Is it too much to hope that this further increase in less than a year will lead to a better management of the Gozo Channel Co. Ltd? It definitely is. We commuters have lost all hope that the service will one day be improved at least to match the two hefty tariff increases in the past 12 months.
On Wednesday Gozo residents crossing over to Malta with their car for study or work purposes will have to pay 11 per cent more. This increase was implemented through a legal notice published in the Government Gazette last year.
One major problem with Gozo Channel is that both its general manager and its recently appointed operations manager are not Gozitans themselves and have not, from an early age, had to undergo the hustle and bustle of the crossing once, twice or even five times a week.
The current general manager, Marvic Fenech Adami, must have been at Cirkewwa and Mgarr several times, but certainly not enough to see the problems with his own eyes so that he can ease our tribulations. He presumably relies on the feedback from his various managers on site. I hope that he is not fed a rosy picture all time, when in fact it is quite the opposite.
Punctuality has improved, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. The parking of cars on the ferries and the courtesy of some of the Gozo Channel employees still needs to be corrected. Cleanliness at certain times of the day is not up to standard.
The closing of a section of the ship, cramming all passengers in the bar area for the cleaning staff to save time, needs to be reviewed. The chains used on the car deck to secure large trucks when the sea is rough break all standards of safety. I have witnessed many people trip over them.
The recently appointed operations manager is more visible. But a small digression is necessary at this point. When Gozo Channel was increasing the fares for Gozitans by 11 per cent, was it necessary to appoint an operations manager with a handsome salary?
It is hopeful that by being present he realises that certain decisions are beyond comprehension. On Fridays passengers returning to Gozo with a car have to queue up for up to two hours before boarding. This needs to be reviewed.
A Friday or two ago the 6 p.m. trip was performed by the Malita that has two hoistable decks. As there were three high trucks, only one of these decks could be lowered. The carrying of these heavy vehicles meant that about 36 cars, and there were more in the marshalling area, were left stranded and had to take the 7 p.m. trip.
It is understandable that heavy vehicles have the right to cross with the ferry. However, can't Gozo Channel issue a notice saying that between, say, 4 and 8 p.m., when there is a heavy demand, the Malita would only carry cars? Would not such a decision save Gozo Channel an extra trip or two and an amount of fuel?
Is not the company and Investments Minister Austin Gatt, dead set on saving money on the ferry operations?
On the same Friday, the 7 p.m. trip was performed by the Ta' Pinu, which has no hoistable deck. At least 50 cars were left stranded. At the same time, the Gaudos was also berthed at Cirkewwa to take on the bowsers that keep the petrol pumps of Gozo running. Could not this trip reserved for bowsers be postponed to a later hour?
The general manager is free to take notice or to completely ignore these suggestions. His job is however to supervise a smoother running of the service. Now that tariffs are being increased, he should at least do his best to improve this service and ease our suffering in the summer heat.