The truth is that Gozo’s charm lies mainly in the fact that it has been caught in a time warp; travelling to this small island is like going back some 20-odd years in time.
Gozo has changed from the times when, as a teen, we used to cross over every Santa Marija and spend our time in some dilapidated flat in Marsalforn, with nothing better to do than to get up to mischief, albeit innocent.
Yet, the charm is still all there and the ‘adventure’ of catching a ferry to go back in time is still appealing to many Maltese. It is still a place we can escape to, away from the chaotic mess we have turned Malta into.
And this has happened by no mere coincidence or deliberate intervention. It has come about because without a permanent link to mainland Malta, Gozo has remained isolated and protected from the inevitable urban development and industrialisation.
A permanent link between Malta and Gozo would definitely put the latter on a super-fast track in order to catch up with time and, in the process, rendering Gozo insignificant.
The truth too is that it could be hard for a few Gozitans who have to battle the elements of time and weather to travel 20 minutes by ferry to Malta on a daily basis, but then a permanent link is not the solution.
The investment should not be in a million-euro bridge over the channel, which could directly impact the sister island’s unique and distinct way of life.
Many people, including myself, will argue that this would damage the tranquillity, natural beauty and charm of Gozo.
Having a bridge spanning the Gozo channel is not the same as linking Sicily to Italy, the UK to Europe or even Malta to Sicily, which all make perfect sense.
The argument on whether a bridge, or worse still, a tunnel, should be constructed must revolve solely around the preservation of Gozo’s unique identity and on nothing else. The rest can be resolved, through much smaller investments, in a more efficient ferry service.
I would imagine most Gozitans probably favour a permanent link to Malta, and this is probably the reason why both political parties have pledged that a permanent link will be built. There are 30,000 votes to capitalise on in Gozo.
The country has more urgent transport matters to address. I would rather see a billion euros being invested in an underground transport system before seeing this bridge to Gozo.
motoring@timesofmalta.com