Fast Ferry or Hyper speed, whatever you might call it has been a much welcomed initiative for the many students and workers, Mater Dei visits and also tourists.

I hardly used to hear the words holistic and sustainable before these last years. They have become very important words in the mouths of our politicians and priests. Each time a project is conceived all the factors like maintainable, supportable, bearable, justifiable, workable, defensible, viable, and ecological have to be considered.

When they say holistic they have to be sure that the project covers all-inclusive, rounded, full, complete, general, universal, and whole.

The fast ferry terminal in Gozo needs a better shelter like the one in Malta. Better a shelter instead of the kiosks. In Malta many take the lift from the Barrakka and this is everything but sustainable or holistic. Fast should not only refer to the speed on the water but also the gaining of the hour of land travelling to Cirkewwa.

We love and respect tourists but I ask how many Gozitans have missed the Fast Ferry because the lift is blocked by tourists. It is not discriminatory against them if students and workers are allowed to jump the queue. The tourists can afford to miss a ferry but can the workers or students also afford so?

I have witnessed many people running down the stairs to catch the ferry, including elderly Gozitans who were out of breath while going down, imagine if they had to climb up the stairs?

Some of the ticket security should be sacked for being arrogant towards students who try to sneak in to get back in time for their part-time job in Gozo. I do not have the solution.

I am not a consultant but I am sure that there is someone who can find a solution for this atomistic and unsustainable situation, maybe that the lift may not be used by tourists at least 30 minutes before each ferry.

Anthony Zammit,

Victoria

File photo: DOI

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