Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that a review needed to be made of the links between Gozo and Malta and courageous decisions should be taken.

Speaking at a PL activity this morning, Dr Muscat said that various possibilities could be considered for a permanent link between the two islands, including possibilities which were also discussed by the Labour Party in the 1970s (a bridge).

What was important, Dr Muscat said, was that the decision was not taken by the government on its own and the people of Gozo had a major say.

The private sector also needed to be involved in this matter.

Last week, Gozitan businessman Joseph Borg took advantage of a visit by the Prime Minister to his factory and called for the building of a “permanent road” between the two islands.

“It is time to connect the two islands with a permanent road,” Mr Borg, former chairman of Gozo Channel, said towards the end of a speech, saying it would be good for everyone, especially Gozitan enterprise.

Mr Borg said later his idea was not to have a bridge, which would have a negative visual impact, but an underwater tunnel.

“I think the most feasible solution, having the least environmental impact, would be a subsea tunnel,” Mr Borg said, adding he and others had been looking at this option in detail.

He said that his statement, during Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s visit to FXB’s Xewkija furniture factory, was meant to ignite a national debate on the matter.

Dr Gonzi said the government was committed to improving accessibility between the two islands but he did not commit to taking up the proposal.