My Gozo Campaign Team

My campaign team are meeting again tonight. I can't be there. Had to attend some press conferences at the Green Party Offices in Sliema, and give a hand to the candidates of each electoral district in Malta. This evening the deputy leader Mario Mallia will also be the guest on Xarabank. The subject 'should' be employment and education. Yeah it should be on this subject, but those who follow Xarabank are well aware to expect the unexpectedness from this popular talk show.

Had one of my busiest days. Driving here and there. Traffic jams. Rain. Stopping by to buy pastizzi (my today's dinner). Went for the meeting with the Broadcasting Authority together with other representatives of the political parties. Went again to give the first AD TV Sport which again, 'should' be aired daily on the National TV which I pay for from my tax. Don't you too?

But my heart is with my campaign team in Gozo. I'm sure they are working hard to reach out to voters explaining why the Green Party is the best tool for Gozitans. My campaigners in Gozo realised that AD is the best tool for Gozitans....and their believe is inspiring many others every day. Many are those Gozitans who are going to use it!


Thank you. Future generations will bless you.

Job Opportunities for Gozitans (5).

Much had been said that Gozo should be promoted as tourist destination separately from Malta and not as an appendix of Malta's tourist product.

Fully agree.

What sort of action did the government invest in this regard? Any specific budget just to promote Gozo?

Alternattiva Demokratika acknowledges the fact that Gozo has a great deal to offer to the tourist apart from the climate.

Besides agricultural, fishing, manufacturing, tourism and services industries, AD gives full support to the heritage of Gozo.

Older properties could be sympathetically restored to enhance the character of the community - a good number of job opportunities in this sector. Indeed, jobs from the construction industry. And this is sustainable development.

Such a plan should include public transport and the integration of the 48% of empty dwellings in Gozo.

Some money needs to be diverted to cope with the increasing amount of litter which more often seems to be dumped in the countryside.

Job opportunities in alternative energies should be explored.

If these and more of similar points are addressed, Gozo will once again be valued for what it really is.

Please do go and read our 21 proposals for creating new, modern and sustainable jobs in Gozo by clicking here.


Watch an AD Press Conference on "More effort needed to create jobs in Gozo" :

X'qed jigri fid-Dwejra?

Ilhom jistaqsuni x'qed jigri fid-Dwejra Ghawdex.

Kont smajt li n-Nature Trust (NT) akkwistat fondi mill-Ewropa sabiex tizviluppa l-inhwi tad-Dwejra Heritage Park. Dak iz-zmien kien ghadu qed jigi ffurmat il-Kumitat Regjonali ta' l-Alternattiva Demokratika f'Ghawdex. Kont tlabt laqgha man-NT sabiex inkun infurmat bil-pjan. Gentilment in-NT iltaqghu maghna u ghamlulna presentation tassew informattiva. Il-partners dak iz-zmien kien ghadhom in-NT u l-MEPA. L-idea li l-inhawi tad-Dwejra jkunu protetti ghogbitni hafna. Id-Dwejra nhobbha.

Sa minn mindu kont ghadni qrempucu kont niftakarni nirkeb fil-karru tal-brumi ma' xi wiehed minn huti l-kbar. Ommi kienet tlesti bixkilla hobz biz-zejt u t-tadam u fil-kumplament tal-karru kont issib qabda dulliegh u bettieh. Mur xebbaghhom 9 t'itfal!?

Allura mill-Gharb konna nerhula ghad-Dwejra bil-brumi u nqattghu gurnata shiha l-bahar.

Hafna mill-girien taghna kellhom kamra fil-Qawra - dik il-parti tad-Dwejra fejn hemm l-ghar. Ahna kamra ma kellniex u allura konna nfittxu l-kenn tad-dell tal-blat fiz-Zirka - hdejn it-Tieqa tad-Dwejra. Kien ikun hemm il-frisk.

Ghandi memorji sbieh....il-qabri, l-imhar, rizzi u mbaghad fil-hofra tal-bidwin kont issib l-isbah gharusa!

Insomma...

Nergghu nigi ghal dan l-imbierek park tad-Dwejra. Kont tlabt lin-NT sabiex izommuni infurmat meta kellhom jaghmlu xi konsultazzjoni pubblika mar-residenti.

L-ewwel laqgha pubblika saret fl-NGO resource centre hdejn ic-Cimiterju tax-Xewkija. Mort. Kien hemm kocc nies mill-Gharb u San Lawrenz. Il-prezentazzjoni kont rajtha, imma ma ddejjaqtx nerga naraha. Interessanti kienu l-mistoqsijiet mir-residenti.

