“Gozo will not lose its unique character if planning decisions are taken seriously,” according to Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said when asked for more information about his proposal for a tunnel between Malta and Gozo.

Dr Said made his proposal on the subject to the government and while discussions are ongoing, he will continue to appeal for more studies on a way to better link Malta and Gozo.

Although non-committal, a spokesperson for Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said: “The government is open to examine in depth every proposal, including this one in order to assess the viability and the eventual improvement of accessibility.”

The tunnel would be a better link than the ferry for Gozitans who travel for over two hours to and from University or work. A number of Gozitans have even relocated to Malta to find a job. Investors too have called time and time again for a better link between the islands for easier transportation of goods. The services industry too will benefit, Dr Said insists.

“The proposal of an underground tunnel can have its own faults,” he said “but it is doable and has taken place between Norway and the Faroe Islands and Greenland.”

Some of these islands are even smaller than Gozo, Dr Said commented. A number of internet sites also give quotations of expenses per metre of land, he went on to explain.

Without going into technical details, Dr Said calculates the approximate expense, would be around €120 million for a four-lane tunnel between Malta and Gozo. This can be financed by private investors if they see good return over a number of years and may even qualify for EU structural funds.

Referring to a 1972 study by the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency of Japan, accessible at the Gozo Public Library, Dr Said is suggesting this should be re-examined. Back in the early 70s, undertaking the infrastructural project was not feasible because very few vehicles crossed the Channel, he said. However, the situation is now totally different with over one million vehicles and four million passengers a year making use of the ferry.

Dr Said is open to suggestions on the matter but hopes to mark 2011 with a study on the feasibility of having an underground tunnel, which would be a better option than a bridge for aesthetic and physical reasons.

Contacted for initial reactions, Joe Grech on behalf of the Gozo Business Chamber said that a permanent link with the mainland means better consumption and therefore increased commerce in Gozo as it will be easier for students and employees to return home everyday, consequently shopping and living in Gozo. Life will also be made simpler for people who have to travel continuously for treatment at Mater Dei Hospital.

Due to work and travel constraints, Gozo is suffering a brain drain and the population is slowly shrinking, he felt, as parents come to Malta to visit their children on weekends rather than vice-versa.

Noting the Gozo Business Chamber will be further discussing the matter, Mr Grech added that double insularity means extra expenses for businesses, lack of foreign direct investment and lack of fair competition.

The tunnel, he believes, will solve the problem of not having a direct link to the airport. It will also make it easier for Gozo to participate in the EU single market.

Even the property sector would benefit with more people opting to buy property in Gozo having peace of mind that access to the main hospital will be easier. The possibility of creating ICT clusters in Gozo will be more attainable as it will also be easier for Maltese people to work in Gozo if certain skills would be lacking.

Tourism, sightseeing and recreation will also benefit from a more reliable means of transport than ferry crossings that depend on weather conditions, he said in conclusion.

The Gozo Tourism Association has spoken enthusiastically for better accessibility by air and sea in the past yet never officially discussed the possibility of a permanent link since its setting up in 1999. Joe Muscat, on behalf of the GTA said a meeting with members will be called later this week and since the matter has become slightly political, a stand will be pronounced perhaps before the weekend after opinions are heard and the pros and cons have been weighed.

“I laugh when I hear these things,” said Gozitan PL MP Anton Refalo, who thought Dr Said’s proposal could be a vote grabbing exercise.

Accessibility definitely needs to improve but serious talk is necessary and courageous decisions need to be taken, Dr Refalo said quoting Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat. Believing accessibility has dropped over the past 10 to 15 years, Dr Refalo added that the government’s €20,000 investment in a parking had not materialised.

“Action not clichés are necessary,” he added. “I have question marks over this talk for a tunnel.”