Eco-Gozo Vision 2015.... Have your say.

The above is the title of a public consultation programme that has been set up by the governments Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono. The document and website were brought to my attention by a friend that knows I am interested in the welfare and future of Gozo, I was heavily involved in the future development of the local community when I lived in the UK.

So what is this all about? I quote - 'Your contribution will help us develop further our vision of transforming our island into an eco-island - a model of sustainable development'.

and

'Eco-Gozo is a concept which summarises Government’s vision for the future of this island. It is a vision which aims at transforming Gozo and Gozitan society into a sustainable reality in its wider sense – not only environmentally, but also socially and economically'.

The government of Malta in the past has often been guilty of failing to recognise that Gozo has different needs and that many of the policies written for Malta are not always right for Gozo, Gozo has different needs, different problems and therefore they requires different solutions.

This consultation exercise is a big step in the right direction, it is aimed at all 'stakeholders', that is political jargon for anyone whom lives, holidays, invests or has any interest in the welfare of Gozo.

I have been involved with a number of consultation exercises both in the community and in my previous profession, and I often find they are either set up so that the politicians involved can say that they have consulted, and then do what they intended to do anyway.

Or they are very well run and achieve a satisfactory outcome for all involved, lets hope that this one turns out to be the latter of the two. Get involved, I am.

If you have an interest or a stake go to the website and have your say.

"I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians". Charles De Gaulle.