Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534722
3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 25 APRIL 2025 NEWS GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 EDITOR: PAUL COCKS Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The paper proposes exploring international models of sub- national island jurisdictions (SNIJs), many of which have achieved improved local gov- ernance while remaining part of a larger sovereign state. "Gozo is not asking for inde- pendence. It is asking to be rec- ognised as a distinct island re- gion with its own instruments of decision-making," the report states. Furthermore, it adds that Gozo's autonomy could operate within a formal, yet non-con- stitutional agreement struck with Malta's central govern- ment—similar to arrangements in jurisdictions such as Åland (Finland), Rodrigues (Mauri- tius), and the Isle of Man (UK). The report stresses that Gozo's situation is unique in the Maltese context. "Gozo is Malta's only officially recognised island region. Its re- gionality is supported by legal precedent, including the 2007 constitutional amendment that preserved Gozo as a single electoral district irrespective of population size." Moreover, the report states that despite the recent creation of the Gozo Regional Coun- cil and the Ministry for Gozo, these bodies do not provide sufficient legislative or finan- cial autonomy. Both institu- tions are administered by the central government and oper- ate within nationally defined mandates. It cites examples globally where there has been a grad- ual shift toward a more de- centralised model that would allow Gozo to manage local af- fairs—particularly in planning, environmental protection, and economic development—while remaining under Malta's sover- eign umbrella. The report suggests a prag- matic approach grounded "in realpolitik." It recommends a national dialogue that includes local councils, civil society or- ganisations, and national pol- icymakers to map out Gozo's future governance model. "The discussion on Gozo's autonomy has matured," the report states. "It is no longer an emotional or separatist plea, but a logical next step in the is- land's development." The report comes amid re- newed debate over regional disparities and governance effi- ciency in Malta. It also follows Gozo's participation as a sep- arate entity in the 2023 Island Games—a symbolic gesture that underscored the island's distinct identity. The GRDA says it will con- tinue to facilitate consultations and research in collaboration with academic institutions and international organisations specialising in island govern- ance. "This is a moment of oppor- tunity," the report concludes. "Gozo must not be reduced to a peripheral outpost. It must be allowed to thrive as a full- fledged island region with a seat at the national deci- sion-making table." GRDA report highlights global island autonomy models, cites Gozo's challenges Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday PASSENGER, vehicle, and trip volumes on the Gozo Channel continued to climb in the first quarter of 2025, with increases of 5.4%, 1.7%, and 9.6% respec- tively compared to the same period last year, according to data from the National Statis- tics Office (NSO). Traffic patterns varied by terminal: Ċirkewwa saw the highest vehicle and passenger volumes on Fridays and Satur- days, while Mġarr was busiest on Sundays and Mondays. January recorded the most trips between Mġarr and Val- letta, accounting for 33.9% of the quarter's crossings. March saw the highest pas- senger count, with 80,885 peo- ple—37.7% of the quarterly to- tal—using the service. Gozo channel sees rise in trips, vehicles and passengers in first Quarter of 2025 Passenger and vehicle numbers on the Gozo Channel saw notable increases in the first quarter of 2025, with higher trip volumes and a rise in traffic across both terminals, according to the National Statistics Office (File photo).