The Opposition Spokesperson for Gozo Chris Said, has stated that out of a total of €936 million voted for capital expenditure in Budget 2022, only €27 million are being voted as capital expenditure for Gozo, or 2.8%.

He argued that “this means that Gozo – a region which contains one third of the Maltese territory, and which has to cope with double insularity – is being given less than 3% of capital expenditure.”

Dr Said, when talking about connectivity between Malta and Gozo, stressed that “this is everything to Gozo.” He added that the Government said it will “continue to improve the connectivity between Malta and Gozo by modernising the Heliport. For this purpose it is voting the miserable sum of €300,000.”

Said also pointed out that for six years the government had promised in every budget that it will resume the helicopter service.

Nothing is mentioned in the budget about the permanent link …. “it seems that the government will also abandon this project,” Dr Said stated. “It also makes no mention of how a new ship will be brought in place of the Nikolaos. This second-hand ship has cost more than €10 million in its two-year lease.”

Opposition Spokesperson for Gozo Chris Said, concluded by saying, “a year ago the budget promised a new ship. Now this promise is not only not fulfilled but has been forgotten.”

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