The GRTU Executive Council and management team embarked on a mis­sion that brought them closer to the reality of Gozo-based businesses.

During a day that was specifically focused on Gozo GRTU's, the top man­agement team held meetings with Gozitan entrepreneurs as well as the Gozo Business Chamber.

High on the agenda was the issue of accessibility of Gozo. Gozo busi­nesses expressed their concern that the permanent link project between Malta and Gozo was earmarked to take very long to be completed and when considering the dire situation they were in, any unnecessary delay meant irreversible damage.

Gozitan enterprises still do not feel that the accessibility issue of Gozo is a priority for our politicians. They are facing a reality where it is im­mensely difficult and close to impossible for them to do business in Gozo and the decision makers are not concerned with the problems afflicting Gozo.

While appreciating that an environmental assess­ment is necessary, this should be carried out within specific and justifiable timeframes. The environment should not be used as an excuse to postpone projects that were needed yesterday.

They therefore expect government to make all the necessary effort and focus on finding solutions and not excuses as to why the project should be further delayed. Government needs to come up with a rea­sonable timeframe and project management proposal that would be agreed upon through consultation and endorsed by social partners representing businesses.

GRTU stated that following a presentation by Prof. Gordon Cordina GRTU was not only convinced that Gozo needs a permanent link but it is also fully back­ing its members. GRTU will be lobbying govern­ment to achieve the desired results.

GRTU invited the stakeholders to join forces with the GRTU to increase pressure to speed up the perma­nent link project and to find solutions that would im­prove accessibility conditions. Busi­nesses cannot wait over 10 more years for something to be done, there are short- to medium-term solutions that would help them survive the interim and these must be implemented.

The permanent link is not an end in itself. Gozo requires a number of drastic measures to become the thriving economy everyone hopes for. Accessibility is however the main measure that will help other initia­tives become effective. Without the permanent link any measure will be weak because its potential can only be reached with increased accessibility.

Gozitan enterprises also expressed their concern on the political situation. They said that government and the Opposition are wasting precious time bick­ering instead of investing time to tackle important business issues that have been shelved for too long.

During its visit GRTU took a number of its members' proposals and will be following these up accordingly.

Part of the activity also included a discussion on changes to update the GRTU statute as well as a team-building activity to lay forward a strategy for the organisation.