In the run up to its 8 March victory, the Nationalist Party included the proposal that Gozo would become an “eco-island”, deriving as much of its energy as possible from renewable sources. However, the Ministry for Gozo is as yet woolly when it comes to how and when this ambitious project is to be implemented.
As part of its 2015 vision, outlining where the PN would want to take the country within the next seven years if elected to power, the electoral manifesto proposed: “We want to develop Gozo into an eco-island, where among others, energy generated in Gozo would be sourced as much as possible from alternative sources. We want Gozo to become a model of sustainable development, also in tourism, built on the identity of an eco-island. Priority will be given to agri-tourism, live museums, traditional craft, countryside walkways, fishing harbours, artisan fishing, cruise liner facilities, facilities for sport tourism as well as Gozitan heritage – with which the Cittadella would be given particular attention. We also want Gozo to become an organic island in the agricultural sector.”
In November last year, the Isle of Wight’s council had launched the idea of developing the English Channel county-island into an ecological haven. Plans included the setting up of infrastructure that would self-sufficiently supply the entire island with low-carbon power. Furthermore, plans included turning the Isle of Wight into a net exporter of eco-friendly energy. Measures considered also included a tidal power and a combined heat and power plant that would run on “gasified” waste. The council of the Isle of Wight had dubbed this project as “the first ever eco-island”.
In its electoral manifesto, the PN had gone a step ahead.
But now that victory has been attained, what are Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono’s specific targets for the project? Would plans for Gozo as an eco-island exclude the development of golf courses and yacht marinas? Is the Ministry, in its plans to turn Gozo into an eco-island, considering taking action against heavily polluting vehicles – such as public buses?
Approached by this newspaper, Giovanna Debono could not answer the questions posed as, in her words: “The Government and the Ministry for Gozo will commission a report which would set a strategy including a critical path analysis mapping the steps needed to attain the objective.”
Nor could the Minister provide an indication as to when the report is expected to be commissioned, nor would it detail any exclusions made to the proposed development of “facilities for sport tourism”, which may or may not include golf courses.
Contacted again for clarification, the minister replied via a spokesperson: “The Ministry for Gozo is holding internal discussions as well as consultations with other authorities and specialised sources in order to be in a position to establish the appropriate technical approach to reach this ambitious target. This will undoubtedly include relative studies which will take into account the possible impacts which certain projects, such as those mentioned in your query, would have on this matter.”

ddarmanin@mediatoday.com.mt