The Nationalist Party has called on Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri to “tell the truth about what led to the chaos in travel between the two islands during the festive period.”

The PN argued that “the chaos experienced in recent days by those travelling between Malta and Gozo had nothing to do with the weather, as Minister Clint Camilleri tried to make people believe. The Minister for Gozo must tell the truth and stop making excuses in an attempt to cover up the Government’s failure in connectivity between the two islands.”

During a press conference at the Cirkewwa Harbour, Shadow Minister for Gozo Chris Said and Shadow Minister for Transport, Agriculture and Fisheries Toni Bezzina said that “the Government’s lack of investment is translating into inconvenience and wasted time for those who need to travel to and from Gozo.”

They stated that an increase in tourism during the festive period is “normal,” and that the “chaos which occurred last week is nothing more than the result of the Government’s lack of investment in connectivity. In 13 years, the Government has only managed to bring in a second-hand vessel, which is inaccessible and costs around €15,000 per day. This is in addition to the mismanagement at Gozo Channel, for which Minister Clint Camilleri bears political responsibility.”

The stressed that “a Nationalist Government, within a few years, had managed to build three new vessels with an investment of €80 million – vessels which remain crucial to this day. Meanwhile, in 13 years a Labour Government left Gozitans and Maltese with what they already had.”

These vessels are capable of carrying around 900 passengers each. The PN Spokespersons pointed out the Labour Government’s Nikolaos carries only 400. “Yet in recent days, and particularly on Friday, the 2nd of January, Gozo Channel vessels ended up operating at half their capacity.”

The PN Spokespersons argued that “in an attempt to justify the chaos that unfolded, Clint Camilleri blamed the weather and the fact that the Fast Ferry was not operating – something that is also to be expected during these days.”

“However, to date Clint Camilleri has not explained why, on the second day of the new year, when many were returning to Malta from Gozo, there were not enough workers to allow vessels to load all the passengers they are capable of carrying, with the result that they began departing the port half empty,” they said.

Said and Bezzina went on to say that “Clint Camilleri has also remained silent on the promise, repeated year after year, made to contractor workers engaged by Gozo Channel, who were supposed to be given permanent positions with the company, yet to date have been left empty-handed.”

They stated that “what happened on Friday resulted in thousands of people waiting for long hours to cross the channel, with large queues gathering outside the terminals, in the cold, wind and rain. While the Government continued to hide the real reason behind what happened, in some cases vessels were forced to take on only half of the 900 passengers they are capable of carrying, meaning that with every two trips around a thousand people were left behind – This led to a chaotic situation both in Mgarr and in Cirkewwa.”

They pointed out that “on the other hand, despite the Fast Ferry excuse, it must also be recalled that this could hardly have had much effect on the situation, as it carries no more than 300 people per trip, with its journeys operating on an hourly basis.”

The PN Spokespersons insisted that “the Government’s lack of planning and mismanagement are working against the significant efforts made by the Gozo Business Chamber, the Gozo Tourism Association, and a number of businesses and organisations that work hard to offer tourists a quality product.”

“Instead of coming up with weak excuses, Minister Clint Camilleri must assure everyone that the chaos experienced last week will not be repeated, and he must keep the promise made to contractor workers to grant them permanent employment,” they said.

The Nationalist Party said it has long insisted on the need for improved connectivity. “A Nationalist Government would invest in a new fleet of four modern, high-quality vessels so that those wishing to travel between Malta and Gozo can do so efficiently, as well as carry out a serious study into an additional vessel dedicated exclusively to the transport of goods between the two islands.”

It concluded by saying that “investment would also be made in the ports of Mgarr and Cirkewwa to modernise the infrastructure so as to accommodate the new fleet, including improvements to the road network for more efficient traffic management towards the ferry.”

Photo: PN

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