Gozo Youth Council reacts to the Budget 2016

The Gozo Youth Council is a platform which gathers under its remit Gozitan Youth NGOs and all Gozitan youth, including those who work and study in Malta amounting to over 3000 youths. Its members are both youth organisations based in Gozo and young people not members or active in organisations but have the interest of Gozo and its future at heart. This makes the Gozo youth Council the voice of Gozitan youths and their main representative in civil society.

“GYC welcomes the 2016 Budget…”

GYC welcomes the 2016 Budget with respect to several initiatives that support Gozitan youths and the gozitan economy. The plans and studies for the construction of an airstrip in Gozo, development of the former MDP site in Gozo, and the setting up of an SME Park and digital hub in Gozo are welcomed, with our hope that these will be implemented fully in the coming year.

GYC would like to highlight that the increase of the student accommodation grant, the investment of the Gozo Campus and that for the first time a budget allocation to support the work of the umbrella organisation that represents the Gozitan youths and thus strengthen the role of youths in the Gozitan society.

“Gozitans need immediate solutions…”

On the other hand GYC would like to stress the need of a fast boat service for the Gozitan workers and students who travel on a daily basis. Gozitans need immediate solutions with regards to the connectivity, not only long-term studies and plans. The option of the permanent link should not be the only option to be considered.

A neglected aspect, essential to the Gozitan economy and farmers, is agricultural. GYC hopes that this sector is not neglected in the coming year, but supported.

On the whole the budget is a balanced one for Gozo, especially with the envisaged first intake of students for the medical school next year, the further investment in the Gozo campus and the establishment of an home for elderly care in Gozo. We hope that these varied projects are implemented and more projects considered that take into account the varied skill of the highly educated Gozitan youth population.

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