Gozo environmentalist candidate says PN 'held back' in promoting him

PN Gozo candidate Luke Said believes the Nationalist Party was cautious about promoting his candidacy because of his environmentalist views.

“As someone who is quite progressive and vocal, I did stick out slightly, so I can understand why the party held back, but of course I would have appreciated it if I had had more support,” he told Times of Malta, adding that Gozo is a relatively conservative district. 

“I was a gamble for the PN, and I think even the party itself didn’t know what to do with me or whether they saw me as an asset or not,” the scientist said.

Still, the new candidate, who failed to get elected, said he felt that he did not receive enough media coverage and, on a national level, could have contributed more in his fields of environment and science. 

"To be fair, I was always invited to all events in Gozo, and I participated in forming the Gozo manifesto," Said added. 

The scientist added that the Nationalist Party leadership never asked him to tone down his opinion or remove any social media posts. 

The 22-year-old activist was one of five PN candidates running in the Gozo district. He announced his intention to run on the PN ticket around a year ago, when Bernard Grech was still party leader.

He dedicated most of his campaign to speaking out against overdevelopment, including plans to redevelop Fort Chambray.

Only he and Norma Camilleri failed to win a seat in the district, which PN leader Alex Borg also contested.

Borg received 12,211 first-count votes in the district, which was still proportionally fewer than in the other district he contested, District 12.

Despite PN rules requiring candidates to keep the seat where they garnered the most first-count votes, Borg, a Gozitan, kept his District 13 seat.

Asked whether he felt cheated of another shot at parliament via a casual election, Said said he had always assumed Borg would keep his Gozo seat.

“I immediately knew he would keep his Gozo seat, because at the end of the day, being Gozitan is part of his identity, just like it is part of mine,” he said.

“If all the stars aligned, yes, there was a chance of making it to parliament, but either way, there were a lot of ifs and buts along the way,” he said, adding that Norma Camilleri had the best chance of winning a casual election.

Said added that if Gozitan voters really wanted him, they would have elected him outright.

‘Impossible’ to get elected on an environmentalist platform in Gozo

Said admitted he did not have high hopes of getting elected on an environmentalist ticket.

“I always knew I wouldn’t get a seat. It’s impossible to get elected on the 13th district with my platform,” he said.

Said said the environment has still not become a top priority for Gozitans, even though frustration around environmental issues, including overdevelopment and cleanliness, is growing.

“At the end of the day, it is not that hot a topic in Gozo, but I think it will be in the near future if the island continues going in this direction,” he said.

He added many admire but also fear environmental activists like him.

“Everyone says that I have guts to speak out, but at the same time, everyone has something to lose,” he said.  

Future in PN

Despite his unsuccessful election bid, Said believes he has a future in the Nationalist Party.

He said the PN’s vision for Gozo would change the economy to promote more environmentally friendly industries, including diving and schools teaching English as a foreign language.

While his plan for the near future is to return to activism and focus on his seismology work, Said said he is not closing any doors on the party.

“I have already called Alex [Borg] to tell him I want to continue contributing to the party. It remains to be seen whether that will mean contesting local council elections, the general election or in some other capacity,” he said.

“I intend to take a small break after this adventure, but I don’t want to jump ship,” he said.