The Ghajnsielem Local Council has issued a statement saying that it “would like to voice its disapproval on the way the new bus route system was implemented in Ghajnsielem by Arriva, as according to the new schedule, no bus will pass through the Ghajnsielem village centre. The new bus routes in fact will only pass through Mgarr Road and St Anthony’s street.” The local council said it “is insisting that the new routes are a step backwards and also an added inconvenience for the locals as the previous service had passed through the main square for so many years.”

“During a meeting between the Gozo mayors and a representative from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Communication held on the 14th of March of this year, Mayor Francis Cauchi raised this issue after the new Gozo route map was presented. However he was assured from the Ministry that the new bus service would pass through the main square,” the council said.

The council continued, “however, when the brochures and new schedule were distributed to all households, it was clear that there was no route passing through Ghajnsielem centre. On the 5th of June, the Mayor wrote to the head of Secretariat of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Communication informing him that the Ghajnsielem Local Council was receiving several complaints from the locals. In this letter, the Mayor suggested that at least, a nominated number of buses on the Mgarr – Victoria route could pass through the village centre at specified times in the morning. The Local Council received a reply from the Ministry advising that it will be monitoring the service and issue amendments accordingly.”

The Ghajnsielem Local Council concluded by saying that it promises that it will keep putting pressure on the authorities concerned until this inconvenience for the Ghajnsielem residents is ratified and the service can be enjoyed from the village centre such as in other localities.

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