There is never a dull moment for a government that is fully aware of its responsibilities. While the country enjoys the holiday season, the administration takes no pause. Decisions need to be timely and any time is decision-time.

The recent immigration issues, at both local and European levels, have once again confirmed the constant focus with which the Labour government runs the country in all sectors. The European Council President Donald Tusk himself declared that the EC was thoroughly supportive of Malta in the way it dealt with the challenge, which saw Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reaching an ad hoc nine-nation deal. Considering the complex aspects and diverse stands taken by individual member states, Dr Muscat’s deal is no mean achievement and it eventually earned the clear and unequivocal support of EU leaders.

 

Responsible leadership

Our government has repeatedly reiterated the importance of the fact that the ongoing pressure caused by migrant crossings cannot be dealt with a management-by-crisis approach. Both the EU Council and Commission have repeatedly come up with remedial actions over the past decade, but they all failed to resolve the issue on a durable basis, mostly due to inconsistencies by individual governments. It is sad that a European Union that has been founded and is expected to be inspired by such values of solidarity and cooperation, finds itself with opposing views of the same values.

Frontline countries such as Malta, Italy and Greece – together practically forming the EU’s southern shoreline – cannot be left alone to handle the incessant influx of immigrants. Although we cannot, as yet, think of having achieved a holistic success, Dr Muscat’s ad hoc agreement with nine European governments proves that true statesmanship can bring national leaders to subscribe and commit themselves to a timely and responsible multi-national understanding. The immediate humanitarian assistance – of which our country has given tangible proof all along – should not be interpreted in the slightest as a sign of weakness but rather as a responsible stand and a strong call for a collective and structured political solution.

 

Decisions for Gozo

We are equally committed to deciding on, and implementing what we proposed – and what a clear majority had chosen – a year ago. Together with Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne, this week I confirmed that a new Health Centre in Victoria will be ready in the first half of next year. It is estimated that the project will cost around €1.5 million and will be financed jointly by the Health and Gozo Ministries.

The new Health Centre will be situated in St Francis Square, and will be well equipped with modern facilities. This follows the inauguration of the new District Health Centre in Xewkija last month, through an investment of around € 80,000, as well as the ongoing work on the new hospital project by Steward Healthcare, together with the Barts Medical School.

The construction of the new Gozo Health Centre is further evidence of how the Government is keeping its word regarding strengthening health services in Gozo. Some 180 people use the current Health Centre every day. Structurally the new Centre will be spread over two floors, with a lift facility to ensure full accessibility to all areas.

This is one of the Gozo Ministry’s own projects and should serve as a modern Health Centre to replace the existing one. Being situated in a strategic and accessible location, it will be part of a wider project to regenerate the whole area, with the tender for work in St Francis Square being finalised, together with the completion of work on the steps, all of which should complement this extensive project in the heart of Victoria.

 

Other projects

Despite the holiday season, the Gozo Ministry is not on a pause mode. The works tender for the regeneration of St John the Baptist Square in Xewkija has also been issued recently. This followed a wide consultation process and will give a boost to the village of Xewkija and its residents and visitors, while complementing the surrounding environment dominated by the imposing Rotunda Church – an important landmark 0n Gozo’s skyline.

Through this project we intend to adopt the modern concept of returning such centrally located public areas to the people. The approved plans will enhance the square’s environmental aspect and ensure better accessibility, while giving the necessary attention to the traffic flow in the village core.

This will be another link in a list of projects carried by the Gozo Ministry in the area. Restoration work is already under way on Xewkija windmill, which was commissioned by Grand Master Perellos in the 18th century and is the only one with an octagonal-shaped tower base. In the coming days, work is also due to start on Ulysses Grove, turning it into a family park, with many more trees being planted. Both projects are co-financed through European funds.

Other important infrastructural projects include the rebuilding of arterial roads that are important to the island’s road network. In the coming weeks, a tender will be published for work to be carried out on the roads in the Xewkija Industrial Zone and surrounding area.

 

The social experience

No matter the amount of administrative work within my remit, I have – and will always have – the elderly and the disability sector at heart. Here too, decisions taken when I was responsible for both sectors are paying dividends. It was a joy to attend the Healthy Communities Event organised by Special Olympics Malta in Gozo this week. It was another successful occasion, involving a number of intellectually disabled friends from Gozo, together with their educators, assistants and carers, who visited the Gozo Sports Complex for sports activities and for health screening – Special Olympics Health. The Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP) was introduced to provide more physical and sports opportunities to those present, ensuring that – in the long run – “everyone CAN!”

It is really fulfilling to witness the joy of everyone present at such events. As a politician, I may be used to attending events over which I am invited to preside, with huge crowds around, but I must admit that nothing compares to the personal satisfaction I experience at events for the families of those with a disability. I will not hesitate to say that, with such fulfilling experiences, there is never a dull moment in politics.

 

Gozo volunteers

There is no doubt that the voluntary sector in Gozo is overwhelmingly admirable in various fields of activity. The current festa season may be one sector in which hundreds of volunteers are the real protagonists, even if they do not always take centre stage. Many volunteers are the backbone of other essential community services. This certainly applies to the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps (ERRC) and this week I accompanied President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on her visit to their headquarters in Xewkija.

The President had the opportunity to meet a number of volunteers and cadets who provide various services around Gozo and Malta. ERRC operates an ambulance service, water rescue and life- guarding, numerous training courses, ground and underwater search and rescue and educational and environmental campaigns, as well as other humanitarian work.

The ERRC is a Gozo-based voluntary, charitable and non-profit organisation that aims to prevent and alleviate emergency situations involving people at risk. The Gozo Ministry has already supported ERRC through an Assistance Scheme I introduced last year for NGOs. During the holiday season, with thousands of visitors in Gozo, emergency services even more essential. The hard-working leaders are always keen to enrol more helping hands and anyone who would like to join and assist the ERRC in its work should write to [email protected] for more information.