If you ask the first person you meet and ask him or her whether he or she believes that tomorrow will turn out to be a better day, most probably the answer will be a positive one.

The reason for this is that we are all inclined to be optimistic about our future. It is a feature that characterise whole communities. It is probably one of our greatest inner strengths, without which the challenges awaiting us will look more imposing.

This consensus about the outlook ceases as soon as we, as a community, start discussing the fine details on how to go about things. Some will opt for inactivity, hoping that external forces come to their aid. These tend to be fatalistic, more inclined to feel insecure and overwhelmed by events. Others will take stock, assess and then take measures to address the challenges.

The latter will see opportunities and are fully aware that planning is a necessity. They also know that planning is a long-term process and the full results will only be visible in the future. For our small island, it entails taking into account both the natural environment as well as social /demographic developments.

As our appreciation of the natural environment increases we, as a society, put more value on it. What was acceptable in the past is suddenly a no-go. What was normal practice yesterday, all of a sudden becomes unthinkable. However, we must also be aware that such ring-fencing has consequences on economic development and in turn economic development impacts our social fabric. The trick is to find the right formula that safeguards both the natural environment and our social fabric.

Time-induced changes impact the environment, our way of living, and our expectations. For example, a nascent tourism industry coupled with strong activity in manufacturing during the 1970s and 1980s contributed to an increase in the number of returned migrants. Newly-found higher standards of living and higher expectations called for a significant investment in housing and other infrastructural requirements – both private as well as government subsidized ones. Young couples took advantage of these circumstances and social mobility became evident. Their offspring were offered educational opportunities which they duly took.

However, for the last two decades young men and women could no longer match their professional ambitions with their wish to continue living in Gozo. They had to make a choice: either furthering their career in the new growth sectors offered in Malta, or giving priority to living in Gozo near their extended family and the support that it offers.

Social trends cannot be suddenly reversed. They need first to be contained and then re-directed. This is what this administration is trying to achieve.

The government continues to fully support the tourism industry – offering new incentives to visitors as well as to operators to invest and train their staff. But in contrast to previous administrations, the government is also re-attracting investment in other sectors to Gozo. The opening of RS2 last year proved this and Barts in the coming months will strengthen this trend reversal. The government plans to do much more. For example, the government is also actively pursuing other investment avenues, while working to create the appropriate infrastructural needs such as the second fibre optic cable (which Malta Enterprise is working on) and a business park. By creating job opportunities in Gozo itself, we hope that this can reverse the trend and give hope to our young people who would no longer need to choose between a career and their extended family. 

Dr Refalo is Minister for Gozo