The Gozo Civic Council Fond

Abstract

This study shows the importance of the Gozo Civic Council in the history of politics in Gozo. It was the first form of administration of the present local councils. With his determination and courage Dr. Anton Tabone obtained the permission from the British Colonial Government to form an administrative Council specifically for the island of Gozo. In line with Ordinance XI, Dr. Tabone formed the Council with all the requested committees. Each and every committee discussed with the Council their proposals and important issues which regarded the villages around Gozo and also works that needed to be done urgently in the island. The Council functioned more or less the way politics function today. A yearly election was held so that the members of the Council and the Committees could be elected, and after that every elected member was voted for all the positions available within the Council to be filled. The president together with the vice-president and secretary/treasurer always conducted the meetings. Motions were presented by the members themselves and almost in every meeting resolutions were presented by the committees so that they can be accepted or postponed for another meeting by the Council. Apart from these meetings, the Council and sometimes the President himself had meetings with other departments of the Central Government and also with important figures which at the time served the British Colony or the Government of Malta. Together they discussed important matters that were left dormant before the Council was formed, thus needing immediate action to be taken, for the improvement of the tiny island of Gozo. The Council also had its bank account, where funds were collected from renting and selling of property and lands and from funds received by the government to continue with the projects and to pay its employees. Such funds were transferred from the government departments. Without them, the Council could not materialise the projects discussed during the meetings. It is interesting to note that the concept of ‘civic council’, or even better, ‘regional council’, is actually being discussed again today, since the concept of Gozo as a region is very important and may be the solution for many administrative challenges that exist. With all the problems it encountered, the Council was able to make important achievements for Gozo, and information about all this is available to the general public at the National Archives of Malta – Gozo Section, in the Gozo Civic Council Fond (CC). The National Archives of Gozo is a very important depositary of the national memory where the island of Gozo is concerned. The Gozo Civic Council material was passed on to the Archives by the son of the Council’s founder and President, Dr. Anton Tabone, who also carries his namesake, and at the time served as Minister for Gozo. This material together will all the other fonds found at the Archives is kept in a very good condition by the administration. This fond is not complete and thus one must appeal to the general public to pass on to the Archives any material related to the Gozo Civic Council.