The pre-budget document contained the customary rhetoric about Gozo, but no alternative economic vision for it. “Indeed the pre-budget document admits to the dependence of the island on the building industry,”said Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Harry Vassallo.

“With this government, Gozo is locked in a downward spiral of political patronage, economic dependency on government employment and environmental degradation resulting from over-development,” said Dr Vassallo at a news conference at the party’s offices in Gozo.

“Gozo can be directly assisted at no expense to the government with the proposal made by Alternattiva Demo-kratika to move public holidays falling on weekdays to a Friday or a Monday,” he said.

Dr Vassallo said that while aiding productivity all over the country, the proposal would sustain Gozo by increasing the incidence of long weekend breaks, which many Maltese choose to spend in Gozo.

AD secretary-general and spokesman for Gozo Victor Galea said: “Alternattiva Demokratika is proposing the setting up of a venture capital fund aimed at assisting private enterprise to create employment opportunities in Gozo by developing its potential as an eco-island. If the political will can be found to take concrete steps in this direction, we have the promise of assistance from Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, who heads the Italian Green Party and is currently Italian Minister for the Environment.

“Such a project could create hundreds of Gozo-specific posts while adding value to Gozo as one of the unique islands in the world. As an eco-island, Gozo could be a national leader in alternative energy, providing an additional visitor venue through an alternative energy centre and creating employment for technicians, engineers and marketing and hospitality staff while driving a campaign to reduce energy bills for every household and business in Gozo.

“The decline in tourism”, said Mr Galea, “has resulted in further unemployment in Gozo and has become a source of grave concern to the community. However, given that it is still an ideal destination, Gozo warrants much greater autonomous accessibility. AD believes that direct links between Sicily and other Mediterranean islands to the island of Gozo, both by seaplane and by catamaran, should be established.