Watch: MP Alex Borg Concerned Over Gozo Channel Ticket Prices And Workers’ Future Post-Privatisation
PN MP Alex Borg has voiced concern about the future of the Gozo Channel – including its ticket prices and workforce conditions – after Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed plans to open it up to the private sector.
“With regards to the fares, the government must fight for it because it is the life link between Malta and Gozo,” Borg said in a new interview with Lovin Malta.
“Us Gozitans don’t usually travel to Malta just for leisure; certain Gozitans like myself travel to Malta for work so obviously there need to be certain measures to ensure the fares remain stable and don’t jump upwards.”
“When it comes to the Gozo Channel workers, we need to make sure their minds are assured that they won’t be fired. At the end of the day, unemployment is a very big issue and these workers need to have their mind at rest that they will be kept over there and not fired when the new service provider comes in.”
As it stands, the standard Gozo channel fares for car drivers, motorbike riders and regular passengers stand at €15.70, €6.95 and €4.65 respectively, down to €8.15, €4.65 and €1.15 respectively for Gozitan residents. Cheaper fares apply to elderly people.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed that a public tender will be issued shortly and that the government-owned company that currently runs the ships will submit an offer to retain the concession.
He didn’t state what conditions will be tied to the concession.
Besides assurances on ticket fares and job security, Borg also called for the Malta-Gozo fleet to be replaced by four entirely new ferries.
“The fourth ferry has made our lives easier and there are shorter queues but we need to keep in mind that the new Nikolaus ferry is costing us €13,000 a day,” he warned. “Apart from being older than the other three ferries, which were installed by previous PN governments, this ferry is costing us €13,000 a day and the PL government always promised us a fourth new ferry, even in the last budget. So far, we have remained with the Nikolaus.”
“The three other three ferries have also become old now because their lifespan has been exceeded. Nowadays, as the government has always promised, we should move to four new ferries in order to have more efficient transport between Malta and Gozo.”
Should the Gozo Channel service be upgraded?
READ NEXT: Bus Driver Hospitalised After Crashing Into Parked Car In Mellieħa Main Road At 4:10am
