Eleven organisations, in a joint statement on Thursday, expressed their disappointment over the Government’s decision to drop the fast-ferry service proposal, and appealed for immediate action to improve inter-island connectivity.

They called on the Government to reconsider its decision to ignore its electoral pledge to offer a fast-ferry service linking the Mgarr harbour to the Grand Harbour, in favour of a hop-on, hop-off ferry service.

They argued that the latter service will not cater for the needs of Gozitan and Maltese commuters crossing between Malta and Gozo every day, and fails to address, in a tangible and sustainable manner, the connectivity challenges faced by Gozitans.

Last month, Transport Malta announced that it has issued a call for new ferry services in Malta and Gozo, including one that links both islands.

It said that the new routes will operate alongside the existing services, which the Authority regulates, in the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett.

The Authority explained that “this service was chosen following research that indicated that it would be more favourable than an isolated service, as was previously proposed, between Mgarr in Gozo, and Valletta.”

“The chosen service offers more alternatives, especially for Gozitans travelling to Malta on a daily basis, particularly students,” the Authority said.

The eleven NGOs stated that “the fast-ferry had been promised for years, and it would have significantly eased the hardships faced by Gozitan workers, students and other commuters by providing a much shorter commute and reducing vehicular traffic between the two islands.”

“By embracing a scheme that is merely a private sector business venture, instead of a fast-ferry service, the Government is betraying the 3,300 Gozitan employees who work in Malta, and who desperately need an efficient transport solution,” they said.

The organisations went on to say that, “it defies belief that the Government remains obsessed with its pledge to deliver a car tunnel, which would take years and millions to complete, and which will not significantly shorten journey times, whilst dismissing other, more efficient, alternative solutions.”

“The tendering process for the provision of a fast-ferry service between Valletta and Mgarr was mired in controversy, and has now been suspended following claims of foul play,” they said.

It pointed that then, “a third tender was issued earlier this summer for a hop-on, hop-off ferry service from at least five seaside locations, which will not be an adequate substitute for the fast-ferry service originally promised.”

The fast-ferry service linking Mgarr to Valletta would provide a non-stop seamless connection for Gozitan commuters, who have to make the crossing daily, they said.

They added that, “the new hop-on, hop-off service proposes to make various stops at different ports in Gozo and Malta, and thus will not provide a fast, non-stop connection that is so direly needed for Gozitan commuters.” Adding that, “no evidence that the service frequency proposed will cater for the daily Gozo commuter numbers has been presented.”

According to the organisations, “sources close to the maritime industry have claimed that it is clear that the latest tender document has been drafted with the sole intention of accommodating the needs of just one operator.”

They added, “we have to ask whether there is any connection between the suspension of the fast-ferry tendering process, and the operation of a new scheduled hop-on, hop-off service for tourists in Mgarr harbour?”

The organisations stated that, “one cannot ignore the similarity between the Government’s proposed scheme, and the hop-on, hop-off service that has just been launched.”

“It seems to be a very strange coincidence indeed that a new catamaran service operated by Captain Morgan started operating just a day after it was announced that the fast-ferry tendering process was being suspended,” they said.

“In light of the above, we demand full transparency from the Government, and we demand the publication of the studies that would justify its decision to shelve the fast-ferry plan and opt for the hop-on hop-off service instead,” the organisations said.

The stated that, “Minister Ian Borg should stop declaring that his schemes are supported by Gozitans, when all the major Gozitan organisations have criticised the Government’s suspension of the fast-ferry service tender.”

They went on to point out that the Gozo Business Chamber, the Gozo University Group, and the Gozo Tourism Association have all publicly condemned the Government’s actions, and called on it to relaunch its plans for a non-stop fast-ferry service between Mgarr and Valletta.

The eleven organisations reiterated their call to the Government to find adequate, long-term and sustainable solutions that would truly address Gozo's mobility and connectivity challenges.

The eleven organisations are:

Association for Gozitan Employees in Malta (AGEM).

Bicycle Advocacy Group

BirdLife Malta

Din l-Art Helwa

Extinction Rebellion Malta

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar

Friends of the Earth Malta

Isles of the Left

Moviment Graffitti

Nature Trust Malta

The Archaeological Society of Malta.

Photo supplied by NGOs

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