Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543356
GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 20 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Borg said that if elected, the PN would invest in three new vessels for Gozo. "I believe that ideally there should be five new vessels between Malta and Gozo — four for passengers and one for cargo, which would go directly to the Freeport or the Port of Valletta." Calls for a permanent link After Storm Harry caused wide- spread disruption across Malta and Gozo, stakeholders renewed calls for discussion on establish- ing a permanent link between the islands. The storm left many Gozitans stranded in Malta when the Gozo ferry service was sus- pended, while others were un- able to reach their workplaces. As a result, several schools were forced to close for the day due to a shortage of teachers. In response, the Gozo Chamber urged that debate on a perma- nent Malta–Gozo connection be reconsidered, arguing that one project would not exclude anoth- er and that the planned expan- sion of the Gozo Channel fleet could proceed alongside a per- manent link. Similarly, the Gozo Tourism Association renewed its call for an inter-island air link, saying an alternative mode of connectivity, particularly by air, would have significantly reduced the disrup- tion experienced by residents. Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi, who lives in Gozo, also called for a more serious and less romanticised debate on a perma- nent link, arguing that different transport modes should comple- ment one another to ensure resil- ience and reliability. He rejected the notion that Gozo's identity depends on isolation, saying it is instead shaped by its people, culture, environment and policy choices. Prior to the storm, Ivan Falzon, CEO of the Gozo Regional Devel- opment Authority, had likewise voiced support for a permanent link in an interview with Malta- Today. "The position of the GR- DA rests on enhancing accessi- bility. I was, am, and will remain in favour of a permanent link. Personally, no matter how hard I try to think about it, a permanent link remains the principal vein that would connect us to Malta," he said. What does a permeant link mean? Debate over a permanent linka between Gozo and Malta dates back to the 1970s, with proposals for both an undersea tunnel and a bridge. The bridge option was abandoned in 2013 2014 after being deemed financially unfea- sible. There was support from the Labour Party for a tunnel, with studies being commissioned on its feasibility, but plans were put on hold after 2020 due to the pandemic. 'Gozo should not become an extension of Malta, Gozo has its own beauty, identity, and character' - Alex Borg Alex Borg met with the MaltaToday newsroom for a Q&A (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Passenger cars were involved in nearly half of all casualties (48.5%), followed by motorcy- cles (40.1%) and goods-carrying vehicles (6.3%). Vehicle-to-ve- hicle collisions accounted for 59.6% of injuries, while nine cyclists were injured, three grievously. Accidents peaked on Fridays, with 609 cases, while Mon- days saw the highest number of casualties at 59. The most com- mon times for accidents were between 12:00–14:59 (844 cas- es) and 09:00–11:59 (843 cas- es). Midnight to 02:59 was the least risky time window. Ħal Qormi recorded the high- est number of local accidents at 202, followed by Birkirkara (201) and Il-Marsa (183). While most districts saw de- clines, Gozo and Comino's in- crease contrasted sharply with Northern district's 17.1% re- duction. For the full year 2025, Malta logged 18 road traffic fatalities, six more than in 2024, along- side 1,153 injury accidents and 13,951 non-injury incidents. Most grievously injured indi- viduals were male (65.1%), with the 41–59 age group account- ing for 28.6% of casualties. The NSO compiles these sta- tistics from Malta Police Force and Malta Insurance Associa- tion reports, noting that fatal- ity figures may be revised fol- lowing magisterial inquiries. Gozo and Comino recorded a 20% increase in incidents, NSO says While most districts saw declines, Gozo and Comino's increase contrasted sharply with Northern district's 17.1% reduction