Wiehed staqsa:
"Imma meta nbniet il-kamra taghna ma kellniex bzonn permess dak iz-zmien. Issa x'ser jigri?
L-iehor:
"Allura issa mank nassa ma tista titfa' l-bahar?"
l-iehor:
"Tghidulix li ma nistax immur nonsob aktar minn fuq il-port tad-Dwejra."
l-iehor:
"Ghax ma tarawx il-barrieri llegali li hemm fl-inhawi tad-Dwejra, mela se taqbdu mall-mutla tal-konkos li ghamilt quddiem il-kamra biex inkun nista' ntella u nnizzel id-dghajsa?"

u mitt mistoqsija ohra.

Indunajt kemm l-Ghawdxin ma joqghodux lura meta tolqothom fil-laham il-haj. Dik il-laqgha ghaddiet. Niftakarni naghti parir lil tan-NT sabiex jorganizzaw aktar laqghat fil-lokalitajiet ta' San Lawrenz u l-Gharb u widdibt sabiex ma' jdahhlux lis-sindki jew politikanti fl-immanigjar tal-progett.

Saru diversi laqghat ohrajn.

Attendejt ohra li saret fis-sala ta' l-iskola primarja ta' San Lawrenz.

Gibt ghajnejja wara widnejja.

Nara zewgt sindki Nazzjonalisti mdawwrin b'qabda nassaba. Is-Sindki jinkuragguhom jidhlu fis-sala. Dawk li gew minn Kercem poggew mas-sindku taghhom fuq quddiem nett. Jien bqajt bil-qieghda fuq wara nett. F'qalbi ghidt...'gej in-****'.

U hekk kien.

Min ighid li ghandu bicca raba 'l hawn li ma jridx tkun inkuza fil-park ghax ikun iridha ghall-insib. Min iwissi li ghandu bicca ghalqa imhallsa cens u ma jridx icediha, min ighid li ilu jonsob hemm is-snin u ha jgennuh jekk ma jhalluhx aktar jonsob. (U hawn is-sindku qabez jiddefendi l-hobby tal-votanti tieghu). Dawk li soltu jinzlu bil-karozza jew landrover bezghu li ma jistghux jinzlu aktar bil-makkinarju fil-Qawra. Insomma min ighid haga u min ighid ohra. Niftakar li kien hemm hafna oggezzjonijiet ghall-istrutturi ta' bini bhal 'visitor's centre' li kienu qed jipproponu. Kien hemm min qal li jekk it-Torri tad-Dwejra jkun uzat bhala visiotr's centre ikun bizzejjed - m'hemmx ghalfejn tinbena struttura ohra.

Imma l-aktar li personalment taghni ghafsa ta' qalb kien meta thabbar li ser jigi ffurmat id-Dwejra Steering Committee iffurmat minn raprezentanza tal-Ministru ghal Ghawdex, mill-MEPA, mill-Kunsill ta' San Lawrenz u n-NT. Arawhom xbin :)

Ergajt ftakart fit-thassib tieghi li tkun hasra li tidhol il-politika f'dan il-progett ukoll.

Ghal zmien twil ma smajt xejn aktar dwar l-imbierek progett tad-Dwejra.

Ricenti pero' kelli stedina minn NT rigward ktieb li ppubblikaw dwar il-heritage park tad-Dwejra. Ma gejtx misteieden bhala Alternattiva Demokratika izda bhala ic-chairman ta' l-Ager Foundation. Mort u xtrajtu. Ktieb bellezza. Nirrakkomandak. Smajt ukoll li fit-Torri tad-Dwejra gie mpjegat persuna speci ta' green warden.

Imbaghad ma smajt xejn aktar hlief aktar recenti l-Kumitat Regjonali ta' l-Alternattiva Demokratika - Ghawdex, bdejna nircievu qabda e-mails u telefonati anonimi dwar 'tahwid li qed isir fid-Dwejra'. Bhal kull e-mail anonima ohra, dawn gew mitfugha fir-recycle bin minnufih. Bhalma jien ma nibzax mill-verita', nippretendi li min m'ghandux dnub m'ghandux minn min jisthi. Qatt ma' blajt lill-hadd....la bil-hobz u lanqas b'xejn.

