Muscat will cut red tape for Gozo projects...

Labour leader Joseph Muscat would not reveal which “controversial decisions” he has in mind to ensure “sustainable jobs” in Gozo but insisted that “the environment will be protected at all times.”

Environmentalists contacted by this newspaper expressed concern on Muscat’s vague hint that while Gozo’s environment has to be protected, controversial decisions on job creation should be taken “nonetheless”.

When asked specific questions by MaltaToday, Muscat would only reveal that one of these decisions would be “to cut on red tape and not let projects which create jobs on the shelf waiting for someone to take a decision.”

Addressing a Labour activity in the Ta’ Cenc Hotel last Sunday, Muscat declared that he would be prepared to take “tough, possibly controversial decisions,” in the interests of job creation.

“The status quo is not good enough. Gozo’s environment had to be protected because that was an attraction in itself, but nonetheless, decisions for sustainable job creation needed to be taken in the interests of the people of Gozo,” Muscat said on Sunday.

Muscat promises to cut red tape

Following his speech, MaltaToday asked Muscat to specify which job creation projects he has in mind for Gozo and why he felt the need to link ‘possibly controversial decisions’ to the protection of the environment. 

MaltaToday also asked the Labour leader whether his party is committed against major ODZ industrial or tourism development in Gozo.

Muscat’s reply fell short of revealing much about Labour future job creation plans for Gozo.

“Labour will be taking all decisions that are needed to create sustainable jobs in Gozo”.

But in a bid to re-assure environmentalists Muscat added that the “environment will be protected at all times.”

Muscat also said that one of the decisions which should be taken, is 

Muscat also said that efforts should be made to “cut on red tape and not let projects which create jobs languish on the shelf, waiting for someone to take a decision.”

According to Muscat, the difference between the present administration and a future Labour-led government will be in attitude.

“Gonzi and his party are all talk, talk and talk on Gozo. Labour will discuss issues with stakeholders, decide about them and implement them without further hesitation”.

Gozit an developers and businessmen have often complained that MEPA and government take long and procrastinate to decide on particular projects.

In the past two years, the Labour party has sent mixed messages on development projects in Gozo.

The party has expressed its willingness to consider an airstrip in Gozo, a project dropped by Alfred Sant immediately after he was elected in 1996. The project is favoured by the party’s spokesperson for Gozo Anton Refalo, but is opposed by fellow Labour MP Justyne Caruana.

In the past, Muscathas declared his opposition to the Hondoq ir-Rummien project but has not taken a stand on other proposed developments like the constructions of villas in Mgarr ix-Xini.

Environmentalists express concern

Three prominent environmentalists contacted by MaltaToday have expressed concern about Muscat’s statements.

Veteran environmentalist Edward Mallia interpreted Muscat’s words as a cynical attempt to “scrape votes” in Gozo.

According to Mallia, what lies behind Muscat’s stance are the complaints of Gozo developers, like those pushing the massive residential development at Hondoq ir-Rummien.

“While Gozo hoteliers moan about low occupation, they are proposing adding yet more accommodation in places like Hondoq ir-Rummien”.

Mallia emphasised the fact that Gozo has more empty accommodation than Malta.

He also challenged the Labour leader to take a stand on the proposed construction of two supermarkets on agricultural land in Gozo.

“Why did Muscat not complain about the plans to gobble up yet more agricultural land on Gozo for setting up supermarkets, which can be easily accommodated inside the semi-derelict Xewkija Industrial Park, especially in view that there is such a strong development in the food processing industry which depends on agriculture?”

According to Mallia, Muscat’s remarks are designed merely to catch votes.

“As a basis for any serious policy, they are bankrupt”.

Nature Trust President Vince Attard appealed to the Labour Party to explain what it meant by ‘controversial decisions’. 

“Does this mean this will go beyond sustainable development, and by this, would the environment get a low priority in such decisions?”

Nature Trust believes that that Gozo needs a strategy to attract more tourists through its cultural, natural and landscape heritage.

“The idea of Eco-Gozo needs to be further fine-tuned to reflect this island as an eco destination, which would make it unique. We shouldn’t repeat the mistakes made in Malta”.

Friends of the Earth (Malta) chairperson Martin Galea De Giovanni agreed with Muscat that job creation is important in Gozo.

“The interests of the people should come first, and Friends of the Earth Malta has nothing against job creation”.

But De Giovanni expressed his concern that local politicians and entrepreneurs alike are not known to think outside the box.

“Generally, the environment ends up becoming the first casualty of such thinking. This is reflected in Dr Muscat’s comment, where he mentions that job creation has to happen nonetheless”.

The good news, according to De Giovanni, is that both the ‘sustainable’ job creation being proposed by Muscat and the protection of Gozo’s environment can go hand in hand to provide all Maltese citizens with a better quality of life.

But De Giovanni is “unimpressed” by the use of the word ‘sustainability’ by Muscat as this word has been used and abused by many.

“Are we talking about political sustainability, the financial sustainability of a selected few, or that of the environment and the well being of the community?”