On the 20th of June 2022, GUG Executive Member’s Eric Grech, Matthias Mercieca, and Estelle Scicluna attended a meeting with the Standing Committee for Gozo Affairs to discuss the topic of connectivity between Malta and Gozo. The individuals present at the meeting included Captain David Bugeja; Head of Transport Malta’s Maritime Directorate, Daniel Borg; Gozo Business Chamber CEO, Hon. Jo-Etienne Abela, Hon. Abigail Camilleri, Hon. Alex Borg, and Hon. Anton Refalo.
The meeting commenced with a speech delivered by Captain David Bugeja who briefly elucidated upon the Fast Ferry’s mode of operation since its introduction in June 2021. Hon. Alex Borg then succeeded him with a series of questions, particularly in relation to the gap within the timetable during midday and late evenings, supplementing his question with the growing needs for these hours by Gozitan teachers working in Malta whose shifts are now ending at midday due to the summer hours, whilst also adding the effects that such gaps could have on local tourism in general. Bugeja responded to these statements by stating that the companies Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Ferries Gozo are both privately owned and are thus not bound to any orders made on behalf of Transport Malta with regard to the creation of their timetable.
GUG President Estelle Scicluna then followed up with her speech, shedding particular light on the issues faced by Gozitan students through the use of the Fast Ferry services, particularly in relation to its unreliability during stormy weather. She also brought up the problems faced by students in relation to buses, particularly with the X300 route, to which upon questioning by Hon. Abigail Camilleri, Scicluna explained how the change in timetable was being published too late in the day for students to rely on, and that such publication should be done by the Transport Malta themselves, earlier on in the day, pointing out for such possibility due to the Fast Ferry’s cancellation being made very early in the day, or even a day prior. Furthermore she mentioned the lack of trips made by the X300 and that this too has ample room for improvement. With regard to other bus routes frequented by Gozitan students, namely the X1, 300, X1A, and 150, she mentioned how multiple students have lamented on the bus’s lack of punctuality or even instances whereby the bus does not even show up, albeit students may have been waiting for a long period of time. Scicluna also mentioned within her speech the number of interests and questions received by the GUG from Gozitan students with regard to the EDU Fast Ferry Card which remained unpublished although students were duly urged to apply for such a scheme.
After Scicluna’s speech, Mr. Borg then followed suit with his presentation, with his main points surrounding the critique to the Fast Ferries having more trips during the Covid era as opposed to the current timetable, especially in light of the upcoming peak seasonal months for tourism. Borg also made reference to the discontinued mode of payment through the Tallinja Card, which promoted cohesion between land and sea transports, expressing his disagreement with such discontinuation.
The closing statements for the meeting were made by the chair; Jo-Etienne Abela, prior to an interlude for any more queries.
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