The Malta Labour Party is committed to make Gozo a first class island once again, as the more time passes the more Gozitans feel they are being treated as second class citizens, party leader Alfred Sant said at a Labour Party activity in Gozo yesterday.

“Gozo will be given priority in the country’s administration, Gozitans have to feel that they are one hundred per cent equal to all the other citizens in the country,” Dr Sant added. The MLP leader went on to stress the importance of generating employment opportunities as well as that of developing a plan for tourism in the island. He said that Gozo had huge potential, in both its human and natural resources, but the number of job opportunities had actually fallen and the government had not done anything to rectify the situation.

The MLP leader also accused the government of opportunism, saying it was only interested in winning votes. He said the government was made up of a small clique of people and friends of friends who defended and protected one another.

Referring to the now revoked development project in Ramla l-Hamra, Dr Sant criticized the Government again for its political opportunism, saying that after months of praising the project and its benefits for Gozo, the Government had now found a legal loophole to block the project.

Whilst agreeing with the need for an air link between the two islands, Dr Sant said that the Labour Party preferred a helicopter link rather than an aeroplane link, as the helicopter had a smaller impact on the environment.

Dr Sant went on to say that his party was committed to reducing the pressures of the cost of living and taxes on families. He said the price index was outdated and prices of food and medicines were much higher than actually shown.

He again reiterated that his party would slash the surcharge on electricity and water, work more efficiently and reduce the burden of taxes. He also promised that it would take a zero tolerance stand on corruption.