The aim of priority boarding at Gozo Channel was not to increase fares but to control abuse, Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said.

Replying to a parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi, Dr Refalo said that the government had found lack of control and accountability at Gozo Channel which had led to theft and abuse.

The government wanted to stop this abuse and come up with new initiatives with the money saved

He noted that the projected loss of €1.6 million had been brought down to €600,000.

“Our intention is that with more control to make the company a viable one,” he said.

He said that the government came up with the priority boarding idea after taking into consideration the opinion of the different stakeholders. He said that the majority of Gozitans were all for the system.

Asked whether alternative means of travel was also being considered, the minister said that different options were a green airstrip and a fast ferry service.

Studies, he said, would always be carried out to ensure the projects' viability and impact.