Every year, the GUG organises GOZO WEEK, a week dedicated to promoting Gozitan culture on campus. This year, due to the current situation, this event could not be held, yet we decided to keep up with this tradition by hosting a debate regarding a topic which has been hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons – overdevelopment in Gozo, and its future thereof. This debate was moderated by local TV presenter Mr. Mark Laurence Zammit. The panel was made up of various organisations, namely, Gozo Regional Development Authority, Reġjun Għawdex, Gozo Business Chamber, Gozo Tourism Authority, Din l-Art Ħelwa, as well as Flimkien Għall-Ambjent Aħjar. Chelsea Muscat set the ball rolling for our debate with her very own video on overdevelopment in Gozo, focusing in particular on her hometown, Nadur.
The Gozo Regional Development Authority started off by expressing its concern regarding excessive development which is tarnishing Gozo’s unique characteristics. On its behalf, Mr. Mario Borg also stated that if this irreparable damage continues, the people in Gozo will have a price to pay, both in the short term and in the long term.
Reġjun Għawdex speaker, Dr. Samuel Azzopardi, argued that Gozo’s development needs to be more prudent and respect the characteristics which make up part of our island’s culture. Moreover, he appealed for the need for policies focusing specifically on Gozo, and not just for all conservation areas.
Following Dr. Azzopardi, the Gozo Business Chamber – represented by Architect Edward Scerri – expressed its concern regarding the green-belt between Gozitan villages which at the moment lies at the mercy of developers. Additionally, it stressed the importance of up keeping and upgrading urban conservation areas through incentives aimed at safeguarding their characteristics. Furthermore, the quality and height of buildings are two concepts which must be taken into consideration in a practical manner.
Dr. Astrid Vella’s concerns, on behalf of Flimkien Għall-Ambjent Aħjar were very similar to that of her peers. Statistics show that housing units in Gozo increased by 223%, of which 900 were flats, a rate which is higher than Malta’s. She also stated that 17% of permits issued in Gozo were in ODZ areas. Sadly, such overdevelopment is negatively affecting Gozo’s tourism, a sector upon which our island greatly depends.
Mr. Joe Muscat, representing the Gozo Tourism Authority, voiced his distress regarding the imbalance that exists between self-catering accommodation establishments and hotels, arguing that the current development that is taking place is to a large extent concentrated on private accommodation, rather than on tourism as a whole. He stressed that the end result arising from development must not be assessed on the quantity but rather on the quality.
Lastly, Din l-Art Ħelwa’s representative, Professor Alex Torpiano, declared that the situation in Gozo is a result of the generic Planning Authority policies that have been issued in this regard. He also stated that Gozo’s underlying struggle is that it has not yet decided what it is to be and is currently trying to do all at once. Profs. Torpiano also proposed that Gozo should introduce the concept used in the Italian region of Umbria, where countryside is protected and highly safeguarded to guard its uniqueness.
When asked about the Planning Authority’s responsibilities, together with those of the Environment and Resources Authority, Reġjun Għawdex asserted that the responsibility behind sustainable planning development must not only be attributed to these authorities, but to the general public as a whole which must feel the need to act in a prudent and rational manner. The issue at heart is that we have become too individualistic, ignoring the fact that Gozo’s amicable character is at stake.
The second question put forward by the GUG was related to enforcement actions taken in light of illegalities. Flimkien Għall-Ambjent Aħjar claimed that the Planning Authority must be responsible for regulating such situations, yet contrastingly, this same authority is abdicating its responsibilities, and adopting a laissez-faire attitude. Din l- Art Helwa agreed with the argument brought forward by the Flimkien Għall-Ambjent Aħjar and confirmed that this trait is a common problem in every community, strongly stating that focus must be addressed at preserving Gozo’s quality.
The last question concerned the politicians’ responsibilities in this whole situation. Both the Gozo Regional Development Authority and the Gozo Business Chamber stated that the politicians must represent the public’s concerns and ideologies. The Gozo Regional Development Authority claimed schemes which discourage unsustainable development would be more beneficial rather than having generic schemes which do not differentiate between residential units and other types of development. The Gozo Business Chamber responded that although amending such policies and schemes would be the way forward, such a process is too time consuming. It also suggested that short-term amendments be completed to cater for the transition period whilst major long-term amendments are drawn up. In this regard, Din l-Art Ħelwa stated that politicians must find a system through which a balance is found without the need of eliminating economic development. After all this is what keeps the wheel turning.
On a final note, we all agreed that Members of Parliament should take more effective actions since, after all, they serve as our representatives. It is a must that politicians realize, preferably sooner rather than later, that certain development practices are leaving a negative mark on Gozo, one which will not be easily erased. Besides politicians, local councils must also be allowed to have their say on decisions taken by public authorities; they should be involved in affairs that concern them. Considering the centralisation of power which permeates today’s day and age, it is rightful to agree with the speakers’ proposal that planning and development, should be placed under the cap of regional governance, since the Public Authority’s adoption of a one-size fits all approach, has turned out to be defective, causing irreparable damage to our island.
This debate may be accessed in full on the GUG’s Facebook page. The GUG will now be drafting a policy document addressing this issue of overdevelopment in Gozo. This document will then be published and accessible by the general public and will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.
Finally, the GUG would like to appeal that we all voice our concerns regarding the deteriorating situation in Gozo. Drastic times call for drastic measures and, if the current situation continues, it will not be long before the applaudable actions taken in Ħad-Dingli this week by protestors will become even more common across the islands. Hopefully, we can finally reach a conclusion where the current uglification of Gozo stops once and for all and future development on the island would be sustainable and respects Gozo’s unique character. Gozitans and residents have had enough of seeing their interests brushed aside by the greedy, rich few. Unity is strength and only through such unity will we be able to save our island.
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