Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera yesterday flatly denied he was given privileged treatment by Gozo Channel at Mġarr harbour when a departing ferry’s ramp was lowered again to allow him on board.

The incident happened on Friday night.

Gozo Channel sources told Times of Malta Dr Herrera’s car appeared at the gate when the ferry operating the 12.45am trip on Saturday was about to leave its berth. The car embarkation ramp had already been closed and the mooring lines were being raised.

According to the sources, a Gozo Channel employee spotted the official car and the ship was ordered to lower its ramp again to allow Dr Herrera to board.

The sources identified Raymond Borg, known as Ix-Xitan, as the employee who issued the orders.

When contacted, Mr Borg – the same person who had also featured in a similar incident last year when a ferry was instructed to return to its berth to collect Gozo Minister Anton Refalo – insisted that no such thing had happened.

“Nothing of the sort happened and this is an invention. If you like, you can ask José Herrera,” he replied.

Dr Herrera admitted the ramp was lowered again to let his car on board but said this was only common sense and prudence on the part of the company.

“I was making my way back home from a wedding and when I arrived the ship’s ramp was already raised. However, when they noticed my car they lowered it again to allow me to catch the boat instead of having to wait for another hour. I swear I did not contact anybody and it was Gozo Channel staff who decided to do this out of prudence. What should I have done, refuse to board,” he exclaimed.

When they noticed my car they lowered it again to allow me to catch the boat

Insisting it was just a case of common sense on Gozo Channel’s part, Dr Herrera said: “The whole operation only took 30 seconds. They should have done the same even if it had been a normal passenger,” he said.

Last September, the ferry had departed from Ċirkewwa but was ordered to turn back so Dr Refalo could board.

The minister had admitted that he had contacted Mr Borg, one of his canvassers, complaining that the vessel had left, notwithstanding that passengers were still waiting on the quay.

He had denied that he had ordered the boat to return to pick him up.