Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542822
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 JANUARY 2026 OPINION Julia Farrugia Minister for Inclusion and Voluntary Organisations Rabat hub: A first, another promise kept IT is now an accepted political reality that the Labour Party in government can be trusted to honour its electoral pledg- es and budgetary proposals, whatever the obstacles. This has been the trend since the overwhelming change of gov- ernment in 2013. The list of fulfilled promises since then is remarkable and is accelerating at a faster rate in every sector of the economy today. The official launch of the Rabat Inclusion Hub project, the first of its kind, thanks to a €550,000 investment, is yet another budget measure being implemented within the first month of the new year. This was a project coordinated be- tween Aġenzija Sapport and the Rabat council. The new, in- clusive hub will feature a mod- ern, accessible and open am- bience to welcome the whole town community. Located within the precincts of the Nigret Housing Estate, the project consisted of trans- formative works on a number of dilapidated shops to help create a multifunctional space for a growing Rabat communi- ty. When completed, the hub will house a day centre for sen- ior citizens, a meeting place for persons with disabilities, and other spaces for the young and the old together. The emphasis will remain strictly on social inclusion and active participa- tion. The new structure will of course be fully accessible, de- signed to host all visitors with dignity and security, as well as being made available for vari- ous programmes and activities, including the evenings and weekends. Following the demolition of the existing structure, the pro- ject will get under way and is expected to be completed by the end of next year. But this is not just about bricks and infrastructure—it is about the government's com- mitment to continue putting social inclusion and accessibil- ity at the heart of its manifest- ed policies. The dynamic con- cept of the new hub at Rabat is intertwined with the overall need for Maltese and Gozitan communities to interact with- in a positive and healthy envi- ronment. The concept benefits residents of all ages, persons with disabilities and NGOs. A proven model of social cohe- sion with new opportunities for a better quality of life. Oliver Scicluna, CEO of Aġenzija Sapport, emphasised the agency's steadfast com- mitment to greater accessibil- ity and inclusion, highlighting how different sectors of the Rabat community will soon be better positioned to plan their activities and realise their aspi- rations. As attested by Rabat Mayor Sandro Craus, his council had long been clamouring for such social and communal servic- es to be offered to the town's community. In so doing, the first decisive step was to de- volve the site and grant the title to the council. This was followed up with a rigorous Planning Authority process. There should be no doubt that this first inclusive hub should act as a trigger to more such projects within other commu- nities. But the Rabat hub is also part of a wider project of ur- ban regeneration undertaken by Infrastructure Malta. This includes the embellishment of the pjazza facing the new structure, thus ensuring a more attractive and functional ambi- ence for the community. Mario Borg Permanent Secretary, Gozo and Planning Ministry A €130 million plan to enhance connectivity for Gozo WITH commuting of goods and people between Malta and Gozo registering double digit annual growth rates, the need to invest heavily in port infrastructure has become a requirement in the quest to enhance the potential of Gozo. It is within this context that the government announced a new investment plan to further strengthen sea connectivity be- tween the two islands. During an inter-ministerial press con- ference, it was revealed that by 2029 the Gozo Channel fleet will consist of five vessels, four pas- senger vessels and an addition- al ship dedicated to cargo. This investment amounts to €130 million. A significant figure, es- pecially when considering the fast ferry service carried over 1 million passengers the last year. The plan, announced by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, Econ- omy Minister Silvio Schembri and Transport Minister Chris Bonett, aligns with the Gozo Regional Development Strategy. This strategy, published almost three years ago, underscores the need to continue investing in Gozo's connectivity to reflect the island's economic develop- ment and ensuring delivery of the required capacity for both commercial and passenger ve- hicles. It is widely accepted that Gozo's double insularity im- pacts the movement of people and goods, as well as the island's productivity and economic per- formance. The introduction of a fourth ship in 2019 increased service capacity and helped re- duced waiting times and im- proved overall efficiency. How- ever, the traffic between the two islands continued to grow sig- nificantly over recent decades, driven by several factors includ- ing increased domestic and in- ternational tourism. In fact, ac- cording to official Gozo Channel data, the number of vehicles and passengers crossing between the two islands increased by 225.2% and 92.7% respectively between 1995 and 2022. Over the same period, the number of trips in- creased by more than 75%. Ac- cording to projections, demand for sea transport between the two islands is expected to con- tinue increasing. This necessi- tates bold decisions and a firm commitment to invest in the connectivity between the is- lands. The investment plan in the new ferries does this. By 2029, two new vessels will be introduced: A fourth vessel with a capacity of 250 cars to be deployed during periods of high demand, and a fifth vessel with a capacity of 75 cars to operate during lower-demand periods. These vessels will operate along- side the existing fleet, which will be retrofitted, one ferry at a time, following the introduction of the two new vessels. During the retrofitting period, Gozo Channel will continue leasing an additional vessel to main- tain a fleet of five operational ferries, ensuring uninterrupted service, and enabling the oper- ation of the newly introduced commercial vehicle route. The proposed cargo ferry is expected to eliminate around 11,000 trips from Maltese roads currently undertaken by commercial ve- hicles, exceeding 12 metres in length. The new route will oper- ate from Malta Freeport and the Grand Harbour, easing pressure on Ċirkewwa, improving freight logistics, and reducing conges- tion and pollution in urban ar- eas. The Ministry for Gozo and Planning is committed to go fur- ther. An additional step is the setting of a Taskforce to devel- op a strategic plan for upgrading the port infrastructure in Gozo, with a particular focus on the development of a strategic plan for the optimisation of Mġarr Harbour. This will be formulated through open, accountable, and responsible decision-mak- ing that proactively engages the Gozitan community and relevant stakeholders and will ensure that the Mġarr Harbour continues to serve as a resilient, efficient, and sustainable mul- timodal transport and logistics hub for Gozo.