Paul Mizzi, Qala
A runway for Gozo
Why should Gozitans be disadvantaged compared with those who live or work in Malta? For instance, why should a waiter in a Gozo hotel earn some €250 less a month than his counterpart in Malta?
What is the government doing to create job opportunities in Gozo?
For a long time we have been talking about building an airstrip in Gozo to accommodate light aircraft carrying passengers to and from the island. Some say that this is because the Gozitans do not want it, but this is not true, because we are all in favour of initiatives which create jobs in the long run.
Most jobs in Gozo are in the tourism industry, and one good way to bring tourists here is by providing a good and reliable service between the two islands.
Whenever the Prime Minister used to be asked about this, he would always reply that once the Gozitans and the Gozo Business Chamber and the Hotels and Restaurants Association agree with the building of a runway, it would be taken in hand straight away.
But what is the real reason for the delay? Those who are against this venture should stand up and let us know why.
12 Comments
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Patrick Fenech
Dec 2nd 2008, 10:35
@Mr Tyrrell. Anyone involved in aviation will state without hesitation that a fixed wing service is far more economical than a helicopter service. This is a fact! It is also a fact that Gozo needs to be fed directly with tourists rather than tourists visiting Gozo for a day while visiting the islands. I reckon all the Gozo business community will agree with this statement. The Malta-Gozo service will be beneficial to Gozo and to the economy because tourists arriving in Malta will have the ease of travelling directly to Gozo in just 10 minutes. Those tourists and Gozitans taking a connecting flight at MIA will do not have to travel hours in advance to take then ferry and then proceed by car or public transport. The majority of people call this as efficient, comfortable and even luxurious. The first helicopter service carried hundreds of thousands of passengers. These passengers could go straight to Gozo after arriving in Malta. The only problem was the huge helicopter involved that was too expensive to run. Fixed wing aircraft use less fuel, are less expensive to maintain, are less noisy and can operate from grass strips. Therefore no damage to the environment.
James A. Tyrrell
Dec 2nd 2008, 09:32
@Patrick Fenech. Never heard so much rubbish in my life. How will an airstrip attract more business to Gozo? How would it manage to attract business that a helicopter service wouldn't attract without causing any damage? You say that with an airstrip on Gozo the economy will expand, how? You say more tourists will be able to reach Gozo with ease and comfort, how? I arrive with ease and comfort every year on the ferry.
I'm speaking here as a tourist and the last thing I want is the continued rape of this beautiful island just so some bunch of idiot developers can make more money. If this scar on the landscape is ever built I for one will never use it and I will write as often as possible to the papers advising others not to use it.
Patrick Fenech
Nov 30th 2008, 23:54
An airstrip is definitely one of the solutions that Gozo needs in order to attract more business. One does not have to be rigid when thinking of an airstrip. The airstrip does not have to be concrete. In fact most light transport aircraft can operate easily out of grass strips. This way, the environment and any archeological remains are protected. Arrival and departure routes can also be set up in order to avoid noise pollution. With an airstrip in Gozo, the economy will expand and more tourists will be able to reach Gozo with ease and comfort, possibly direct from/to certain destinations too.
lgalea
Nov 30th 2008, 18:29
Charles Sammut
It does in the opinion of others including myself.
It will also continue to destroy Roman archeological remains on the site.
Charles Sammut
Nov 30th 2008, 17:37
@ I Galea
An extension to the present runway will not rape Gozo's environment. It is those hideous flats and hotels in beauty spots like Xlendi that have done a thorough job at this.
John Azzopardi
Nov 30th 2008, 14:59
Prosit Mr. Mizzi. Many of us concerned Gozitans have been writing for bringing back some form of air transport. I use to travel back and forth to Malta and it made a big difference when I used air transport. Gozo has been taken back in time and there are many Maltese who want progress in Malta but not in Gozo. Every project is rejected and this means high unemployment and young gozitans staying in Malta or emigrating. Unless Gozitans wake up and stand firm regardless of their politics, Gozo will be treated as a second hand. Gozitans need to be united as to what is needed for Gozo, need high end tourist, but without an airlink they will not come. We need sustainable industry to produce good paying jobs. The few factories set up in the past 10 years do not compensate for the jobs that were lost. Again, this divide and conquer by our Maltese poilticians will not do us Gozitans any good. It's up to the Gozitan people to not fall in this trap and start asking our Malta proper politicans how they can deliver the goods (- good roads, airlink, factories, office jobs, full service tourist projects).
Charles Micallef
Nov 30th 2008, 14:25
If we live in a democracy, let the people speak and put the issue to a referendum!
lgalea
Nov 30th 2008, 13:01
Paul Mizzi
Your suggestion for a runway in Gozo will aid in the raping of our environment and heritage.
Benigno Saliba
Nov 30th 2008, 11:24
I beg to differ. Agreed that our island's tourism generates the most jobs. But, to entice a greater number of quality tourists to Gozo is by making our tourist package more welcome. What we need is to safeguard what nature has bestowed on the island, pristine beauty, our history and a jovial, welcoming people. We don't need a runway. It is a misplaced conception that an air link attracts more tourists. It's far more practicable to upgrade the land and sea link to Luqa airport. Our open spaces are too precious to desecrate by runways and noise pollution.
Adriano Spiteri
Nov 30th 2008, 11:23
According to Mr Mizzi this 'airstrip' -be it land reclamation from sea or somewhere on the isle- will create jobs! It won't. Moreover the number of tourists visiting Gozo will not increase for the simple reason there's an airstrip.
Our only way of going to Gozo by car is by ship - Gozo Channel. The latter created quite a number of jobs. Someone to sell tickets, the other to open the barrier, a third to check the ticket, a fourth for this and a fifth for that...!
The end result is: Gozitans pay less for the same service than us!
A bridge or underwater tunnel is the only all-weather link we should focus on. Its high cost would in a matter of years justify the expenditure.
On a separate note, I'd like to point out the fact that if Gozo is asking for more tourists we should take such a request seriously. What about Simon Busuttil's 'burden-sharing' idea: opening an open centre there and sending some illegal immigrants!
victor g.mercieca
Nov 30th 2008, 11:14
Hi Paul very well said keep up your quest, it would be ideal at this stage that all parties concerned over there, get together & publicly agree on the way forward so maybe it motivates this Administration to go ahead & not waste more time & funds on low priority infrastructural projects.......UNFORTUNATELY we have allot people over here who need to open their minds, refrain from making misinformed distructive comments towards people particularly living in Gozo who know how communications can improved between the islands for the common good & development without any concrete involved! Gozo needs to be put on the General Aviation Map & only then can it cut down on interisland cost effective commuting & tap into a niche market never yet exploited!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 30th 2008, 10:43
In my opinion, Mr Mizzi doesn't know what he's saying.
A runway in Gozo would spell a disaster for that island - it will never be what it was so far!
Don't follow the ways of the mainland. We are now one big slab of concrete. Is this what your disadvantage is?