Alternattiva Demokratika welcomed the Prime Minister’s intention to partially implement AD policy for the benefit of Gozo and its prospects for employment.

AD leader Harry Vassallo said: “The fact that the Prime Minister mentions an unspecified ‘plan’ for Gozo to be powered completely by alternative sources of energy is a tentative step in the right direction.

“Predictably, however, the Prime Minister is following the PN’s old and superficial strategy of trying to totally ignore the pivotally positive influence and unrivalled authority of the Green Party in this sphere of expertise given that it was Alternattiva Demokratika’s publicly avowed vision to transform Gozo into an ecological island in the first place.”

Dr Vassallo added that during the pre-budget talks, Alternattiva Demokratika had already proposed the establishment of a Lm2 million venture capital fund for the development of Gozo as an eco-island, a proposal recently endorsed by Italian Environment Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, who heads the Italian Green Party.

“Alternattiva Demokratika’s strategy for Gozo to be powered completely by alternative sources of energy would 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 is destined to become an international pioneer in alternative energy by the establishment of an additional visitor venue, generating employment for technicians, engineers and marketing and hospitality staff, while driving a campaign to reduce energy bills for every household and business in Gozo,” he said.