“It would be much better if instead of focusing on individual proposals, Government were to consider Gozo’s connectivity issues holistically together with the social, environmental and economic impacts generated.” This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo, Alternattiva Demokratika’s spokesperson on Sustainable Development and Home Affairs.

“AD,” stated Cacopardo, “has followed the declarations made in the past days on the proposal to link Malta and Gozo through the construction of a bridge as well as the Chinese assistence in assessing the vialbility of such an option. This offer, one notes, has been made whilst other studies are simultaneously under way on the linkage of the two islands through a tunnel below the seabed. Alternattiva Demokratika considers that this government like its predecessor is tackling the issue incorrectly.”

Cacopardo continued, “Instead of being addressed individually, the proposed solutions should be considered within the context of a which addresses the Gozitan island’s connectivity, which assessment should factor in social, economic and ecological impacts.”

“It does not make sense, added Cacopardo, that within the context of the EU’s regional policy Malta presents its case for Gozo’s double insularity and requests additional funding on this basis and then without consideration of the impacts opts to discard the double insularity issue through a physical link between the islands. It is to be pointed out that to date Gozo’s Tourism policy is based on Gozo’s double insularity and that tourism in Gozo could be wiped out as a result of the physical links proposed.”

“A Strategic Plan of this nature,” concluded Cacopardo, “after being examined in line with the provisions of the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive of the EU would then be subject to public consultation which should not be limited to Gozo but should be on a nationwide level.”

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