I read with interest the results of a survey, which intimated that the popularity of the PN was diminishing and that they are predicted to have lost 10.2% of their vote to the opposition parties in Gozo. This is an interesting if not entirely surprising result as it would tend to support the fact that the people of Gozo are finally waking up to the destruction of their homeland.

The unpopularity of proposed developments at Hondoq ir-Rummien, Ta’ Cenc and Ramla l-Hamra bay, to mention but a few, are finally coming back to bite the Government. The Gozitan people are now beginning to realise that a vote for the PN means a vote for the continued destruction of their island. But even more tellingly, are the effects this Government is having on tourism through their development policies.

I feel qualified to talk about this because I am a tourist. I spend my two weeks holiday every year on Gozo because I love the environment on the island. This Government is destroying that environment. I’m not unique in this love of Gozo’s environment. Gozo depends on its environment far more than Malta does, as practically every tourist who comes to Gozo, foreign or Maltese alike, is drawn by the natural beauty they find there. The continued destruction of this beautiful environment by developers aided by the Government through Mepa means the eventual destruction of tourism on the island.

My message to the voters is a simple one, which I have stated before. The hardest thing to achieve is the initial momentum for change. You have achieved that and must now maintain that momentum and indeed accelerate the process in order to save and protect the most important thing you have, your heritage.

Anyone can tear a hole in the earth and rip apart thousands of years of history in order to build a concrete box, but only you can prevent this by saying no, enough is enough. To do this there must be change and the greatest change will be in how you vote.

Most people vote PN or MLP or whatever because that is the way they have always voted. They pay very little attention to what they get in return for that vote. Present PN voters must now, for the sake of Gozo, ask themselves just what their vote will mean. If they vote as usual for the PN then the answer is simple. Through their front line troops, otherwise known as Mepa, they will continue the destruction of your island and its tourist industry. I cannot believe in my heart that any Gozitan wants this.

What your country needs more than anything else is a forward thinking Government. You need a Government whose primary concern is sustainable development, protection of your historical infrastructure and a wide-ranging concern for the environment. You need a Government who is willing to work together with the various NGOs rather than against them for the good of the country. I don’t need to point you in the direction of any particular party because you know in your heart of hearts which party is going to work the hardest to protect the interests of the Gozitan people.

Many years ago there was an advertisement for the Yellow Pages trade directory, which ran with the slogan, let your fingers do the walking. I suggest the people of Gozo and Malta adopt a similar slogan, let your vote do the talking.

James A. Tyrrell,
5 Lower Cairncastle Road,
Larne,
County Antrim,
N. Ireland BT40 1PG