Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/604914
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2015 15 to be presenting the choice as an either/or scenario. But if, for argument's sake, the govern- ment goes ahead with the tun- nel option… it will still have to replace the ferry service anyway. Even if unviable, the sea link is strategically important in its own right… Vella nods. "Yes, without any doubt. What we are saying is that, the experience of going to Gozo by ferry – at least, for tour- ists, Maltese and people who don't make the trip every day, like us – is something we want to retain. It's a big plus point for Gozo. And it's important even for the first impressions people get of the island…" Vella suggests a clause in the eventual tender for the tunnel service, that would oblige the successful bidder to also run the ferry service at his own ex- pense… provided that no other operator wants to take it on as a private business venture. This proposal, he argues, virtu- ally guarantees a continued ferry service either way. "It could be profitable, it could be loss-mak- ing, but that's not the issue. What we did is that we laminated 20% of the projected traffic to remain by ferry even if it is loss-making. The Norwegians thought we were mad when we told them this; everywhere they opened a tunnel, the existing ferry service shut down. But we said no: the ferries are important to us, and have to stay. Even for the simple reason that some people might be claustrophobic, and refuse to drive through an underwater tunnel..." But not, he quickly adds, in their present form. "With a tunnel in place, the new ferries would be much smaller, take few- er cars, etc. This would also free up space in Mgarr and Cirkewwa harbours, which might create opportunities for facilities like yacht marinas, international sea terminals etc…" Vella takes the opportunity to deflect concerns for the fate of Gozo Channel's current employ- ees. "Not a single Gozo Channel employee will lose employment. The majority will reach retire- ment age before the tunnel's operational opening date. Oth- ers will stay on to operate the smaller ferry service operation. Others will be deployed to the tunnel operation…" Leaving aside financial consid- erations, there are other causes for concern. Vella himself men- tioned one already: Gozo's tour- ism factor. Isn't there a danger that the island's intrinsic charm might be threatened by the sud- den accessibility to an exponen- tially higher number of cars than ever before? Wouldn't this open the floodgates to the type of is- sues – traffic, over-development, etc. – that have already swal- lowed up so much of Malta? Vella acknowledges such con- cerns, and to a degree shares them himself. "If it opens the floodgates, as you put it, making it toll free… yes, that worries us. But it could just as easily be that nothing will happen at all. There are many rural villages in Malta that have still kept their character, even though they have full accessi- bility to central Malta. Look at Dingli and Mgarr [Malta], for in- stance. They're still rural, though anyone can drive there whenever they like. For all the talk, no one has proven the same does not ap- ply to Gozo…." The example brings him to an- other issue that a permanent link (of any kind) would address once and for all: discrimination. "In Gozo's case there will also be a toll to pay to use the con- necting road. Isn't this dis- crimination? You don't have to pay to drive to anywhere in Malta. I have a right, like the entire Maltese do, not to pay to drive through the streets to get to work. Why should a Gozitan pay? That's discrimination, right there…but nothing will happen if there is no profit incentive to have the private sector investing and running it." Is this sentiment widespread in Gozo? He shrugs. "It depends. If you ask an elderly Gozitan wom- an who never goes to Malta, and never uses the ferry… no. But if you ask the people taking the ferry every day at 5am, you might get a different answer." He pauses. "My message to Gozitans, however, is this. It's useless complaining without taking action. For the first time something will be done. Inform yourself with facts, not the ha- tred of some blogs…" He talks about the certainty of this project with incredible con- fidence. Are we talking about a fait accompli? After all, both La- bour and Nationalist Parties are openly in favour… "The question now is no long- er if it can be done, or if it's vi- able. These have already been surpassed by studies. Now it's a question of when it will be ready and how we will manage it for the best interest of Gozo and Malta itself. If we stay united, we can have it operating in full swing in less than five years. Believe and convince yourself that this will happen…" Interview Gozo's connectivity problems are well-known; but is a sub-seabed tunnel the only viable solution? According to the Gozo Business Chamber's EUCHAR VELLA, the answer is an emphatic 'yes' troubled water PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION