I have a lot of respect for Alfred Mifsud and always look forward to reading his contributions in the newspapers especially when he comments on economics and finance. However, I beg to differ with regard to his contribution, entitled “The bridge that Gozo needs and other matters” (TMIS, 11 August), since it seems that he has not researched the subject matter well enough and he is looking at this issue from a “Maltese” and not “Gozitan” point of view. Let me explain further.

The Gozo Business Chamber has done a lot of investigative and research work on the possibility of a permanent link via a tunnel between the two islands. A couple of years ago we brought over a Norwegian tunnelling expert, Prof. Eivind Grøv, to look into the matter. After studying the geological rock formations, Prof. Grøv confirmed that such a tunnel is feasible. He also confirmed that from the vast experience he has had building tunnels in different parts of the world, the costs of building such a tunnel is not prohibitive; similar tunnels in Norway normally cost around €13,000 per metre. Such a subsea tunnel would be between nine and 10 kilometres in length from one exit to the other. This means that the exits needed would be from somewhere behind Ghadira Bay to somewhere on the road between Qala and Xewkija. This would take into consideration a gradient of between five to 10 per cent

With regard to the ferrying of tourists between the two islands, we want the ferry service to remain in place. If the operator suspends the ferry service at night-time when the number the number of passengers and cars crossing over is very low, it could also be beneficial to the operator as well in terms of profitability.

Mr Mifsud spoke about an increase in Gozo’s population.  We would very much welcome retired people choosing Gozo as their home but not at the expense that the whole of Gozo becomes “An Old People’s Home”. A place similar to that was in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, where no children were allowed to reside. We very much want our youngsters to live in Gozo and raise a family here. A tunnel would make this a reality since anyone who lives in Gozo would only increase his journey to work to anywhere in Malta by only 10 minutes.  I have never heard of anyone living in Mellieha who works in Birzebbuga ever thinking of relocating to a town or village closer to his place of work because of the distance. For us Gozitans working in Malta, it means forcing our youngsters, especially once they get married and start rearing a family, to move permanently to Malta.  Those who still live in Gozo, work in Malta and have young children, especially where both parents work in Malta, need to wake up their children at 5am to take them to their parents who then take them so school.  The grandparents pick them up from school and they do not get to see them before 7 in the evening if they are lucky of making it to Cirkewwa in time.

Mr Mifsud is looking at the cost of such a project as unjustifiable for the sake of a small population in Gozo. He should bear in mind that such a project would qualify under what is called the Ten T road networks of the EU (Trans European Transport Network) and as such could qualify for up to 85 per cent funding from the EU itself. Again, with regard to costs, we have managed to acquire a report on similar tunnels built in the Faroe Islands, an archipelago made up of 18 islands with a population of around 50, 000.One such tunnel is between the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy and was started in September 2000. It is 4.9km long with 2.5km being subsea and was opened on 14 December 2002. This means that it was built in 26 months, excavating granite and similar hard rock formations. The total cost for this tunnel was £35 million which at today’s adjusted prices would roughly come to around €60 million.

This report is available from the Gozo Business Chamber to anyone who is interested in having a look at it.

It has already been proved that such connections enhance the quality of life of the inhabitants of the islands, especially the ones living on the smaller island. The Chamber is of the opinion that Gozo does not need any more crazy development.  What it really needs is to invest in quality and to have the ability to guarantee that anyone living on Gozo can easily commute to his place of work anywhere on both islands without the need to relocate permanently to Malta.

Michael Grech

President

Gozo Business Chamber