Transportation between the channel from Gozo to Malta and vice-versa has always been essential for consumers, especially Gozitans. It is the only connectivity between Gozo and the outside world. People, cargo and all manner of essential goods have to pass through this service to and from Gozo.

No matter what anyone or any bodies from the EU says, it is essential that this service continues to be provided by the state, which makes sure that an adequate service is provided at all times.

The Vessels

Gozo Channel has three sturdy and well equipped vessels which can regularly provide the service required between our islands.

The main problems with these vessels are as follows:

1) The high consumption of diesel and petrol.

2) The electrical system is 130 volts instead of 240 volts.

3) The vessel “Nikolas” is in my view absolutely not adequate for this service.

What Gozo Channel needs is two further vessels, one for passengers and the other for the transportation of cargo.

This is sorely needed due to the steady increase in passenger growth over recent years. The queue of passengers and especially cars, often extends from Mgarr all the way up to Xewkija, especially on weekend evenings.

Cargo transportation also lacks timely transportation and freight vehicles have to wait for hours to cross from one side to the other. This also adds additional costs to the products which are transported across the channel.

The European Union

We have been hearing that the European Union is directing Malta to transfer this service to “Private Entities.” This I completely disagree with as I, like many others, remember all to well the problems we had when the service was run by private companies.

Trips were often cancelled due both to the weather and also to having too few passengers waiting at the quay, thus on a phone call confirming that there are only a few passengers, we were told that the trip was being cancelled due to “bad weather.”

Many trips were regularly cancelled due to actual bad weather as well.

Gozitan workers in Malta sometimes had to spend three whole weeks without being able to cross due to bad weather and the cancellation of trips. This inflicted hardship on workers, their families and their finances due these prolonged stays in Malta.

An Essential Service

So for us Gozitans this is an essential service and therefore the European Union must understand that the Maltese Government should and MUST keep control of this service.

I simply cannot understand how the company that is running the service is not making a huge profit all year round.

During my time as Chairperson of this company, all shareholders used to get regular dividends each and every year.

The working personnel were all paid the same for the same jobs. Yearly Xmas and New Year festivities and parties were held and the costs provided by the company.

For me, this was very much a “Win – Win” situation.

The government certainly must not relinquish control of this service, it should instead investigate what is going wrong financially with this company.

Lino DeBono

Former Chairman of Gozo Channel

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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