The PN will be voting against a bill proposing a Regional Development Authority for Gozo which will be debated in Parliament tonight, arguing that Gozo deserves far more than a ‘toothless’ authority.

In a press conference today, Opposition Leader Adrian Delia slammed government for “relegating Gozo to a second class district.” He said that while government had pledged, in its electoral manifesto, to make Gozo a priority, this authority does not do justice to the Gozitans.

The authority as proposed, he said, has no power and strength, being completely appointed by the minister for Gozo. “This model gives no decision making powers to the Gozitans,” he said, while adding that an ineffective authority has no power. He said that the Ministry for Gozo also had healthcare and education removed from its remit in the past, thus weakening it.

The proposed authority, he said, has no financing for projects and most of the powers will remain in government hands.

The PN, he said, is instead proposing that a regional council for Gozo be set up. The council, he said, would be an entity which would be elected by the Gozitans, and would have more powers. The PN’s proposed council would have executive powers on issues which would affect Gozo, and its development, while receiving EU funding.

 “We believe and guarantee that Gozo will be a priority,” he said, while stating that the PN will be voting against government’s proposal.

Government reacts

In reaction, the government issued a statement of its own, and said that all Delia is doing is trying to impede Gozo's development.

Through the authority, the government said, Gozitans will have their minds at rest that Gozo will see sustainable development and economic growth through a planned strategy, taking Gozo to 2030. The authority, the government said, will have a central and executive role, and will revise this plan every three years.

In response to criticism that no capital projects are occurring in Gozo, the government listed a number of such projects, including the ICT and Innovation Hub in Xewkija, the construction of a Gozo museum, the regeneration of Marsalforn and Xlendi, the regeneration of the Mgarr port, and others.