The development plan for Gozo as a region, published by the Malta Labour Party “acknowledges the government’s endeavours with the majority of the measures proposed being already, in whole or in part, undertaken,” Gozo minister Giovanna Debono has said.
In reaction to the Labour Party’s policy document, the minister said that for Gozo it “proposes several measures that the Malta Labour Party will be carrying out once in government, but most of which are, in actual fact, already being done, or have already been announced by present government.”
The document refers to European Union funds, saying that these will help in the maximisation of the island’s economic development to reach Malta’s level, when Gozo is today already receiving 10 per cent of the Structural and Cohesion funds that Malta, as a country, has obtained.
On the subject of tourism, Minister Debono said the MLP document referred to the need for a Gozo Tourism Authority which would have its own budget to market Gozo as a distinct destination, again ignoring the fact that through the restructuring of the Malta Tourism Authority, a Gozo-segment has been set up which already has its own budget to market Gozo as a distinct destination.
Referring to the measures proposed under the title of Infrastructure, Minister Debono said that even here, most of the measures proposed are already being evaluated or implemented by the government.
Referring to educational matters, Minister Debono highlighted the fact that the MLP document makes no reference to the ongoing programme of modernisation works that the Ministry for Gozo had drawn up and has been implementing since 1999. Minister Debono said that, for 2006 alone, the Gozo Ministry “is undertaking a Lm135,000 project to upgrade the Xewkija primary school alone.”
Speaking about the health services in Gozo Minister Debono said that it is encouraging that the Malta Labour Party document refers to the service given in Gozo as “good, and in certain areas very good”.
She said that this does not mean the government will stop improving services at the Gozo General Hospital.
With regard to the sports sector, Minister Debono said the Malta Labour Party was trying to take ownership of another project which will improve and better utilise the space at the Ta’ Xhajma racetrack in Xewkija.
With regard to assistance to non-governmental associations such as Arka Foundation and the Oasi Foundation, Minister Debono acknowledged their valid contribution to society and said that government has been assisting them since their inception, through both financial and other means.