Gozo Channel is now running close to budgeted costs and inching closer to eventually making an operational profit, Gozo Minister Anton Refalo told Ċensu Galea (PN) yesterday.

He said this was the result of controls being brought to bear on the company’s operations, including major crackdowns on unnecessary overtime and “institutionalised corruption and rampant theft”.

Dr Refalo said the former company chairman had never taken steps against these shortcomings and had not even transferred staff members responsible.

He said the workforce’s mentality was changing and that the company was “getting there”.

Mr Galea had asked about the policy of closing the cafeteria on boat trips in the early hours of each morning, effectively closing down half the ship and drastically reducing seating capacity.

Dr Refalo said this was one of the results of cost-cutting exercises but he would look into it. At the same time he said there were a number of vending machines that could serve customers instead of the cafeteria.