Peter Muscat, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Giving Gozo a boost
Apparently, the Prime Minister is in the process of a Cabinet reshuffle. Hopefully he will take this opportunity to help the Gozitan economy by levelling the playing field, at least a little bit. This can be done by transferring more government jobs to Gozo. The Gozitan economy is challenged in many ways, including lack of its fair share of jobs that are directly, or indirectly financed by the public, both governmental and non-governmental. Examples of the latter are jobs in the sea ports, airport, broadcasting, post-office, telephony, museums, police, university and MCAST, etc. and any other business that caters for the whole nation, and as a result makes economic sense to have it located in Malta.
And it is not just the number of jobs that should be taken into account but also the quality. So it will make sense to have one or two additional ministries relocated to Gozo. Apparently, MP Chris Said is doing a good job as a parliamentary secretary especially in matters related to the procurement of EU funds. His role and responsibilities should be given more importance and upgraded to a ministry located in Gozo. There has been some talk about transferring Dr Said to the Gozo Ministry. Such a move would make neither economic nor political sense. Why would someone who is doing a very good job in this important position be transferred to replace another minister who is doing an equally good job in her current ministry? The current Gozo Minister has fulfilled her responsibilities very well, both with what she has done and what she did not do.
In many respects Gozo is the envy of all Malta and the economic challenges exist in spite of the significant progress that has occurred in the last 10 years in areas such as roads, Mġarr harbour, the environment, schools, hospital, and other infrastructures. As for things she has not done, for example, she should be given credit for resisting the tremendous pressure exerted on her by four or five misguided Gozitan businessmen who want an airstrip on a tiny island that is marketing itself as an eco island.
Of course more needs to be done. Gozo needs a fixed link to Malta. Why should it take a Gozitan three hours to go to Mater Dei or University or to work in Malta? Why should a Gozitan pay €25 to share a minibus to go to the airport and at the same time be severely restricted on the timing of his/her travel? Any other Maltese can, at any time, hop into his car and be at the airport in a matter of minutes. Why should a Gozitan businessman spend all that money for his trailer and driver sitting on the tarmac waiting for the next ferry? Why should Maltese and foreign tourists be discouraged from visiting Gozo due to the hassles of the ferry boat?
So yes, I agree that lots needs to be done but a lot has been accomplished by the current minister and a reshuffle does not make any sense.
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James A. Tyrrell
Feb 3rd 2010, 00:26
@John Azzopardi. When you find a plane that takes as many cars as the ferry let me know.
@L. Galea. I agree with you totally. A bridge does seem like the most viable solution especially from the point of view of the ordinary Gozitan.
John Azzopardi
Feb 2nd 2010, 18:24
Gozo needs an airllink. Let's stop arguing as to whether it's a helicoptor or fixed wing plan. We cannot continue to live in the middle ages in this day and age. We need an airlink as an alternative to the ferries in the YEAR 2010.
L. Galea
Feb 2nd 2010, 18:20
@ James A Tyrell and John Portelli.
Gentlemen, I think you are trying to distort the point of this letter. How can the average Gozitan travelling to Malta to go to Mater Dei, University, or to work benefit from an airstrip? How will this reduce the costs incurred by by having trucks and cars waiting for the ferry at Cirkewwa and Mgarr? What the average Gozitan, as well as Gozitan businesses, need is a fixed link i.e. a bridge or a tunnel, definitely not an airstrip. If you want to destroy Gozo build an airstip.
Charles Sammut
Feb 2nd 2010, 15:42
@ James A Tyrrell
Dr Joseph Muscat can afford to promise heaven on Gozo. He is in opposition.
A helicopter service is not viable, it is noisy and fuel thirsty. It also has a limited payload and is very expensive to maintain. Not to mention that servicing facilities are next to non-existent locally necessitating long trips abroad for regular maintenance.
If the EU were to start subsidising helicopter links then every island in Italy and Greece (100's of islands there) would start clamouring for similar service. So forget the helicopter solution.
I understand that you may have bought a house in Gozo and want to enjoy your peaceful isolation. But isn't that a wee bit egoistic with regard to other Gozitans?
A fixed wing aircraft is much quieter than a helicopter. It will necessitate fewer trips and can provide a link to other islands such as Sicily or Lampedusa. The excuse of the use of land for a runway is just that, an excuse. It would be a much better use of land than say the horse racing track. It would benefit all of Gozo.
James A. Tyrrell
Feb 2nd 2010, 13:56
@John Portelli. I'm glad you said an air link and not an airstrip. The last thing the island of Gozo needs is an airstrip. What I agree it does need is a reintroduction of the helicopter service from the airport to the heliport on Gozo. Labour leader Joseph Muscat has stated on numerous occasions that Malta could get EU funding to subsidize the services of the Helicopter? So the question here is simple, why are the Government not looking into this as a matter of urgency? Could it be that they have already promised some developer friend of the Government the job of building an airstrip and don't want the simple solution of an EU subsidized helicopter service to queer the pitch?
Charles Sammut
Feb 2nd 2010, 13:54
Keep on discussing everything and doing nothing. Just read this and cry.
The district of Nabukelevu in Kadavu will have a new jetty and an air strip, says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
The request for the air strip and jetty was made by the community to the Prime Minister.
FBC reporter Apisalome Coka is in Kadavu and files this report:
“The military man says a lot of law has been changed – this is to help our economic status.
He says he will be working soon in getting an airport and a jetty for the Nabukelevu district as requested by its community.
The only airport on the province is at Vunisea government station and service around 75 villagers
Bainimarama says they also working to construct a town in Vunisea and it could bring in other business into the province."
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
This is the plan:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x5/ultralemony/NabukelevuProposedCapitalWorksFiji.jpg
This is the discussion with the Fijian Prime Minister and the Chief Minister for Kadavu. It was approved within 3 (THREE) days!.
John Portelli
Feb 2nd 2010, 12:25
The writer above does make a good case. I use to use the helicopter service all the time when it was in service. Gozo has gone backward instead of forward. We need new blood to head the Ministry of Gozo and new innovative ideas as well. Gozo has gone back to the old days. Yes, there has been improvement in the Gozo service and the new Mgarr terminal, but we also need other options. Yes these can be expensive, but if done right there will be a market. An airlink between Gozo and our Malta airport is a must in this day and age. We all know that when our politicians want to get to Gozo quickly, they use a helicopter.