"Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. People who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music and play a sport." - Pope Francis 

This reference to work-family balance has been a constant thread in Dr Joseph Muscat's public statements throughout the recent electoral campaign. The two important elections - considered as a mid-term test for the Labour government - are now over. A massive majority has endorsed the Prime Minister's vision for the coming years.

 The electoral results are historic, eye-opening and humbling. Dr Joseph Muscat's record is simply incredible. We have had a decade of unrivalled electoral successes that have turned a party that was an underdog for a long time into an unstoppable political machine, the likes of which Malta and Gozo had never seen. Landslide victories however bring with them huge responsibilities and this government is determined to carry on delivering on its promises as it has for the last six years keeping in mind the well-being of all Gozitan and Maltese citizens.

Our agenda

Apart from the countless infrastructural and administrative commitments, the Gozo Ministry’s main agenda is to implement and fine tune Gozo’s regional development strategy in order to improve the well-being of the people for present and future generations. Whilst doing so we must carefully take stock of the realities that make Gozo so special.

I am proud of the fact that Gozo produces more graduates per capita than Malta, however, lack of employment opportunities on the island over the years meant that valid, bright and innovative Gozitans have no option but to remain in Malta or venture abroad because of better employment opportunities and conditions. This created brain drain – a phenomenon that needs to be reversed with careful short and long term planning.

Enticing our young graduates to return to the island will attract more entrepreneurs to set up shop in Gozo. A tiny island such as ours is an ideal base for small and medium enterprises and the Ministry is working hard to encourage such businesses to become more efficient and competitive. In fact, a new multi-purpose business hub is being built in Xewkija which will generate further employment opportunities in the near future. This and other initiatives are well supported by financial and fiscal incentives and have already attracted renowned innovative industries that are in turn attracting more Gozitan young workers back to their homeland.

Physical and digital connectivity

Gozo cannot be socio-economically viable unless it strengthens its physical and virtual connectivity. Indeed, this concept has taken precedence in the last year and now a helicopter service between the islands will soon be in place. We have also secured the fourth ferry which will start operating in the coming days and last but not least the much needed extra fibre optic cable is being laid down on the sea bed between the islands will soon be functional and will  drastically improve digital connectivity.

Complementing these three crucial enhancements is the Ministry’s ceaseless endeavours to restructure our road network, regenerate our village squares and upgrade and refurbish the island’s public buildings and spaces. These works are essential for Gozo’s competitiveness and viability. As Minister for Gozo I have taken the bull by the horns and am working hard to bring Gozo’s infrastructure back on its feet after years of neglect and empty promises that left Gozo on the wayside and living off scraps that occasionally  fell from the surplus created on mainland Malta.

The Gozitan brand

As Alice Temperley, the British fashion designer once said, ‘You have to stay true to your heritage; that’s what your brand is about.’ I firmly believe that cultural heritage should be at the core of the Ministry’s planning, implementation and policy for Gozo as a Region. Culture promotes employment and is a very important source of income however, it also has the intangible role of promoting social cohesion through the involvement of the population and is a source of identity  and unity of communities.

The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro, 2006) defines cultural heritage as a group of resources inherited from the past which people identify, independently of ownership, as a reflection and expression of their constantly evolving values, beliefs, knowledge and traditions. It includes all aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between  people and places through time.

Indeed, cultural heritage is a sector of activities on its own. It helps create social mobility and specialised jobs, generates economical growth and indirectly impacts other economic sectors such as tourism, education, innovation, agriculture, the environment, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion and innovation. Such activities are vitally important for Gozo and we are blessed to have such a wealth of cultural heritage that it must be constantly preserved, enhanced and  promoted.

A colourful blend for summer

Notwithstanding a hectic and intensive electoral campaign, the Gozo Ministry continued planning and organising a myriad of activities that will complement the traditional events organised by Gozo’s parishes, local councils and NGO’s. Besides enhancing and further developing the cultural heritage of the island, these activities encourage individual talents and help in the promotion of Gozo as a  year round destination.

There is no denying that Gozo is special. It has a unique intangible vibe that is hard to come by and is an ideal place to live, work, relax, play and be creative. This magical combination is fertile ground for economical growth and social activity.

Under my watch the Gozo Ministry is determined to exploit all of Gozo’s potential in such a way as to create a balance between urban development and the natural environment, and promote a culture of inclusiveness and responsible living so that the island remains unspoiled, open to economic opportunities, vibrant and sustainable.

Two years on

It has been two years since my appointment at the helm of the Ministry for Gozo – a busy journey that has involved as many stakeholders as possible for the sole purpose of bringing Gozo back on its feet after long years of neglect. The results have been encouraging and have given me impetus to work harder. I believe our collective effort as Gozitans to improve and develop our island will ensure that future generations will enjoy a quality of life that is enviable. It will also place Gozo on the map as a success story and an example for other countries who are planning to develop  parts of their country as a region.

Future generations will appreciate our work. They will know that we have done our utmost to enhance the culture that has been passed down to us by our ancestors and will also appreciate our efforts in safeguarding, enhancing and promoting our heritage to such a degree that it is enjoyed for many years to come. We should be well aware of the old adage that says that a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots and this should further encourage us to keep up the good work for the common good and the preservation of our  unique Gozitan character.

Both as a Gozitan myself and as Minister for Gozo I feel it is my duty to put into practice my strong belief that our culture does not only exist in the history books that erect monuments to the nation's grand history. It survives in smaller spaces - in family homes, in clubs and churches, in concert halls and cinema houses, and in our narrow alleys and village squares or in half-forgotten libraries. Our tiny island is as rich or richer in cultural heritage as in any other region bigger than its size - which is what makes Gozo so very special!