Gozo Channel has said that due to the extraordinary interest being shown in connection with assertions being made about the withdrawal or otherwise of a priority boarding pass issued in favour of Dr Franco Mercieca, it is making the following statement.

“The system allowing priority boarding was brought into effect when traffic between the two islands was considerably less and there was sufficient capacity on the vessels to allow doctors who applied for it to be granted the privilege of boarding ahead of the queue in order to allow them to disembark first on arrival. This would save them some fifteen minutes on arrival and the privilege was granted out of respect for patients’ needs: the intention was never to allow queue-jumping but simply to allow quicker disembarkation.”

“Doctors who applied for the privilege, filled in a form, wherein it was clearly stated that the applicant would have to be present for boarding fifteen minutes prior to scheduled departure.”

“This requirement was there to ensure that boarding would not yet have commenced when the priority was given effect. It was not normal, if the system was properly implemented, for any vehicles to be left behind because a doctor had boarded on early. Due to the fact that vehicle and passenger movements have increased significantly (in 2002, 845000 vehicles were carried while in 2010 1,114,000 were carried) the priority system had to be reviewed, as vehicles were being left behind due to priority boarders, giving rise to complaints.”

“Moreover, complaints were being made, in some instances specifically about Dr Mercieca, that privilege-holders would turn up mere minutes before scheduled departure, when boarding would have commenced, and insert themselves into the loading stream, displacing and irritating drivers who would be preparing to board. Furthermore, contrary to the spirit of the privilege granted, some pass holders, amongst them Dr Mercieca, would use their pass in order to queue-jump on the return journey, when no reason for priority existed.”

“In these circumstances, the system had to be reviewed and all priority holders were asked to re-apply, which Dr Mercieca did not do. Privileges (other than for position-holders listed on the company’s website) are occasionally granted now only for specific trips or instances of a humanitarian nature.”

“Given the frequency of trips and capacity of vessels, regular users, even professionals such as Dr Mercieca, are easily able to ensure that they travel in sufficient time to meet their obligations or requirements, whatever these are and whether or not they are within the state health system or otherwise.”

“This, after all, is the position faced on a daily basis by all users of the company’s service, none of whom expect, though they would certainly like to have, the privilege of priority boarding. It is hoped that when capacity is increased by Summer 2012, it will be possible to introduce premium channels which would address the needs of passengers who wish to have priority boarding,” The statement concluded.

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