Amadeo Mifsud, Sannat
No reasonable grounds for an airstrip
Roy Perry in The Case For An Airstrip On Gozo (March 27) fails dismally to make a case for an airstrip on Gozo. This is certainly not due to incompetence on his part but to the simple fact that such a case can never be made on reasonable grounds.
Mr Perry may have been researching the matter since 1997, as he wrote, but this is hardly a good reason for building an airstrip on Gozo, nor is the suggestion - a dubious one, I must say - that the airstrip would take up land that is "mostly derelict" and with "very little soil cover". If we had to build an airstrip wherever these two characteristics exist in Gozo we would certainly make the island look like an unsinkable aircraft carrier!
However, Mr Perry's worst failure is to view the big picture, which is what some who support his idea can see quite clearly, including the opportunity to sacrifice yet another part of our environment for a few million euro to line their pockets.
An airstrip would purportedly help the tourism industry and Mr Perry admits that "those who will use the service are tourists and foreign residents" and in another part of his contribution concludes that "an air service would also be possible directly to European destinations within a 500-kilometre range." So, presumably we should be doing all this to create a direct link between Gozo and Naples, Palermo, Catania, Pantelleria, Lampedusa, Linosa and practically nowhere else, apart from Malta, of course. But one can hardly presume that the inhabitants of these places are waiting for a Gozo airstrip to fly out here for a holiday.
It is interesting to note that the number of beds in Gozo increased marginally for several years up to early 2008 when it peaked at around 1,700 beds (and there was no airstrip then). By the beginning of this year, this number dropped to around 1,100 beds, as hotels like the Andar and Mġarr were unceremoniously knocked down to make room for apartment blocks. So now, after reducing the bed stock in Gozo by more than a third, I suppose Mr Perry would have us build an airstrip to increase the influx of tourists which would in turn increase the demand for bed-places!
I have no doubt that there are quite a few shrewd speculators out there who would be terribly pleased with such prospects. And I have no doubt that Mr Perry is not one of them and that his intentions are well-meaning, but we all know where the road paved with such intentions leads to.
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James A. Tyrrell
Mar 31st 2010, 20:44
An excellent letter Amadeo, and I agree with you totally.
@F J Scicluna. I am a tourist who visits Gozo. I assume you are not so please do not speak on my behalf. If you want an airstrip that is your choice but do not use me as a reason to call for one to be built. You state that an airstrip is going to solve all the unemployment and investment problems that presently exist on Gozo. Wow! Is it an airstrip you are proposing or another international airport?
Ah the answer is in the next line of your comment. It is indeed another international airport you want in case the one in Malta can't be used. Great idea. I can just see all those international jets being diverted to Gozo.
Gozo did indeed enjoy a healthy air link for a long time and I myself was very happy to use it. That is what Gozo needs, a good helicopter service to link it to Malta. Did you know that Joseph Muscat managed to secure a promise of financial aid for such a service from the EU?
anthony vella
Mar 31st 2010, 20:27
people who love the peace of mind, should not even think about an airsrip in gozo. probably many of those who are in favour do not even live in gozo. perhaps they are used to a hectic life in which case they can visit such places in big cities like new york , london or paris. gozo is a tiny island with a small economy, we know that, there is not much work here, but we have survived. let us not develope too fast. we have 3 beautiful ferries. they serve us well. peace
F J Scicluna
Mar 31st 2010, 19:11
an airstrip on Gozo would not only serve the tourist or holiday maker.Its operation would yield much more employment, brings more direct investment, help our job seeking youths.No wonder that the list of unemployed persons keep on increasing.Some comment against, for the simple reason that its not to be done at one's backyard.
What would happen, if Malta's International airport would suddenly be unoperational? Do we all ,have a guarantee that this cant ever happen?
Gozo enjoyed a healthy air link between MIA and Gozo for a very long time ,ending in 2006.As an island region to Malta the island deserves this service. More foot dragging about its implementation, by the authorities, brings just frustrations to many.
lgalea
Mar 31st 2010, 22:11
"What would happen, if Malta's International airport would suddenly be unoperational? Do we all ,have a guarantee that this cant ever happen?"
So now you also want an international airport Mr Scicluna do you? Go tell it to the marines Scicluna.
Jesmond Micallef
Mar 31st 2010, 13:51
Tourists and Foreign residents of Gozo go there for what reason, in the first place. ? The answer is well known. The Maltese Islands are very small and the massive environmental challenges that these impose upon the islands are well reported here all too frequently. Much larger countries have there own designated areas, make it nature reserves, urbanised and developed areas, heritage, and so on. The little that there is on the Maltese islands is quite frankly and unquestionably, of upmost PROTECTIVE PRIORITY. Nothing else, absolutely nothing else.
The island of Malta has its fair share of problems in this regard, make it high rise development, power generation, seafaring and industrial activities, air quality and noise pollution, etc. Gozo should absolutely be PROTECTED TERRITORY !!! The island is different to Malta, and so it should remain.
Although making a case on whatever economic benefits may indeed be valid or not, there are priorities, indeed the same priorities upon which people make their own choices, in the first place.