September 14, 2020 marked the official launch of the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA), three years ago. This is a clone of the Gozo Regional Development Agency promised by the PN in the electoral manifesto of 2017. The present government opted to give this authority more status in name but not in performance.

Most members of this authority come from various NGOs in Gozo. Specifically, two members and the chairperson of the GRDA are from the Gozo Business Chamber. There is representation from the Gozo Ministry, Gozo Tourism Association, the Gozo Regional Council, the banking sector, and the private catering sector. It’s a closed shop with no external interference.

Imagine a scenario where a diverse group of choir singers volunteer to serve the local village churches. By grouping them together, the regional leader formed a choir with the striking name of the Regional Assembly Choir. Besides the opportunity to socialise, they receive a decent remuneration. There’s one condition for this choir to perform: they must sing from the leader’s hymn sheet. The GRDA takes a backseat to the Gozo Ministry's whims and tastes. It's obvious that it is a toothless authority, unable to bite or bark. 

GRDA launched the Gozo Regional Development Strategy in September 2023, outlining the period from 2023 to 2033 (with one document showing a different term, 2023-2027). They also claim that the chief aim of this Regional Strategy Document is “To serve as a central tool in the development of Gozo, expressing a coherent vision and acting as a roadmap for the next ten years.” 

GRDA refers frequently to the term ‘strategy’ in its documents and reports. This strategy is an incomplete effort, with insufficient details for implementation and monitoring. The objectives listed by the GRDA were based on pure imagination and speculation. This document does not include or consider specific details about decisions related to economic, legislative, and financial resources needed for implementing this strategy.

The GRDA Annual Report 2022 is impressive with its presentation, but its content presents more questions than answers. 

For an input of almost €700,000 in 2022, this Annual Report lists –16 documents comprising: 3 official documents, 1 GRDA Journal, 4 Feedback statements, 5 research notes, 2 surveys, and 1 analysis.

A more cost effective exercise could have been presenting Gozitans with a detailed breakdown of: projects planned for next five years, projects in progress, realistic completion date (on schedule /extended) and actual expenditure (within/above budget) 

Although the GRDA repeatedly refers to consulting stakeholders, there is no mention of the PN Gozo shadow minister. Did the GRDA request the opposition’s views regarding this document? They might assume that this government will always remain in power, so they disregard the opposition’s perspectives. The PN opposition may not be in government soon but they still represent about half of the Gozitan residents’ votes.

The formulation of the Regional Development Strategy aims to: 

·         Promote the regionality of the Island of Gozo and the re-valuing Gozo’s characteristics;

·         Serve as the territorial development strategy for Gozo for the period 2023-2033; 

·         Be consistent with other already established national, EU and global strategies. 

So far, so good.

But GRDA is failing miserably to address the worrying aspects of historical and cultural projects in Gozo.

This Development Strategy document states (p35) –“Aiming towards having the Cittadella declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site”. 

Such a combination of forward-thinking and geniality! Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, why didn’t the GRDA oppose the development permit issued near the Ggantija Temples? 

Both the Gozo Diocese and the Gozo Regional Council expressed their disappointment with the disregard for UNESCO’s guidelines. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has requested the Planning Authority to reconsider this permit. ‘Din L-Art Ħelwa Għawdex’, ‘Għawdix’, and ‘Wirt Għawdex’ form the ‘Coalition for Gozo’, which partners with ‘Din L-Art Helwa’ to advocate for environmental conservation in Gozo. The ‘Coalition for Gozo’ and ‘Din L-Art Helwa’ are preparing a legal challenge against this permit.

Gozo Diocese said that the public is losing trust in those obligated to safeguard the heritage and common good. 

“All authorities, not just the Planning Authority, should strive to achieve their purpose and protect, especially the most vulnerable and voiceless. Employees and officials of every entity within the authority must not succumb to any pressure that may be regarded as an attempt to influence their decisions,” it continued.

The Gozo Regional Council emphasised that “The approval of the development should have involved a meticulous heritage impact assessment, as recommended by UNESCO. Such assessments are vital to ensure a thorough understanding of the potential consequences and to safeguard the island’s cultural legacy.”

A deeper cause for concern arises from the fact that six additional applications or recent developments within the same buffer zone are currently pending or underway. 

The Ambassador of Malta to UNESCO, who is from Gozo and also heads Malta’s World Heritage Sites Technical Committee, has declined to disclose his stance on the recent Planning Authority controversy allowing the construction of apartments near the Ggantija World Heritage site in Gozo. 

What is the GRDA’s position in this scenario? Maybe they are still consulting the Gozo Ministry about their pending reaction! There are moments when silence carries more weight than words.

GRDA highlights the need to conserve and preserve Gozo’s cultural heritage, including historical landmarks and traditional skills and techniques, in their 10-year Regional Development Strategy.

The NGO ‘Ghawdix’ have voiced their concern over the deteriorating state of Fort Chambray and called for urgent restoration.

“We are deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of Fort Chambray, a historic fortress built in the 1750s by the Knights of Saint John. Once a stronghold providing refuge during sieges, Fort Chambray now suffers severe deterioration, clear in badly eroded stonework, fallen bastion blocks, extensive wall fissures, and dumped construction and municipal waste,” the NGO said in a statement.

In June 2023, ‘The Shift’ reported on the dismissal of an appeal against the Marsalforn widening project by NGO ‘Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar’ (FAA). Despite strong objections, the Planning Authority granted a permit for the project in 2021. 

Critics have deemed the project an ‘environmental massacre’.

The road widening project will consume around 11,000 square meters of arable agricultural land and 3,000 cubic meters of soil. The largest watercourse in Gozo, ‘Il-Wied ta’ Marsalforn’, will also experience severe effects of the disruption. 

According to the GRDA, in September 2021: “Minister Camilleri expressed his commitment and openness to achieve consensus and incorporate proposals by ‘Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex’ to achieve a more sensitive design. The project aims to preserve the road’s scenic character, minimise agricultural land loss, tree removal, and risk to watercourses, while also reducing traffic and ensuring road safety, all at a lower cost.”

But the Gozo Ministry has already granted the €9 million tender to its ‘singled-out’ developers for this project. However, two years later, in 2023, the Gozo Minister had still not submitted the promised amended plans for this project, as reported by ‘Din L-Art Helwa’ (DLH).

Can Gozo ever withstand the relentless destruction of its historical and cultural heritage by greedy developers, while these passive guardians look the other way? Caesar, upon realising Brutus had betrayed him, succumbed to his injuries and spoke his famous last words, ‘Et Tu Brutus’.

Sadly, Gozitans must be aware of these few opportunists who might unintentionally (I believe) imitate Brutus. I eagerly desire they may come to their senses before it is too late!