AD sets up Gozo Regional Committee

Alternattiva Demokratika (AD), the Green Party last week launched its first Gozo Regional Committee. Addressing a press conference on Independence Square, Victoria, AD chairman, Dr Harry Vassallo described the establishment of this regional committee as a "milestone in AD's history, as for the first time, a regional committee will be permanently working in one particular district." This also means that Gozo will not longer be recognised solely during electoral campaigns, but thanks to a committed group, we will be dealing with issues affecting Gozitans all the time," he added.

This commitment and enthusiasm among the members of the Gozo Regional Committee is the result of the work and effort of Gozitan AD activists since the party was formed 15 years ago. Anthony Falzon of Nadur and Anthony Farrugia of Victoria both contested local elections since 1996 and since then others have joined the group.

This group of people played a very important role during the European Parliament elections held last June with a campaign which involved street walks and meeting people from all different backgrounds. The result obtained in Gozo by AD candidate Arnold Cassola was very encouraging as Dr Vassallo said.

An organised structure for the Green Party in Gozo was felt and this led to the development of the AD Regional Committee. The members derive from different backgrounds and represent various categories of Gozitans.

Regional Committee spokesman Victor Galea, said the committee was established to provide a focus of action and debate for all Gozo residents wishing to promote and implement the values of peace, justice, basic human equality, and self-determination, in an ecologically sustainable society. Its aim is also to "place and maintain on the national political agenda all matters that can affect or improve the quality of life in Gozo by all democratic means including the achievement of representation in local councils and in Parliament," he said.

Mr Galea also stressed that the committee intends to strive hard to explain to Gozitans the key values of the Green Party. "The immediate challenge of the AD Gozo Regional Committee is to explain to Gozitans that we recognise the need to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance," he said. The committee aims to support economic development that assures protection of the environment and workers' rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our "quality of life". "We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives, and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation," Mr Galea insisted.

One of the committee's main priorities will be to encourage open discussions among those who have the well being of Gozo at heart while recognising the particular difficulties faced by Gozitans in the matter of freedom of expression. The committee will be co-ordinating Green Party activities in Gozo and will play a central role in formulating AD's policies.

The first challenge for the AD Gozo Regional Committee will be a membership drive. "One way of doing this is through personal contact. The advantage of a small island with relatively small communities makes this more possible," Mr Galea said.