The daily allowance to be given to those who use collective transport was welcomed but Gozitans were disappointed that the much-promised fast ferry and the fourth ship for Gozo Channel were not mentioned at all in the Budget.

The secretary of the Association of Gozitan Employees in Malta, Manuel Xuereb, said the daily allowance was “a moral victory” for the association. He noted that, every year, such Gozitans working in Malta forked out about €850 in transport costs.

The association had proposed that subsidies be increased from €1.12 to €3, which meant that annual subsidies to ease the financial burden of commuting to Malta would rise to €720 from €250 every year.

“It’s great that the government acted on our proposals but, naturally, more needs to be done” he said.

Gozo Business Chamber president Joe Borg, however, was critical of the fact that nothing was said about the fast-ferry service or the introduction of a fourth vessel. “Even the idea of an air link seems to be grounded,” he added.

Naturally, more needs to be done

Mr Borg said the chamber was pleased with the increase in allowance for carers who accompanied patients for treatment in Malta. “Taking into consideration the hurdles that carers have to overcome whenever they accompany patients to Malta for treatment, such an incentive will give them some breathing space,” he said.

On the economic front, Mr Borg noted the government needed to work more on reducing the GDP discrepancy between the two islands.

The government announced in the Budget for 2019 that the ground work was being laid for a park-and-ride system to alleviate parking space and reduce air emissions at the Mġarr harbour. If implemented, this would be a first for Gozo.

Read: The Budget - first reactions

The Budget speech also touched upon the seemingly never-ending debate about a permanent link between the two islands. Although most Gozitans are ambivalent on whether a tunnel would be the best thing to go for, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said the project was at the design stage.

Gozitans who spoke with the Times of Malta, however, were split over whether such a statement was good or bad news. “The idea of a permanent link has always been on the back burner but we’ve never been this close to having such a direct link and that’s something to be hopeful about,” a Gozitan, who preferred to remain anonymous, said.

Another said that the absence of a fourth ferry was making life difficult for those who commuted regularly between the two islands.

The Gozo University Group welcomed increased stipends for students and more help on “sky-high” rents. However, it expected to hear about a credible plan on the University Gozo campus and what the future held.

Gozitan Nationalist MP Chris Said remarked in a Facebook post the government would only be allocating €4 million for road infrastructure in Gozo from a total of €100 million nationwide. He said this meant only four per cent of the bulk sum would be earmarked for Gozo.

Yet again, not a cent of EU funds on Gozo would be invested in road infrastructure, he pointed out.

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