The pride of a community is in its people. The higher they reach in their life’s achievements, the sooner they are cherished as heroes – and not only by their immediate peers or closer friends.
We have all experienced these thoughts in recent weeks when our young athletes were participating at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. Three young Gozitan members of the Special Olympics Malta team have made Gozo proud, with all three of them winning gold medals at this world class event. What a joy it is for me to start my Sunday piece with a most deserving mention of Maria Pia Saliba, who won a swimming gold medal in the 25-metre Butterfly event, and Carmelo Pace and Giuseppina Galea, both of whom won gold in the Cycling. This was the first time the national team had participated in a cycling event.
World class Gozitans
It is indeed an unforgettable fȇte for the whole country that all three Gozitans – and the rest of the team – have once again firmly established how evident it is that our society consists of people with different abilities. Gozo’s history and cultural scene are already adorned with highly respected personalities who have made it to the highest levels in the realms of arts, music and literature at national and international levels. Our Special Olympics heroes have now widened our Hall of Fame to embrace those amongst us who have braved all their challenges to achieve such a golden recognition in the world of competitive sports.
Heartfelt congratulations go to all the people in our national contingent in Abu Dhabi, particularly Mrs Michelle Muscat and Ms Anna Calleja, respectively patron and director of the Special Olympics National Council. And special thanks go to all the supporting families, trainers, coordinators, volunteers and helpers, with whom I have had the honour to work closely for many years. Our young athletes make us more aware that there are instances where those whom we take for granted in everyday life are in reality our unsung heroes and an immense inspiration to the rest of society.
Our 50-road programme
The Ministry for Gozo is fully on track with its vast ‘Project Gozo’, with ongoing work on several roads around the island. From my first days at the Ministry, I had to take stock of the situation where immediate action was required on areas that had, for long decades, been begging for attention.
Lengthy consultations ensued with experts and planners, the Local Councils, the residents and the public in general and these led to an unprecedented programme of works to the tune of around 50 arterial and residential roads that practically needed rebuilding. This required a diligent exercise through which the Ministry had to secure an increase in its annual budget allocation which has reached a 30 per cent increase for the current year. Strict adherence to public spending procedures is ensured all along the necessary stages.
Work is currently ongoing on many roads around Gozo, and calls for tenders have been published regarding several others in various localities. These have been chosen in consultation process with the local councils in order to prioritise those that badly needed immediate action. It is not just a matter of resurfacing with tarmac, but also includes building better foundations, the replacement or introduction of services and providing more accessible pavements.
Along with all this work, there is also the ongoing need for traffic management and diversions to reduce obvious inconvenience or resulting congestion, thereby trying to minimise air pollution. It is truly supportive that residents and commuters have given their full cooperation, knowing that all the work is intended to result in the better and safer roads that Gozitans have long deserved.
Successful events
The Gozo Ministry’s endless initiatives for thematic and cultural events have rapidly set up benchmarks for popular participation on a weekly basis. Following St Valentine’s Day, Carnival, Dwejra and other events since the beginning of 2019, last weekend thousands of Gozitan families and visitors witnessed two more initiatives. Parallel to the ongoing Gaulitana festival, with its specific and specialised artistic and cultural activities, our majestic Citadel was further exposed to a great spectacle during the Lejl Imkebbes (lit-up night) we organised.
Thousands of people enjoyed over 30,000 beautiful candles illuminating the narrow streets and open spaces of the old city, some forming different shapes and designs. This was the first time that the Gozo Ministry had organised such a splendid event and it will certainly become an annual one on our already packed cultural calendar.
A big thank-you goes to all our collaborators – especially NRGY Events and my team at the Ministry for Gozo – and a big well-done goes to all the artists and performers who provided the much-appreciated entertainment. Heritage Malta also opened its museums and visitor centre free of charge, while other Citadel sites were open for the evening, including the gunpowder magazine, the grain silos and the newly restored WWII shelters.
Pets and families
Sunday’s Pet Fun Day, organised at the Animal Welfare Gozo Section, was another big success, with a great turnout of visiting families accompanied by their pets. It was also a good opportunity for many pets to find a loving and forever home. The Experimental Farm at Xewkija provided the perfect surroundings for raising awareness about animal welfare and all the services provided by the dedicated section in the Gozo Ministry.
With such a great public response, and thanks to my team and the numerous collaborators, the Pet Fun Day will also be established as an annual event: such activities are another way of celebrating Gozo and its people.
Society at large is fast appreciating such initiatives taken by the Ministry which are aimed at providing events that are intended to balance work and play with educational and entertainment aspects. Indeed, our initiatives are continuously reflecting our fellow Gozitans’ characteristic resilience and skills, together with their flair for creativity and success. There is no better proof that Gozitan families are also living the best times for their future!