Over the past week I havebeen subjected to a barrage ofdestructive criticism from online commentators and opinion writers.

I am sure that had I not declared I would be contesting with the Labour Party, the tone of criticism would have been very different.

However, it seems that whenever anyone decides to support the Labour Party, he is exposed to character assassination by Nationalist Party apologists. That’s democracy for you on our shores.

The only reason I had been granted a Gozo Channel priority boarding permit since 2002 was to serve patients and nothing else. I was only granted priority to be on time for surgery and only if I was on my way to a state hospital.

Arriving at Mater Dei Hospital on time would mean that whenever I had elective surgeries, patients would not have the added anxiety of their surgery being delayed. I did not wish to waste precious theatre time but maximise its use and therefore help even more patients from their long awaiting ailments.

In order not to impinge on the cataract waiting list, most corneal transplantations are carried at 7.30 a.m. before normal theatre lists. As I am responsible for the corneal transplantation programme, the Medical Superintendent asked Gozo Channel to issue me a priority boarding permit.

I am also obliged to cover for emergency eye surgery on a one-in-four basis and this permit would enable patients to have timely intervention.

So why was the priority pass withdrawn? How many passes were withdrawn in March 2011? On what criteria were other professionals being allowed to jump the queue? I was definitely never accused of abusing my pass.

I do not think I am special but I do think that when someone is a patient, it is a delicate time in his life and he warrants special treatment. When I had priority boarding, it was only because of the needy patients. I never had priority boarding to venture on a Sunday morning to Mater Dei for an extra elective theatre list or to return home after a day’s work in Malta.

On a different note, it does not make economical sense to outsource surgery but at the same time hamper a health provider from carrying out his duties at Mater Dei. So such a permit not only alleviates patients’ suffering but also saves taxpayers’ money.

And to put the record straight, even though I agree withoutsourcing of surgeries to private hospitals, I do not agree that any consultant employed at Mater Dei should ever be involved due to conflict of interest. For this reason I am not involved in this scheme.

This attack on me was a clear example of shooting the messenger but forgetting all about the message. I have been subjected to endless personal attacks of being insensitive, lazy, arrogant, petulant, and so forth, but my aim is only to maximise my patients’ care and that people based in Gozo get a better link with mainland Malta.

While dreaming of a permanent link, we need a transport company that offers modern effective travel solutions for all. The talk of having sustainable growth in Gozo needs to be translated into policies.

I welcome the news that Gozo Channel will install hoistable decks on its second ferry. This will go a long way into reducing waiting time during busy periods; however, this is not enough.

The essence of requiring a priority boarding pass is in itself an admission of failure to provide what should be a right to all Gozitans, that is an effective, efficient and affordable link to mainland Malta.