Illum jien ukoll flimkien mal-Kelliem ta' l-Alternattiva Demokratika ghall-izvilupp Sostenibbli il-Perit Carmel Cacopardo, ninghaqad mal-NGOs ambjentali Birdlife Malta, Din L-Art Helwa, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Nature Trust (Malta) u Ramblers Association fil-kundanna taghhom ghall-vandalizmu ricenti fid-Dwejra Ghawdex.

Il-hsara m'hi tajba ghal hadd. Jekk hemm xi rabja , din tista' tigi ndirizzata mod iehor. Il-vandalizmu huwa manifestazzjoni ta' xi hadd jew xi whud li qed jibza'. Biza' minn xhiex? Min min? Kemm ser indumu nghixu f'sistema fewdali? Fit-8 ta' Marzu ser issir elezzjoni generali f'Malta u anke f'Ghawdex.

Zgur li 'l quddiem ser nisimghu aktar dwar id-Dwejra...

Australian - Gozitan Connections

Illum fuq il-facebook tieghi, wiehed mill-messaggi huwa m'ghand certa Marlene Galea mill-Awstralja li ghandha konnessjonijiet ma' Ghawdex. Vera hadt gost. Marlene kienet Ghawdex m'ilhux u ghamlitli xi ntervisti ghal fuq l-SBS Radio (Australia). Tista' tisma' din l-intervista jew din l- intervista dwar il-Fondazzjoni li mmexxi jien u x-xoghol li hloqt marbut ma' l-agro u l-eko turizmu f'Ghawdex. Anke kont laqqajtha ma' xi bdiewa u hadet numru ta' intervisti ohra.


Kitbitli hekk:

"L-ewwelnett awguri - ser issir papa'! Awguri lilek u lil Miriam. U x'tahseb bl-elezzjoni? ikun hemm bidla jew il-PN jibqa'? Kif qed thossu bhala AD - innutajt li tajtu hafna priorita' lil Ghawdex - thossu li l-kampanja tirrizulta f'aktar voti u fingers crossed, rapprezentanza fil-parlament?"

Wegibtha hekk:

Ghaziza Marlene,

Grazzi ta' l-awguri.

Ninsab ecitat li ser insir papa' :)

Dwar l-elezzjoni nahseb u nhoss li dan hu zmien ta' bidla fejn ghall-ewwel darba ser ikollna Alternattiva f'koalizzjoni ma' partit iehor sabiex jigi ffurmat Gvern li jahdem fl-interess tal-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin kollha. B'hekk ma jibqalniex aktar Gvern Nazzjonalista jew Gvern Laburista. Ser ikollna Gvern Malti! Ser insiru tassew Ewropej.

Dwar il-kumment tieghek li l-AD tat hafna importanza lil Ghawdex huwa fatt.

Huwa rizultat ta' l-impenn li Alternattiva trid issalva lil din il-gzira sabiha minn halq l-ilpup li jridu jibilghu kollox wahedhom.

Gharafna li l-ekonomija t'Ghawdex tiddependi mis-sbuhija tal-gzira taghna.

Gharafna li l-Ghawdxin huma nies habrieka u huma kburin li huma Ghawdxin.

Gharafna li s-sistema fewdali ta' favuri u pjaciri lill-hbieb tal-hbieb mhux qed tahdem fl-interess t'Ghawdex.

Nafu li l-Ghawdxin ma jridux min jigdbilhom jew jidhaq bihom. Iridu politika gdida u nadifa.

Nistiednek tidhol fil-website tieghi u taqra aktar dwar il-propsti ('l fuq minn 100) specifikament ghal Ghawdex.

Zgur li l-Alternattiva Demokratika f'Ghawdex ser ikollha rizultati li qatt ma' kellha bhalhom qabel. L-Ghawdxin indunaw li jistghu juzaw lill-AD bhala l-aqwa ghodda taghhom ghax jafu li ahna biss lesti li nahdmu fl-interess t'Ghawdex u mhux fl-interess tal-partit.

Nixtieq nikteb dwar ir-rispons tajjeb immens li qed insib meta familji Ghawdxin jistidnuni mmur niltaqa' maghhom bhala l-Kandidat li hiereg f'isem Alternattiva. L-Ghawdxin ghandhom ghatx kbir biex ikunu jafu il-verita' dwar il-vantaggi u l-izvantaggi tas-shubija fl-EU. L-Ghawdxin jafu li ahna qatt ma' dhaqna bihom.

