Gozo revolts against ferry price increases

Virtually all of Gozo is taking the government to task for the increase in the price of ferry tickets for the crossing between Gozo and Malta.
The Gozo Business Chamber together with the Gozo Tourism Association, the mayors of Local Councils, representatives of the constituted bodies and Church representatives adopted a resolution yesterday in which they called for a decrease in the prices.
It has become clear that the Gozitans intend to use arguments based on EU principles as is evidenced in their pronouncements yesterday.
The resolution emphasised Gozo’s insularity and said the operations of Gozo Channel could not be separated from Gozo’s realities.
The representatives affirmed the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity as is practised in the EU and condemned the said price increases.
The resolution further stated that Gozo’s economy was facing difficult times with a lack of investment and the loss of jobs and asked for the price increases to be revoked.
The Gozitans recognised the four fundamental liberties promoted by the EU including the liberty of movement of people and products and said the price increases were undermining this liberty.
The representatives said that while access to goods is increasing, communication improving and tariffs are being reduced in the world, any price increase on the Malta Gozo route was making Gozitan products less attractive.
The Gozitans insisted that every change in the service offered by the Gozo Channel company should be made in consultation.
All those that attending a meeting held Friday quizzed why Gozo Channel was not subject to a regulator and asked for the conditions related to the Mgarr Sa Maison ferry be retained.
All present deplored the fact that Gozo has not been included in the Trans European Network which will provide funds for road improvements.
A ‘Gozo Forum’has been set up to meet on a regular basis and a committee will be appointed made up of two representatives of the Business Chamber, two of the Gozo Tourism Association and two from the other constituted bodies.