Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541608
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Gozo Business Chamber voices concern over ferry service failures 'Gozo deserves better,' Alex Borg says OPPOSITION Leader Alex Borg accused the government of failing to deliver long-promised projects for Gozo. Speaking in parliament dur- ing the budget estimate speech on the Gozo Ministry, Borg said Gozitnas need improved public services. He listed a number of initi- atives previously announced by government which he said had not materialised, includ- ing a new 430-bed hospital, the Marsalforn breakwater, the expansion of MCAST, and the restoration of the Qolla l-Baj- da Battery. He also referred to projects such as the regional natural park, the Carnival Vil- lage and a pledge for climate neutrality. Borg also reminded govern- ment's promise to establish a new court building in Gozo. He welcomed the announce- ment that an agreement had been signed to acquire a prop- erty for the project but noted that the commitment dated back more than a decade. Borg called for assurances on the timeline, consultation process and funding, and asked wheth- er a monitoring committee in- volving workers and legal pro- fessionals would be set up. The PN leader said the stand- ard of living in Gozo had dete- riorated in recent years, point- ing to traffic congestion in Victoria, ageing ferry services and delays in social and medi- cal services. He claimed that the island had seen limited benefits from infrastructure spending and referred to other stalled initi- atives, including master plans for Xlendi and Marsalforn, the Gozo Museum project and the planned Innovation Hub. On planning policy, Borg ar- gued that the budget did not address development pres- sures, adding that govern- ment's proposed planning re- form lacked consultation and direction. Borg said a future Nationalist government would introduce measures aimed at improving transparency and encouraging higher-quality development through incentives such as tax credits, fast-tracking and ac- cess to green financing. Alex Borg said the standard of living in Gozo had deteriorated in recent years THE Gozo Business Chamber has called out the situation at the Gozo Channel, highlighting re- peated failures in the ferry service. "Sometimes, there seems to be a failure to realise the vitality of this service for the Gozitan popula- tion," the chamber said on Tues- day afternoon. They pointed out that for the past period, the channel was af- fected by failures in the service, especially in the morning, when this service is most critical for the Gozitan community. This reaction comes as commut- ers between Malta and Gozo were facing delays in the past weeks and growing frustration as Gozo Channel workers were waiting five minutes before letting the fer- ry depart. The business organisation stressed that the governance and management of the ferry service require urgent attention. They also warned that the ongoing disruptions are causing Gozitans to lose valuable time and placing them at a disadvantage. The chamber emphasised that whilst progress is being made across various sectors, accessibili- ty remains the most fundamental issue. "When the most vital thing of all, accessibility, is not being ad- dressed, this progress will be lost," they warned. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt Gozo Ferry MV Nikolaus (Photo: MaltaToday/James Bianchi) In parliament on Tuesday, Borg listed a number of initiatives previously announced by government which he said had not materialised, including a new 430-bed hospital, the Marsalforn breakwater, the expansion of MCAST, and the restoration of the Qolla l-Bajda Battery