A forbidden autonomy?

Gozo's Government. The autonomy of an island through history is the title of a book published recently by Rev. Dr Joseph Bezzina. The publication triggered a very interesting forum, held at the Circolo Gozitano on April 8.

The distinctive panel consisted of the author, Mr Speaker Anton Tabone, Franco Masini, who lives in Malta but hails from Gozo, and Victor Vella-Muskat, who has been involved with the Gozo Civic Council from its inception.

The forum discussed the governance of Gozo throughout the ages in depth and was chaired by Dr Joseph Azzopardi, a lecturer at the University of Malta.

Rev. Dr Bezzina started off the discussion by highlighting the important periods in Gozo's history during the times it had an autonomous rule. This is evident since prehistoric times, the Ggantija temples serving as an example. Its builders were members of a well organised society.

Mr Masini pointed out the specific requirements of the Island that have to be tackled independently of those of Malta, although we are one nation. The insularity has been and always will be a disadvantage for the Gozitans. History has proved that unless the Gozitans look after their own interests, the island will always lag behind.

At one point, fears were expressed by the audience that the proposed electoral reform may result in the splitting up of Gozo and appending part of the island to another district in Malta. This would be a very sad solution, as it would destroy the unity of Gozo as a region.

Mr Speaker indicated that not only should Gozitan leaders think of the island as a region with its own specific problems, but they should involve themselves politically to that effect. The legal instruments and structures are there. The Gozitans need to work at putting the interests of Gozo and its people above partisan and personal interests.

Mr Vella-Muskat discussed the days of the Gozo Civic Council of which he was Executive Secretary for a number of years. The Council was a good experiment in local government and was favoured by the British Colonial Administration at the time.

What stood in the way most of the time were certain central administration heads of departments. However, the initiative of a number of far-sighted Gozitans bore fruit and the island registered a lot of progress. This was brought to a sudden end when the Labour government decided to sacrifice the institution on the altar of centralisation.

The forum was well attended, and a number of interventions from the audience brought up a number of issues hitherto unnoticed - the regionality of Gozo, Gozo's position within the European Union in the Maltese context, the relevance of the Ministry for Gozo in its present set-up, and whether the time has come to insist on more autonomy from Gozo local councils that can work hand in hand with the Ministry to look after the whole interest of the island.