A tunnel, a bridge (even, now, a “floating” bridge), a cable car (harumph!), an extended airstrip, a fast catamaran... whatever next?

Yet, nobody so far appears to have suggested the one option that would solve almost all the problems. An increased frequency of ferry sailings would be easier to implement, safer, more efficient... and cheaper, even with subsidies, to the tune of millions (if not billions) of euros.

If the current fleet of vessels would be unable to cope with (say) a regular half-hourly service through the day and an hourly service after midnight, let’s get another ship. We will need new ones in any case when the existing ferries reach their best-before date. A start on replacements should be made now.

The fares for Gozitans could even be better subsidised, simply by cutting off all those apparently impoverished people from the south island who pretend to live on Gozo in order to benefit from a cheaper tariff.

If travelling time is another factor, the easier (and cheaper) option would be to improve the road from Ċirkewwa. Except that the tender should obviously not be offered to whoever is not building the terminal there. A tunnel (etc)? Or a ship? I know where I’d rather my Maltese tax money were spent.