Illum gie fuqi wiehed kaccatur. Nafu. Kif resaq fuqi ghidt f'qalbi 'dan biex gej!?'.

Aqta x'qalli?

"Jien Kaccatur. Qatt ma hmilt lill-Alternattiva. Imma ibqa' cert li din id-darba ha nivvota ghalik"

"Sieheb" ghidtlu jien. "Inti taf li jien ma naqbilx mall-kacca fir-Rebbiegha".

"Ghalhekk ser nivvutalek. Ghax naf li intom ta' l-Alternattiva QATT ma dhaqtu bina l-kaccaturi n-nassaba. Dejjem ghidtu l-verita'. Nahlef fuq ruh ommi li n-Number 1 ghalik."

Imbaghad kompla ighidli....

"Pero' imbaghad it-2 ul-kumplament ser inkompli fuq il-partit tal- (none of your business), ghax il-barba (ziju) tal-mara hiereg ukoll ghal pulitka"

"Grazzi" ghidtlu jien.

"Isma' huj, ara ma tmowrx issemminej ma' xa hadd tofx"

"Serrah rasek sieheb"

U ser inzomm il-kelma.....mhux ser nghid min hu.


Bil-haqq lill-Marlene ghidtilha ssellili ghall-5 huti u l-familji taghhom li ghandi f'Sydney.

Naqblu. Iva, koalizzjoni hija possibli.

Il-bierah ircevejt SMS m'ghand kandidat tal-PN li bhali hiereg fuq id-distrett t'Ghawdex. Pero' dan hiereg taht il-bandiera tal-PN. Mhux l-ewwel darba li rcevejt SMS minn ghandu. Fil-Milied ukoll ircevejt xewqat sbieh. Hadd gost. Dak iz-zmien ma rrispondejtx lura l-SMS bhalma naghmel is-soltu. Probabli ghax kont imhabbat. Imma l-bierah, meta rgajt ircevejt l-SMS minn ghandu hassejt li ghandi niktiblu lura.

Kull darba li nipprova nikteb l-SMS, idoqqli l-mobile u allura l-SMS jithassar. Ergajt ippruvajt u gara l-istess. Qbadt u cempiltlu.

Imma ha nghidilkom ghaliex. Ghax fil-messagg li bghatli kiteb hekk:

'Illum bdiet il-kampanja elettorali.
Ejja nitkellmu dwar dak li jghaqqaddna -
ix-xewqa li naraw Ghawdex dejjem ahjar.
Iva flimkien kollox possibbli'


U allura kelli ragun nirrispondih, mhux hekk?

X'ghidtlu?

"Aw sieheb. Grazzi ta' l-SMS"

"Min int?"

"Jien Victor"

"Victor Min"

"Victor Galea"

"Victor Galea bhalissa?"

"Jien Victor Galea ta' l-Alternattiva. Mill-Gharb..."

"Aw Vic!"

"Naqbel Naqbel"

"Dwar xhiex?"

"Li flimkien kollox possibli hux."

U bqajna nirragunaw ftit insomma. Jien awgurajtlu u hu awgurali l-istess.

Tassew flimkien kollox possibli. Imma flimkien min?

Flimkien ifisser tal-PN u tal-qalba?
Flimkien ifisser tal-Lejber u tal-qalba?

Jew inkella flimkien il-Maltin kollha...huma min huma?

Ninsab cert li int li qed taqra tixtieq li xi darba naslu biex ikollna Gvern Malti u mhux Gvern Nazzjonalista jew Gvern Laburista.

U ha nghidlek...

Iva dan huwa possibbli.

Bil-vot tieghek lill-Alternattiva tista' iggib bidla ta' veru fi tmexxija ta' Malta. Jibda jkollna Gvern ta' koalizzjoni u mhux aktar gvern immexxi minn partit wiehed li jahdem flimkien man-nies ta' gewwa.

Bil-vot tieghek lil Alternattiva jkollna Gvern Malti li jgib lill-Maltin u l-Ghawdxin kollha jahdmu flimkien fl-interess tal-pajjiz u mhux tal-partit.

Naqblu. Dan hu possibli bil-vot tieghek lill-AD.

Grazzi

Puppets on a string ?

I read on today's Sunday Times a very short report on the discussion of the annual general meeting of the Gozo Business Chamber.

It is reported that the Gozo Channel transport service between Sa Maison and Mġarr harbour came up for discussion during the annual general meeting of the Gozo Business Chamber last Sunday.

