1 comment.Gozo: PN promises tunnel referendum, 2 new ferries and expanded harbour
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A new Nationalist government is pledging to invest in the “potential of Gozo with two new ships, the expansion of the port of Mgarr and a referendum on the tunnel.”
This was stated in a press conference on Wednesday at Mgarr, Gozo, by the chief spokesperson of the Nationalist Party Peter Agius, together with Gozitan MPs Kevin Cutajar and Joseph Ellis.
They said that “Gozitans are not second class citizens and have every right to enjoy all the benefits of a larger market connected to Malta and Europe that a new Nationalist Government would bring, a Government that would invest heavily in Gozitan connectivity with two new ships – one of them reserved exclusively for goods to boost industry and manufacturing in Gozo.”
Agius explained that the PN is “ready to lead Gozo to the next step by investing in two new ships adding to the existing fleet in order to address the need for a more reliable long-term service and scheduled freight transport.”
Ellis explained how Mgarr, which was an adequate base for Gozo Channel, today also provides a berthing for the fast ferry as well as for several other private ships. “There is now a need for the port to expand in order to allow the further development of the island of Gozo,” he said.
He stressed that “the ambition of the Gozitan people today is greater than this port and a new Nationalist Government is therefore committed to enlarging this port to allow us to achieve that ambition.”
Kevin Cutajar explained the PN’s proposal to “democratise the Gozitan option on the tunnel between Gozo and Malta.”
Cutajar said that the tunnel project “is a decisive and irreversible one on the character of the island of Gozo.”
“The tunnel also raises many feelings and positions that see Gozitans in different arguments for and against and therefore the Nationalist Party feels that every Gozitan has the right and the possibility to form their opinion with the full knowledge of the pros and cons and then vote in a referendum on the tunnel,” he said.
He stressed that, “this is the only way for Gozo to take this critical step with conviction for present and future generations.”
“A new Nationalist government is also considering the possibilities of air connectivity for Gozo,” stated Kevin Cutajar.
Possibly an expanded new harbour and breakwater in Marsalforn capable of taking ferries direct from Sicily and providing a link direct to Gozo for tourists would be worth investigating?
Even a direct to Malta service as well, instead of extra ferries from Mgarr.
Just a thought and might not need a tunnel either then?