Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri must stop shifting blame and explain honestly what caused the severe disruption in travel between Malta and Gozo during the festive period. Contrary to the government's claims, the chaos experienced by thousands of passengers had little to do with weather conditions and everything to do with years of poor planning, underinvestment, and mismanagement in inter-island connectivity.
During a press conference at Ċirkewwa Harbour, Shadow Minister for Gozo Chris Said and Shadow Minister for Transport, Agriculture and Fisheries Toni Bezzina stated that the problems witnessed were entirely predictable. Increased travel during the festive season is not an anomaly, yet the government once again proved unprepared, resulting in long delays, wasted time, and frustration for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
In 13 years, the Labour government has failed to strengthen Gozo Channel's fleet in any meaningful way. Its only addition has been a second-hand vessel that is costly to operate, inaccessible, and capable of carrying just 400 passengers. By contrast, a Nationalist Government had invested €80 million in three new vessels within a few years-ships that remain the backbone of the service today. Those vessels can carry around 900 passengers each, yet during the recent disruption they were operating at roughly half capacity.
Minister Camilleri attempted to justify the situation by citing adverse weather and the temporary suspension of the Fast Ferry service, the speakers said. However, such factors are neither unusual nor sufficient to explain why, on 2 January, ferries departed half empty while thousands waited for hours in cold, wind, and rain. The minister has yet to explain why there were insufficient workers available to fully load the vessels, a failure that left up to a thousand passengers stranded every two trips.
Equally concerning is Camilleri's continued silence on the fate of contractor workers at Gozo Channel. These workers have repeatedly been promised permanent employment, yet year after year the government has failed to honour its commitment, contributing to staffing shortages and operational breakdowns, the PN said.
The resulting chaos saw massive queues build up at both Mġarr and Ċirkewwa, with congestion spiralling out of control. Claims that the Fast Ferry's absence was decisive do not hold up, given that it carries no more than 300 passengers per trip on an hourly basis.
This mismanagement undermines the efforts of the Gozo Business Chamber, the Gozo Tourism Association, and numerous operators striving to offer a quality experience to visitors. Instead of offering excuses, Minister Camilleri must guarantee that such failures will not be repeated and finally deliver on promises made to workers.
The PN said it has consistently called for serious investment in connectivity. A Nationalist Government would commit to a new fleet of four modern vessels, explore a dedicated cargo ferry, and modernise the ports of Mġarr and Ċirkewwa, including surrounding road infrastructure, to ensure reliable and efficient travel between the two islands.