When the Malta-Gozo tunnel is built, there will be buses from Malta going straight to destinations in Gozo and they will be completely free, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced today.
He was speaking during a political meeting held at the Centru Laburista in Victoria.
From his words it is clear that the decision about the tunnel has already been taken (the tunnel idea was proposed by the PN and formed part of the electoral manifestos of both parties).
To criticism that his government seemed to have slept on the project, Dr Muscat replied that constructing the tunnel is the easy bit and can be done in three years. What took longer was holding consultations and mapping out the entire project.
In this regard, he expressed some scepticism on the metro concept that would restrict use of the tunnel to just just a metro. A metro would require a far larger number of patrons to be viable, so people urging a rethink of the whole concept because the tunnel would attract far more people and cars to Gozo need to think again, he said. The tunnel must not be a burden on the taxpayer.
There may be a time when an entire metro system for Malta becomes possible, but before that the roads of Malta must be made better, hence the government plan to redo all Malta's roads in seven years, costing some €700 million.
Up till then the transport system must be improved also with a fast ferry, more Gozo Channel ships and the like.
It was in this context that Dr Muscat announced there will be special buses using the tunnel which will take people directly from for example Mater Dei Hospital to Victoria and avoiding people having to descend and get on to the ferry, as happens now. The same will apply to people in Gozo who have an appointment at Mater Dei. There will also be buses going directly from Gozo to the airport.
Similarly, there could be buses taking Maltese passengers who leave their cars in Malta and get taken to Victoria or elsewhere in Gozo. And all these rides will be free for all passengers, he announced.
The Governor of the Central Bank has recently compared Malta's growing economy to an old car that cannot rustle up speed. That is why upgrading Malta's infrastructure must become a national priority, in all areas such as in education, health and also the physical infrastructure.
In the last election, Gozo had showed a strong desire to change. A previous PN government had introduced a minister for Gozo but some people do not want to see Gozo move on as Malta did. This government is changing the mentality and Gozo and Malta must have the same rights, including as regards job creation.
Some warn Gozo ill end up full of buildings so they want Gozo to remain as it was and the Gozitans to continue living as they used to live. But it is possible for Gozo to get sustainable development and remain the beautiful island it is.
He gave some examples: a head of state has told him about a friend of his who set up a small company in Gozo in a small apartment and with Internet connection and is very happy in Gozo and has employed people.
Another company which opened up in Gozo is RS2. Yet another is a Google-related company. The government is spending €10 million to develop an SME site at Il-Hofra, near Xewkija. A total of 3,500 jobs have been created in Gozo.