My strong sense of duty towards my ministerial duties compels me to touch base through regular consultations with all those involved when planning projects for which Gozitans have long been waiting.
From my first days at the Gozo Ministry, I have adopted the same approach to consultation that produced positive results when I had responsibility for the Elderly and Disability sectors during my first term of office in the Labour Cabinet. It was this dialogue-based attitude that led to the formulation of the first ever national policies and strategies in both sectors, together with a long list of related legislation I had the honour to pilot through Parliament.
Dialogue and teamwork
Not only did this help in setting tasks through efficient team-building, but it also led to discovering various talents and expertise, while providing me with a closer recognition of sincere and well-meaning criticism or otherwise.
Results attained during the first few months prove this approach to be the right way of empowering our team at the Ministry and in the many entities that fall within my remit. Experience shows that, individually, we feel encouraged to take ownership of the very projects we plan together and encourage all participants to make the extra effort that makes each task a pleasure to work for. It was this that prompted me to introduce the Ministry's Worker of the Year award as an annual scheme - the first edition of which turned out to be a celebration of the much desired esprit de camaraderie, rather than a stale and cold competition.
Needless to say, public opinion is an essential ingredient in our daily work as it provides a more authentic feedback about work in progress. I personally appreciate people who come up and directly pose their ideas or suggestions, rather than putting on a straight face and ignoring or avoiding the frequent opportunities I offer everyone to raise particular concern.
An invitation to everyone
I am adamant about ensuring a reasonable consultation phase leading to each and every new project or the completion of those already in hand. This was the case with major projects such as Pjazza San Franġisk in Rabat, Pjazza Rotunda in Xewkija and the Marsalforn Masterplan. Similarly, the Proġett Għawdex €3.2 million roadwork programme in many areas for 2018 has been planned by long discussions with the respective local councils, which each came up with their own priority lists.
The consultation process is widely publicised for various infrastructural, cultural, tourist and social initiatives and everyone involved is always welcome to give their input. For those who think that the sum of €3.2 million for roadworks in 2018 is insignificant, for Gozo and Gozitan realities it is not - in view of the very few contractors involved in the sector and also the related issue of traffic management. Indeed, it is the most ambitious roadwork programme ever undertaken on the island.
Gozo among maritime regions
This week I have participated in the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions: Inter-Mediterranean Commission Working Groups and Political Bureau, held in Cartagena in the Murcia region of Spain. The agenda included discussions on the need for cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area in various fields with a view to addressing the challenges of the region and fostering communication, the exchange of information and participation in initiatives and useful projects for the Mediterranean region.
Among the topics discussed were the Blue Economy, sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean and migration management, with a multi-level governance approach: to continue building wealth and job-creation in the region, which is and should be sensitive and essentially important for the European Union. In my address, I reminded delegates of the various initiatives taken by our country over the years and those being implemented locally in the maritime sector, especially with regard to research, innovation and environmental protection.
The Maltese government is aiming to have 30 per cent of Maltese waters protected by the end of 2018, together with a plastics refund scheme whereby, by 2019, 70 per cent of plastic bottles will be recoverable. These environmental measures should help us have cleaner seas and sustainable, quality coastal tourism. I also gave an overview about the coastal and maritime-related projects underway in Gozo and about Gozo's booming tourism and the fact that the island was listed among the 2017 Sustainable Top 100 Destinations.
Since fact that Gozo lies on the periphery of the EU means that it has particular challenges - particularly those related to double insularity, which must be further addressed through better access to European funds. I also included a special mention of the projects being embarked upon by the Gozo Ministry, such as the regeneration of Mġarr Harbour and the long overdue project of the Marsalforn breakwater.
For both Malta and Gozo, human resources are our major asset. We need to have human resources trained for emerging economies in the context of the plan being prepared by government - and specifically through the Gozo Ministry - to sustain our economic growth by creating more jobs for Gozitans in Gozo. Such international meetings also offer a good opportunity for several bilateral meetings with a view to exploring new areas of cooperation between our islands and other maritime regions around the Mediterranean.
Better water management
Gozo will be a direct beneficiary of a €17 million project to improve the management and protection of water throughout the country. This was unveiled during the week by cabinet colleagues Joe Mizzi and José Herrera and it will ensure improvements in the management and protection of water in the valleys, the water table and seawater. The project actually involves representatives from four Ministries, including the Ministry for Gozo.
Through EU funds, under the LIFE Integrated Projects programme, the Gozo Ministry will help carry out the National Plan for the Implementation of the European Water Policy. An important measure in this project involves the establishment of a consultative forum on water management that brings together representatives of the public and private sectors. In real terms, it will include some 27 measures on water conservation and will be spread over a period of eight years, including a scientific survey of around 50,000 homes to provide advice and assistance on improving domestic water consumption.
It is scheduled to include around 85 projects on water conservation in schools, restoring ecological systems in the valleys and coastal wetlands and undertaking a monitoring programme for water quality focusing on the elimination of new contaminants. The project will be a concrete step towards improving the water infrastructure both in Malta and in Gozo. It will be a useful tool for the identification of pollutants, the modelling of water collection, the restoration of coastal wetlands and a survey of our marine environment.
Carnival - another success
Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the Gozo Carnival over the past weekend turned out to be another great success. Around 35,000 passengers crossed over to Gozo during Carnival weekend, with many spending two or three nights on the island, resulting in a very high occupancy rate in hotels and other accommodation.
A most deserving thank-you goes to the organising committee, the hundreds of participants and all those who, in one way or another, contributed to this year's success. I now look forward to strengthening this annual event which, together with other thematic initiatives organised or coordinated by the Gozo Ministry, promote local talent as well as projecting Gozo as a particular tourist destination for specific popular events.
We intend to promote a culture of high quality mass entertainment, including healthy and reasonable satire that does not exceed the limits of decency and respect for all members of society.