Increase in Gozo Channel fares?

It is being rumoured that Gozo Channel is seriously considering a fare rise for all passengers.

Gozo Channel is a government company that has the monopoly of the transport of all goods, vehicles and passengers between Malta and Gozo. Any fare increase will have a negative impact on the economy of Gozo. If these rumours are true, the government would need to be briefed about the consequences of such a decision.

Life on Gozo depends very much on the flow of traffic between Malta and Gozo. The business community of Gozo has been gearing itself for the steady increase in this traffic. In fact, year after year it has been growing to such an extent that today Gozo has come to depend very much on internal tourism - Maltese nationals - as well as on foreigners, who cross over to Gozo frequently, especially over weekends, for a dinner or a day or more. If this traffic is in any way hampered, this will immediately cause a negative ripple effect.

The recent reshuffle of the Gozo ferry timetable is a case in point. The unprofessional way this was drafted and implemented had an earthquake-like impact on this sensitive means of communication that is the lifeline of Gozo.

It is true that this timetable has now been somewhat improved but it has done its part in helping to disrupt the good business atmosphere of Gozo. The number of trips has been reduced, thus waiting time to cross over has been increased, resulting in complaints by commuters. The result is there for all to see: Official statistics confirm that the number of passengers between Malta and Gozo has decreased these last months!

Now, to add insult to injury, this already bad situation is going to be aggravated by a price increase, that is, if the rumours are correct.

Gozo desperately depends on the good flow of traffic between the two islands. So please, do not take decisions that can in any way hinder this traffic further. The small amount that Gozo Channel would be getting out of any price increase would definitely result in a disaster for the Gozo economy, which is going through turbulent times already, especially with the present crisis in manufacturing.

There are other ways and means for Gozo Channel to solve its precarious financial position and the government should seriously study these other means rather than allowing the company to raise the fares.

A price increase at this moment in time would do much more harm than good. The government should consult the constituted bodies of Gozo more, with the aim of trying to solve the problem. I am more than sure that help would be forthcoming from the Gozo side.

I also ask all residents of Gozo to air their views about this in the hope of helping the government solve the financial situation of Gozo Channel without creating a disaster for Gozo's economy.