Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547491
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 DEPUTY 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 • 6 NOVEMBER 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The Budget 2027 allocation for Gozo stands at €141 mil- lion, an increase of €19 mil- lion, or 15.7%, over the previ- ous year. Gozo Channel and fast ferry On connectivity, Camilleri said that Maltese and Gozitans travelling on foot on the Gozo Channel will be able to cross free of charge. The measure was announced by the Prime Minister two days earlier and had been included in the gov- ernment's electoral manifesto. Tourist ticket prices for both the Gozo Channel and Fast Ferry services are also set to change, with visitors expected to contribute towards the im- pact their presence has on the island's infrastructure. Fur- thermore, the minister said the services were already receiving additional subsidies. The fast ferry service is also expected to operate additional trips between Mġarr and Val- letta, alongside a new route connecting Mġarr with Buġib- ba and Sliema. Work is also progressing on the replacement of the Gozo Channel vessel Nikolaos, with the evaluation of tenders for a fourth vessel nearing comple- tion. A pre-qualification ques- tionnaire for new Gozo Chan- nel vessels is expected to be issued by the end of 2026. A task force set up to exam- ine Mġarr Harbour has com- pleted a preliminary strategic assessment and begun con- sulting stakeholders. A long- term plan, including practical recommendations, is expect- ed next year. Camilleri also announced a permanent ac- commodation reimbursement arrangement for Gozitans stranded in Malta because of extreme weather. Energy and road infrastructure On energy, Camilleri said the government is planning 15 new distribution centres across Malta and Gozo. Two 33kV cables connecting the islands are planned in the short term, followed by a 132kV intercon- nector. Road infrastructure will al- so receive €10 million, with a programme to rebuild 100 res- idential roads over three years. Works on arterial roads will include the Rabat-Marsalforn Road and roads in Nadur and Qala. Moreover, the government is also planning Park and Ride routes between Ta' Xħajma and Rabat town centre, as well as seasonal services from Mar- salforn and Xlendi during the summer. Further investment is planned in safer cycling lanes, walking routes connecting vil- lages and additional bicycle parking. Environment projects Environmental projects will include a new scheme next year encouraging Gozitan landown- ers and farmers to plant indig- enous trees along major roads. The initiative will begin along the Rabat-Marsalforn Road be- fore being extended to other localities. Camilleri also referred to the Għammar Hill afforestation project, inaugurated during the government's first 100 days, which involved the planting of 900 trees across 8,000sq.m. Other projects include Ulysses Grove in Xewkija, maintenance and improvements at gardens in Kerċem, Qala and Xewkija, a green roof at the Ta' Xħajma Park and Ride, and the regen- eration of Għajnsielem square. "Gozo must be a place where development goes hand in hand with environmental pro- tection and quality of life," the minister said. Education In education, Camilleri said the Nadur Primary School and Victoria Primary and Middle School projects had been com- pleted. Ta' Kerċem Primary School has also been renovat- ed through an investment of €3.2 million. The building was stripped back to its shell and rebuilt while students contin- ued attending school during the works. The next schools earmarked for projects are those in Żeb- buġ and Għarb. Investment is continuing in the Sports and Aquatic Pavil- ion in Victoria, with the aim of attracting competitions, train- ing camps and other events to Gozo. The government is working with sports federations and Sport Malta, while also seeking to give elderly Gozitans more opportunities to use the facil- ities through physical activity and sports programmes tai- lored to their needs. Plans also include modern- ising the shooting facilities in Żebbuġ into a complex for high-level training and compe- titions, supporting Gozan ath- letes taking part in the next Is- land Games, and beginning the selection process for athletics track on the island. European Capital of Culture 2031 On culture, Camilleri said the Gozo Museum in Victoria was expected to open in the near future. He also referred to Vic- toria's designation as European Capital of Culture 2031, de- scribing it as the smallest city in Europe to receive the title. Camilleri said the govern- ment intends to use the event to promote Gozitan culture, traditions, artists and talent, while ensuring its benefits continue beyond 2031. No specific budget allocation for the cultural capital project was outlined in the speech. Healthcare Regarding healthcare, Camill- eri said a new helipad has been inaugurated to improve trans- fers between Gozo General Hospital and Mater Dei Hos- pital. The facility is intended to reduce travelling time for patients who need to be trans- ferred to Malta. He also said Villa Lauri in Birkirkara is expected to open the following week, providing accommodation for relatives of Gozitan patients receiving treatment at Mater Dei. Camilleri said the govern- ment's wider aim was to sup- port Gozo's economic growth and modernisation while pro- tecting its identity, villages, landscape and communities. A review of the Regional De- velopment Strategy, published three years ago, has also been launched to assess progress and identify priorities for the coming years. Area currently being used as carpark will make room for 3,100sq.m Siege Square Ta' Kercem Primary School has also been renovated through an investment of €3.2 million