Labour pledges ‘Work in Gozo, for Gozitans’

Speaking during the 'Gozo'-themed Labour Congress held in Sannat, Labour Leader Joseph Muscat said that the Labour party's policy approach for Malta's sister-island would focus on creating jobs in Gozo, for Gozitans, primarily by developing the tourism sector.

Muscat said that currently, many Gozitans are faced with a dearth of opportunities in their home island. "Anyone who seeks opportunities abroad should be welcomed and encouraged. But this should be a choice, not a necessity," he said.

He said that the younger generations in Gozo require a situation that would afford them peace of mind whether they are studying or working. He also emphasised that whenever Labour spoke of its socio-democratic roots, the issue of wealth distribution inevitably came up.

"However we cannot talk of wealth distribution before first talking about wealth creation," he said. "Otherwise it is simply an exercise in theory." He said that the key to wealth creation in Gozo, and the future of Gozitan businesses and families, is the tourism industry.

He said that the tourism industry, across all of its aspect, represents the most socially, economically, and even environmentally viable and sustainable means through which economic growth and job creation in Gozo can be achieved.

To achieve this expansion in tourism, Muscat said that Gozo needs to be better-positioned and promoted as a destination that offers a varied and quality touristic product.

At the same time, Muscat said that Labour will also be looking into the expansion of other industries within Gozo, such as manufacture. "Gozo and manufacture are not mutually exclusive," he said. "We also see a future in services and retail, especially small businesses, Muscat said.

Muscat drew parallels with the first Labour Congress held only days earlier, which was themed on businesses and saw several business stakeholders emphasise the need to allow business to flourish without excessive restraint or bureaucracy.

He said that what Gozitan spokesperson said about the islands' needs match the needs of businesses owners. "Less bureaucracy means more work, and that is something we want to move towards," Muscat said.

He also emphasised that Labour's electoral manifesto would "not simply be a list of promises, but a concrete and cohesive roadmap." He accused the Nationalist Party's manifesto of presenting "a disjointed set of pledges that lack vision or coherency."

Muscat also emphasised that the Labour Party "has switched into listening mode, which is the most effective and important thing we can do for the duration of this Congress."

He added that he PL "has long recognised that the time of political parties as we know them has ended. "We had a choice: either insist on being a political party of days gone by that simply protects the interests of the few, or open up and become an inclusive social movement."

Muscat added that throughout the Congress, the Labour party will be listening to society's 'experts'.

"When it comes to family planning, who are the experts? Families. Who are the experts in the job market? Workers. Who are the experts in the business sector? Business-owners. And who are the experts in the Gozitan sector? Gozitans," Muscat said.

During the Congress various spokesperson stood to deliver brief addresses on what they felt were the leading concerns regarding the Gozitan region.

Monica Farrugia denounced the government's job creation record in Gozo, insisting that opportunities for Gozitan job-seekers were few and far in-between. Several other individuals also insisted that it was socially unjust for Gozitan workers to have to commute to Malta on a daily basis to work or study, and that, through its inaction, the government was allowing the emergence of a 'second class citizenry'.

A spokesperson for the General Workers' Union, Margaret Magrin, called attention to how Gozo is suffering from "double insularity" which affects it across several levels. She also said that the low availability of jobs and educational options are leading to a brain drain, and as a result, Gozo is suffering from an intense brain drain. The spokesperson also spoke of a general malaise in Gozo with regards to general maintenance and investment in the island's infrastructure.

Olimpia Galea emphasised the need for the Gozitan touristic sector to be explored and developed further. She said that Gozo develops a need to develop an all-year-round touristic market, as a seasonal market alone will not sustain the island adequately. She also said that Gozo's touristic product could be developed further through diving and walking holidays.

One speaker, Lino Debono also took the microphone and spoke in remembrance of how former Labour Leader Dom Mintoff helped the lower working classes, and how much this meant to those downtrodden families who needed the ray of hope he represented. He went on to say that in terms of economic performance and other state services, like health, education, Gozitans are "among the first of the last" and insisted that many services and opportunities available to Malta are not available Gozitans.

Marthese Attard, an assistant head in a Gozitan school, said that many Gozitan schools are run down and in desperate need of maintenance, to avoid them become a risk to both teachers and children. She also insisted that the job market in Gozo was in serious need of attention, as certain trades were at risk of dying out. She also called for more assistance to schools when it comes to applying for EU projects and funding.

Xaghra Labour councillor Dr Christian Zammit said that Gozo is in dire need with more direct links with mainland Europe through Malta. Citing the double insularity factor, he insisted that Gozo needs to be put on the map through promotion for touristic, economic, and labour purposes. "We need a fiscal approach that is unique to Gozo," he said. He reiterated the criticism that the Gonzi administration was dismissing the concerns of the Gozitan population "as if we were second-class citizens."