A decision cannot be made whether to build the Gozo tunnel or not, because when taking a decision, there must be something to decide on. It is all bluff. There is no geological study available… active faults present, the cost is likely to rise to €2 billion, double what we get from the EU in seven years. So while waiting for a decision to be made, why not liberalise the transport between Malta and Gozo?

A tunnel is being proposed. It is such a mammoth task. So why not a change in the rules and liberalise? As has happened in all liberalisations, the infrastructure of the Gozo Channel will be used also by competing companies. I envisage using catamarans carrying cars and so on not only to Cirkewwa or Marfa but to Sliema, Sa Maison, Grand Harbour, The Three Cities and Marsaxlokk. Maybe new infrastructure has to be built, but so what?

We have liberalised telephony, airlines, bread, vegetables and now also electricity production. You name it we did it, but stopped short of doing that in the transport between Malta and Gozo. Although the government says that transportation between Malta and Gozo is liberalised because any company can apply, only one company can work and the contract is tailor-made for Gozo Channel. Liberalisation benefitted us all. Don’t you think it will not improve transport between Malta and Gozo? If you are able to build a tunnel, can’t more companies work between times of the Gozo Channel schedule? Can’t the Gozo Channel boats berth somewhere else when not in use? Is this something phenomenal when one is willing to build a tunnel?

I would also liberalise public transport on land too. Together with Tal-Linja, other companies could work in this sector: they would be able to pick passengers from bus stops and have their own buses/minibuses/taxis and their own schedule. The subsidy would be shared between them according to how many passengers they carry. I think this would make public transport more flexible and much more efficient. I don’t think we have anything to lose. And it would create more jobs.

Joe Portelli

Nadur