Bid to break ‘monopoly’ on Dwejra boat trips

A boat owner has been waiting for no less than 13 years for Transport Malta to grant him a licence to take tourists around the picturesque Dwejra Bay and the Azure Window, one of Gozo’s most visited tourist spots.

His patience has finally run out and he has filed legal action, accusing the transport watchdog of protecting the interests of the few operators of pleasure trips in the bay and consolidating their monopoly.

Raymond Grima, of San Lawrenz, claimed Transport Malta was “illegally” refusing to issue him with the proper licence.

In a judicial protest filed in the Gozo courts earlier this week, he held Transport Malta responsible for the damages he was sustaining, especially since, he claimed, the authority’s actions were in breach of European laws on monopolies.

His lawyer, Kevin Mompalao, insisted the transport watchdog was bringing up every excuse not to issue the licence, including blaming it on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Mr Gauci explained that, after having first chased the Malta Maritime Authority and now its replacement Transport Malta, his latest request was submitted in March. So far, however, he had received no reply, although more than half of the summer season had already elapsed.

Although the government had repeatedly committed itself to liberalising the transport sector, pleasure cruises in Dwejra were still characterised by a monopoly of the few, he argued.

He called on Transport Malta to issue the licence immediately and held it responsible for damages.