Due to various reasons this service has been reduced to three from five times a week, or sometimes just twice a week.

Businessmen attending the meeting expressed concern over this issue which is of utmost importance not only to those businessmen using this service but also to the whole Gozitan economy.

The chamber held various meetings with Gozo Channel and the ministries concerned, but a solution is still far off though meetings are still going on. (Who? Austin? Giovanna?)

Come on! Stop playing the part of the 'victims'. Do work for the interest of Gozo and not to please your '(R)oyalties'.

Did you ever hear the Gozo Business Chamber effectively criticizing the present administration? Ever read this on the local TV stations or printed media?

No.

On the other hand...

Did you ever hear the Gozo Business Chamber proclaiming praises to the present administration after each budget speech during the last years?

Yes.

Can somebody tell me why?

It is reported that at the end of the meeting, the outgoing president, Michael Caruana owner of Fort Chambray (click photo on the left), thanked all the members for the hard work and sacrifices they made to promote the chamber and the good work it is doing for the Gozitan community.
Nice.

Watch, hear u xarukaza

During the past week both The Times of Malta and the Malta Independent reported concerns from active and responsible citizens about the sorry state of affairs in Gozo. I really feel sad when I read such letters to the editors. Not because these respectful individuals are creating public awareness of the shabbiness on Gozo; but because, week after week, month after month and year after year and no drastic actions are taken in order to stop illegal dumping in our countryside.

Rightly so, the correspondent expressed her concerns over this sorry state of affairs and said: "It is mind-boggling that in such a small community nobody hears or sees anything and if they do their lips are sealed. A typical case of hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil! It is simply not possible that the total population of Malta and Gozo are blind, deaf and dumb!"

However, I would like to make it public here that there are many of us Gozitans who are proud of our island. Indeed, we are aware that the need to protect our environment benefits the economy of the island and is essential to our livelihood.

Could it be that Gozitans refrain from reporting abuses because their report of abuse is not taken seriously by the police? Or could it be that the individual making the report has no form of protection from those few bullies who, because they enjoy the favour of certain politicians, think that they are above the law and therefore can act with impunity?

For sure we have ministers and MPs looking the other way while giving us a smile.

A feature on the print media lately was by the Gozo-lover Malta Independent journalist Francesca Vella. The focus Illegal dumping – Gozo’s silent killer (TMID 18 January). Click the link. I highly recommend it.

I like it and I'm happy we have a journalist with a backbone at Independent Malta.

Job Opportunites for Gozitans (4)

I fully recognize that an important characteristic of the economy of Gozo is its dependence on tourism. Being a Gozitan myself, I am also aware of the challenges Gozo faces in this regard and would like to share with you what I envisage as some possible creative solutions.

Gozo attracts many thousands of Maltese visitors and about half a million international tourists (mostly day-trippers) yearly. The four main types of tourists visiting Gozo, namely:
(a) international tourists who spend most of their visit in Gozo,
(b) international tourists who visit Gozo as day-trippers,
(c) Maltese visitors who visit Gozo for a few days annually and
(d) Gozitan emigrants, who sometimes stay in Gozo for a few months, mostly in summer.

The main challenge within the tourism industry in Gozo relates to seasonality. For instance, the bulk of tourists visit Gozo during the summer months, and this gives rise to seasonal fluctuations, with a very high level of demand in summer and very slack demand in the winter and colder months.

One needs to realize that the prices of the tourist establishments and tourist services has gone up, while standard of services still leaves much to be desired. From a Green perspective, I look at the tourist industry from a much wider perspective than the traditional politics which seem to be stagnated, perhaps because it is more preoccupied in exploiting this sector from a conventional approach. Unfortunately and sadly I still hear people saying that tourists visit our island because of the sun and sea. Such comments show that these people have no idea about the effects of climate change even in the tourist industry. They still think that only Malta and Gozo got the fine weather.

Hence I believe that we need urgently to move from conventional tourism and develop niche market tourism such as eco-tourism, agro-tourism, bird-watching holidays, walking holidays and adventure tourism, culture and heritage holidays, religion holidays, wellness holidays and marine eco-tourism amongst others. Please do click on these links and see the wide range of job opportunities related to such initiatives. These and other can all offer creative solutions to develop this sector and create a range of job opportunities for Gozitans and address the seasonality issue.

The ideas are there. What is needed is the political will. Where is that? I know. You know.

I'm happy to share some other ideas with you soon....then let's call it Job Opportunities for Gozitans (5).