Was I the only person to experience a bad start to 2018 courtesy of Gozo Channel Co. and Malta Public Transport?

I joined a hellish queue in Mġarr on January 1 to be told, an hour later, that the ferry was full. We were kindly invited to continue to queue for another four hours for the next ferry or to leave. I decided to park in Mġarr, a feat in itself, and try my luck as a foot passenger.

On arrival in Ċirkewwa, I found that the buses had also stopped without bothering to wait for the ferry. Reaching my family became supremely difficult. Getting a taxi was impossible (there were too few), walking to Sliema was not an option and calling someone to fetch me seemed unfair. So, I returned to Gozo on the last ferry.

I am happy that Gozo Channel and Malta Public Transport staff members were given the opportunity to enjoy their New Year’s lunch but many were denied theirs. With a government apparently willing to build and maintain a tunnel, it beggars belief that staff cannot be offered an incentive to ensure continued ferry and bus services on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Surely, ferries between Italy and Sicily or between England and mainland Europe do not stop on these days.

We are indeed a tolerant nation that probably deserves what it gets.