Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546703
5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS Gozo Scouts complete 70km expedition from Dwejra to Marsaxlokk A group of Rover and Ven- ture Scouts from the Victoria Scout Group have completed a three-day, nearly 70km expe- dition stretching from Dwejra in Gozo to Marsaxlokk in Mal- ta. The expedition, completed last week, formed part of the scouts' training programme and their participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Interna- tional Award. The group described the challenge as one involving "adventure, friendship and perseverance" as the young scouts made their way from Gozo to the south of Malta over three days. The expedition is also linked to the scouts' Silver Award requirements under the Duke of Edinburgh pro- gramme, which encourages young people to undertake challenging activities while developing skills, physical fit- ness and resilience. The Victoria Scout Group congratulated the partic- ipants on completing the expedition, saying: "Well Done!!" CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 He also raised concerns re- garding accessibility on Gozo Channel vessels, pointing to the Nikolaos, which does not have a lift for disabled passengers. He also said the luggage service is no longer available and should be addressed. A baggage service had previously operated on the Malta-Gozo route. Tabone said new vessels should be subject to tenders, with EU funding used for their procurement. Gozo Channel issued a com- petitive call for tenders in June for the chartering of a fourth vessel to operate on the Mal- ta-Gozo route, with the vessel expected to replace the Nikola- os. In September, Gozo Chan- nel received two offers for the temporary replacement. The temporary charter is intend- ed to remain in place until the company purchases two new vessels. EU funding has also been identified as a possible source for a fourth Gozo ferry, with the Nationalist Party saying Malta can apply for EU funding for the vessel. Regarding the Fast Ferry ser- vice, Tabone described it as a success but said it requires more frequent trips and better protection from rain and the sun. He also called for a per- manent solution to gaps in the morning schedule. Tabone also raised the issue of priority boarding on both the Fast Ferry and Gozo Channel, saying regular commuters trav- elling for health, education and work face long waiting times. He also said that an allocation system should be introduced for commercial trucks and vans; this would prevent them from waiting in queues for hours. Gozo projects and infrastructure Tabone highlighted Gozo's deep historical roots and the need for proper investment in infrastructure supporting everyday commuters. He pointed to several pending projects, including the Marsal- forn breakwater, the transition of court services and the Rabat Museum, which began in 2016 and remains incomplete. He also referred to road works in Nadur and Qala and on the Marsalforn-Rabat main road. Electricity network Tabone also raised concerns about Gozo's electricity grid and the vulnerabilities exposed by the power failures experi- enced during the summer. He said investment in the electrical cables was roughly 25 years old and linked this to the system failures and outages ex- perienced during the summer. He stressed the need for better contingency planning so that, if a major failure occurs again in Gozo, backup systems, such as generators, are already in place. He said this would ensure re- liability locally rather than re- quiring authorities to scramble to respond after a major failure. Public security Tabone said the summer in- crease in Gozo's population has brought additional strains, including drug-related issues, a lack of enforcement and swim- ming safety concerns for tour- ists. He said Gozo's police force and emergency services, includ- ing the Rapid Intervention Unit, Armed Forces and Civil Protec- tion Department, require great- er investment. He also highlighted a lack of specialised vehicles and man- power. Healthcare Tabone called for the budget to prioritise upgrades to hospi- tal equipment, resolving wait- ing lists and queues, and ad- dressing shortages of doctors and support personnel. As well as recommending that the Ra- bat Health Centre operate on a 24-hour basis as it is the on- ly alternative to Gozo General Hospital. Rabat Health Centre should be open 24 hours a day, Frank Anthony Tabone says The Gozo Scouts waked from Dwejra in Gozo to Marsazlokk in Malta