Gozo deserves leaders who act not out of political convenience

Il-gżira tat-tliet għoljiet has been at the centre of national attention in recent months.

With a new Opposition leader hailing from Gozo, together with a cardinal and even the President of the Republic, it is fair to say that our island continues to punch above its weight.

For a community making up roughly one-tenth of Malta’s population, the achievements are remarkable.

Yet, Gozo’s greatest limitation, its separation from Malta by a 20-minute ferry ride, is also what has shaped its distinct identity.

Family stories of a more difficult past, often lived in relative poverty yet with resilience and dignity, highlight how Gozitans have long embraced simplicity while building a strong sense of community.

For me, the way forward has always been clear: Gozo must innovate, invest and improve, but never by tearing down what those before us built. Our heritage, our character, and our landscapes are assets, not obstacles. They should be preserved, celebrated, and used as the foundation for future growth.

We owe it to past generations who left us their legacy, and to those who will come after us, to ensure that Gozo remains a place they can be proud of.

This is why talk of towers in Gozo is so misplaced. Whether floated as policy, speculation, or simply noise in the planning debate, the very idea jars with the essence of the island itself. Gozo is valued for its calm.

As a Gozitan youth who has long campaigned against rampant construction, whether as a citizen, through NGOs, or even now as a political candidate for the Nationalist Party, my conviction remains the same: Gozo can flourish, but never at the expense of destroying its own beauty.

It is a belief that I will continue to echo within the Nationalist Party. Against this backdrop, the statements made by the Prime Minister and the minister responsible for planning are deeply frustrating. Their sudden opposition to the destruction of Gozo rings hollow when, in practice, both have actively facilitated the same destruction.

It is impossible to overlook the policy loopholes within DC15 and ambiguities, from the infamous “4+1” rule to the so-called “pencil developments” that have scarred the skylines of our towns and villages in both Malta and Gozo.

The fact that these same leaders now present themselves as defenders of the island is not only inconsistent, but profoundly hypocritical.

At the same time, while declaring their supposed support for Gozo's preservation, these same leaders are pushing forward legislation that threatens to undermine our right to protest and participate in shaping the development of our own communities.

Meanwhile, reports commissioned by the Gozo Regional Development Authority, falling directly under the Gozo Ministry, calling for the protection of government estates remain ignored.

Years later, no meaningful action has followed. Nor should we forget that efforts by the Opposition to enshrine environmental protection as a fundamental human right within our Constitution have also been resisted.

If the environment truly mattered to those in government, they would not shy away from giving it the strongest possible legal safeguards.

This is why it is time to push for the Gozo Regional Council to be given greater autonomy, enabling the island to directly decide its own planning needs, and the chance to access specific EU funds for regional development.

Our local councils must also be strengthened, both financially and legislatively. One way forward is to introduce targeted levies on traffic, construction, and environmental infringements, with the revenue reinvested into village projects.

At the same time, local councils should be relieved of unnecessary burdens such as VAT payments, freeing up resources to serve their communities more effectively.

Gozo can either follow the path of unsustainable overdevelopment, repeating Malta’s mistakes, or it can choose to build a future based on sustainability, identity, and respect for our heritage.

The latter is the only way to ensure real prosperity, not just for a few developers, but for the entire community. It is time to cut the hypocrisy.

Gozitans do not need empty promises or cosmetic declarations. We need action. The Prime Minister and the minister must take responsibility for the policies that have led to this situation and work to reverse the damage already done.

Our island deserves leaders who act not out of political convenience, but out of conviction.

Luke Said

Gozo is too precious to be sacrificed to short-term interests. Its future, our future, depends on the choices we make today. And if our leaders fail us, then it falls on us, citizens, NGOs, and the Opposition alike, to defend Gozo with the same determination our forebears showed in building it.

Luke Said is a PN election candidate on the 13th district