of their goals. It is the human input that has moulded the course of events over the years and we need to be aware of this throughout our time if we mean it to be successful.

Setting our goals

My political life has also taught me that this is precisely the time when we have to assume a good sense of leadership. In real terms, leadership is the ability to merge and blend the efforts of others towards achieving common goals. It boils down to looking after those around you - however sceptic or doubtful - and ensuring that, from top to bottom, everyone feels part of the team. This was my approach as Parliamentary Secretary and this will be my way of doing things in my new remit at the Gozo Ministry. I do not judge or classify people, but I need to evaluate their input in the team context in achieving the goals we need to reach together.

On various occasions I have said that one of my main priorities during the course of this legislature is to dispel the mentality that Gozo is always expected to accept whatever is left. I have also declared that I mean to fight the unfair stereotype that paints Gozitans as lazy, because this is far from the case! Gozitans have a great potential of important skills and an ability to learn. Given the necessary direction and tools, they can give their utmost to achieve targets that we set ourselves as an island community.

I want to bring back Gozitans' faith in themselves, and I also want the faith of Malta - and the various ministries and national entities - in us, so that we can continue to prove ourselves. I am confident that the endemic resilience that Gozitan tradesmen and artisans have shown over the years will again lead to a quality leap and deserve the admiration of everyone. 

Among the people

Being among the people is the best way to understand their expectations, besides getting hands-on experience on various situations that unfold in real life around us. The numerous meetings I hold daily with a vast range of organisations turn out to be fact-finding sessions which, in turn, lead to fruitful initiatives. My current schedule includes discussing local needs and projects with all the local councils in Gozo in order to ensure better communication and collaboration with the various directorates with the Ministry. The government's vision for developing Gozo's potential can be better implemented if it is also possessed by local councils which can join hands with the Gozo Ministry in making use of the necessary funds and logistics to realise the action required.  

Another reality is that of more refugees in Gozo, which has become much more prominent in recent months. The need for integration measures was discussed at a specific meeting with the representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in which I stressed the need for structures and collaboration with national and international bodies in order to facilitate the integration of refugees on the island. The situation brings along major challenges in relation to prejudices and exclusion, and therefore work needs to be done to create a context in which no one feels excluded, and everybody feels comfortable in the local community.

The services provided need to be comprehensive and must be focused on addressing the immediate needs of the refugees who live in Gozo. Some are already in place and I thank the Church and other entities who offer such services. During my meeting I also appealed to UNHCR representatives to increase the directness and frequency of the contact related to the realities of Gozo in this field.

Cleaning up our product

The tourism industry is the backbone of the island's economy. Entrepreneurship in this sector is a solid basis which we are supporting further through the specific proposals in our election programme. On a day-to-day basis, I have been conducting a major drive for public cleanliness and am seeking every possible way of upgrading Gozo's natural and cultural attractions. 

Special intervention teams of government workers have been set up to take action wherever they identify littering or are alerted to do so by the general public. They have been given specific instructions and equipped with the necessary tools to intervene immediately. A specific freephone has been set up: 8007 5556, together with an email address: [email protected]. A new mobile app will soon be launched for people to send in reports of littered locations.

Special thanks go to all the workers in this sector, particularly these intervention teams that take up the challenge and stay on call on a daily basis. Their involvement will be available on beaches and other public areas during the summer and their mission will continue in popular countryside areas throughout the winter months. 

Under my watch, the Gozo Ministry will walk its talk and we are determined to upgrade Gozo's environment. The upkeep of public cleanliness is a must if we mean to upgrade our tourist attractions. It necessarily follows that I appeal to Gozitans and visitors to be part of such a drive through their behaviour, avoiding littering public areas and indicating cases of abuse and carelessness. We now have the necessary structure for this and we expect the cooperation of everyone.

Tourism - our backbone

As a Ministry, we are also engaged in exploring new niche markets for the tourist industry, and making more use of Gozo's historic and cultural heritage. In this context I welcomed a very particular meeting I had with the Chamber of Fashion Malta, as part of the activities it had organised - Alta Moda sotto le Stelle - a fashion show by Renato Balestra held in Valletta last week.

The delegation was led by Dr Juliana Scerri Ferranti, founder of the Chamber of Fashion Malta Foundation, and included world-renowned Italian fashion designer Renato Balestra, the name behind Maison Balestra. We discussed the role of fashion in the promotion of art and culture, as well as how the fashion industry could be a valuable tool for local tourism. With what Gozo has to offer, there is a great potential in this sector, promising greater collaboration. They have, in fact, visited various places on the Island, identifying the imposing Cittadella as a very interesting site for future initiatives within an innovative niche in the tourism industry.

History lessons and culture

Through a series of activities, the Ministry for Gozo has recalled the victims of the siege of 1551, a horrific chapter in the history of Gozo. This year I wanted to highlight its importance, as a reminder of the tragedy that happened 466 years ago. I believe that, although it is an ugly episode, it is still a part of the history of our people, forming our own identity and should not ever be forgotten.

Two major events marked this year's anniversary: an exhibition of the work of Gozitan artist Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi at the Cultural Centre and the epic ballad The Siege of 1551, ably written by fellow Gozitan Gianninu Cremona and interpreted by actor Mario Micallef. In my message I stressed the fact that the commemoration was for the Gozitan people who suffered, because those who were supposed to protect them had failed to do so. The siege of 1551 resulted in some 5,000 people - the majority of the population of Gozo - being taken into slavery.

This was Gozo's greatest tragedy and it reminds us of the hardships experienced by our ancestors because they were living on a small island, without adequate defences and lacking the necessary resources. Today, thousands of people are crossing the Mediterranean Sea to escape persecution in the hope of a better life, but our seas can become a grave for many. Remembering these events, we learn about who we are and where we come from but, above all, to understand more about what is happening around us, with a sense of solidarity and fairness and with respect for the suffering, like that of our own ancestors.