The duty manager responsible for Gozo Channel’s operations last Sunday night, when a vessel failed to pick up waiting passengers, was suspended from work “until further notice” and will be facing disciplinary action, Times of Malta is informed.
Although both the Gozo Ministry and Gozo Channel yesterday failed to reply to questions by this newspaper, sources confirmed that Teddie Pace was suspended by the management following a complaint by Gozo Minister Anton Refalo, who was one of the passengers.
Manager off work until further notice
Last Sunday, MV Gaudos was ordered back to Ċirkewwa to pick them up even though two other scheduled ferries were on their way.
On Monday, Gozo Channel said it was company policy to check whether there were any cars or passengers waiting to board, even when a vessel was making its last trip to berth.
Gozo Channel has so far failed to provide a copy of this policy to this newspaper.
Company sources contradicted the chairman’s declaration, saying vessels relieved from the shuttle service usually returned to berth empty.
According to Gozo Channel, the decision to recall the MV Gaudos back to port after it had already departed to berth was taken by the duty manager after he “received a call from a passenger, who identified himself as the Gozo Minister, complaining that the ferry left passengers stranded”.
Sources close to the company told Times of Malta it was blaming Mr Pace as he was responsible for the operations at the time. On Sunday night, a livid Dr Refalo denied ordering the vessel back to pick him up.
He admitted calling someone in the company to complain that the vessel left empty when there were passengers queuing.
The minister had also told Times of Malta that he was going to suspend the person responsible.
Contacted on Monday, Gozo Channel chairman Joe Cordina did not exclude disciplinary measures over the incident although he clarified that these would be taken by the management, not the Gozo Minister.
Mr Cordina did not reply when asked yesterday whether Dr Refalo ordered managers to suspend Mr Pace. Efforts to contact the minister were in vain.
The Nationalist Party accused the Gozo Minister of trying to shift the blame when it was clear that he had acted in an incorrect manner when he ordered the ship back.