In I Promessi Sposi there is a story that brings to my mind the arguments raised about the advancement of Gozo. In those times, the plague gripped that part of Italy. But Don Ferrante, a learned man, denied that the pestilence was contagious and advanced many nice arguments.

In the realm of nature there are two species of things, he said, substances and accidents. Substances can be either material or spiritual. That the pestilence is spiritual, everyone denies. Material substances can be compound or simple. He concluded that it is not simple because it does not belong to the realm of earth, wind, fire or water. Neither is it a compound substance, since it would have been sensible to touch or sight.

Now let's see if it is an accident, he continued. He said it had to be a transitive accident to be transmitted, but in philosophy these two words: a transitive accident, are at variance; an accident cannot be transmitted.

So Don Ferrante concluded that the plague was not contagious. He asserted that it was brought about by the conjunction of stars.

So he took no precautions, contacted it, took to his bed and died.

Poor Don Ferrante: All his neat arguments did not save him from death.

Are the nice arguments advanced by the government, MEPA and the developers helping Gozo? I think not.

They say nice things to justify their actions: to bring work to Gozo, to increase the quality of life, and so on, but in my view it is more to fish for your votes, so that they become rich, and so on.

Let me point out some things at variance with what they are saying:

A direct air link from Luqa airport to Gozo is still missing, when doubling the airstrip at the Gozo heliport would be enough for fixed winged aircraft. This would not entail ruining the environment since the airstrip would be extended in what is now an area filled with rubble.

The public transport is quasi non-existent. Could not a more frequent minibus service from the afternoon till late at night and to all locations be more in tune with Gozo?

Let us not forget that this is a public service that is not being provided. It would serve the needs of students going to private lessons, those who wish to go to Malta, and those who would like a night out without using their cars.

There is a great threat to the natural environment that is not being addressed. Either MEPA or the Structure Plan is sanctioning development outside the development zone!

For example: The villas and habitations in the proposed Ta, Cenc development. I am against this development because on one side they would be built down a slope and on the other they would extend into an area not yet developed.

The argument is that without development, work will not be created in Gozo. But the villas and habitations will not generate tourism since they will end up being sold like the other villas before them. And what about the big area that is still not designated for use? I hope it will not be a golf course in the future.

To build ODZ to attract tourists is crazy. We are slowly ruining Gozo. In my view it is bad decisions that are not bringing tourists to Gozo. Why does Gozo have only day tripper tourists who come to Gozo at 10 in the morning and go back at four in the afternoon, and who are on guided tours?

Why were Mgarr Hotel and Andar Hotel turned into apartments? They should have been left as hotels. Having been built outside development zone, at least let them generate work for Gozo by leaving them as hotels.

And is Gozo being advertised as a separate tourist destination? And what about the air link from the airport and the public transport just mentioned above?

And will the crystal clear sea of Hondoq succumb to the sewage of the yachts? Is it not better that the ruined cliff side be landscaped and not built. A whole village ODZ!!

If we ruin our natural environment, we ruin it forever. Our quality of life will suffer, Gozo will not remain a quality tourist destination and the beauty of Gozo will be dimmed forever. Then we will name a street Carob Street where once it was full of carob trees and is now full of tarmac, or Triq is-Seqer where this bird once perched and nested and now storeys of houses perch and dominate.

Joe Portelli

NADUR