Ilbieraħ Robert Abela, kif issa drajna naraw f’kampanja elettorali stil Father Christmas, nieda sensiela bla tmiem ta’ proposti waħda wara l-oħra waqt li kien qed jikkampanja f’Għawdex.
Id-Deputat Segretarju Ġenerali ta’ ADPD-The Green Party u kandidat fuq distretti 12 u 13, Luke Caruana, innota li l-gvern qed jippjana li jespandi l-flotta tal-Gozo Channel għal ħames vapuri. Se nerġgħu naraw ripetizzjoni tal-MV Nikolaos? Ftit li xejn hemm biex inkunu kburin. “Filwaqt li żieda fil-kapaċità tal-vapuri hija, fil-prinċipju, pass pożittiv, għandu jingħad b’mod ċar li l-politika tal-konnettività ma tistax tirriduċi ruħha għat-tfajjir ta’ wegħdi jew gimmicks elettorali. Id-domanda għall-ivjaġġar bejn il-gżejjer żdiedet b’mod sinifikanti matul is-snin, u poġġiet pressjoni kemm fuq il-vapuri tal-Gozo Channel kif ukoll fuq is-servizzi tal-fast ferry. Il-prijorità trid għalhekk tkun li l-passiġġieri Għawdxin ikollhom aċċess affidabbli, effiċjenti u garantit għal dawn is-servizzi. Il-kapaċità trid taqdi l-ħtiġijiet tal-Għawdxin l-ewwel. Fir-rigward ta’ faċilitajiet adegwati, it-terminal tal-Belt Valletta għadu ma isewwiex wara l-ħsarat ikkawżati mill-Urugan Harry. Filwaqt li fl-Imġarr Għawdex, it-‘terminal’ huwa biss ftit tined temporanji.”
“Huwa minnu li l-proposta tal-Partit Laburista li tagħmel il-qsim bil-vapur b’xejn għal dawk li jivvjaġġaw mingħajr karozza hija inċentiv pożittiv, iżda ma tindirizzax il-problemi reali. Tajjeb li dawk li jivvjaġġaw mingħajr karozza jiġu ppremjati, iżda huwa daqstant ieħor importanti li jsir investiment f’trasport pubbliku aħjar u f’għażliet oħra ta’ mobilità sostenibbli u sikura f’Għawdex stess. Dik tkun il-bidla vera meħtieġa, li sfortunatament ma ġietx indirizzata.”
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party u kandidat fuq distretti 6 u 12, Sandra Gauci, żiedet: “Fl-istess ħin, il-viżjoni usa tal-gvern għal Għawdex tibqa’ mimlija kontradizzjonijiet. Min-naħa jitkellem dwar titjib fil-konnettività; min-naħa l-oħra jkompli jippromwovi żvilupp żejjed li jhedded il-karattru u s-sostenibbiltà tal-gżira. Il-kostruzzjoni tal-airstrip, proġett bla bżonn u ta’ ħsara għall-ambjent, tirrifletti approċċ mingħajr viżjoni fit-tul u spekulattiv aktar milli viżjoni koerenti għall-futur ta’ Għawdex. ADPD ilu jargumenta b’mod konsistenti favur miżuri li jagħmlu lil Għawdex gżira sostenibbli, billi tipprijoritizza l-kwalità tal-ħajja, tipproteġi l-ambjent rurali u naturali tagħha, u tappoġġja ekonomija lokali reżiljenti, aktar milli turiżmu tal-massa u kostruzzjoni bla kontroll. ADPD fil-Parlament se jinsisti li l-pjanijiet għall-airstrip f’Għawdex jiġu kkanċellati darba għal dejjem.”
***
Father Christmas promises will not make Gozo a better place
Yesterday Robert Abela, as is now usual in a Father Christmas-style electoral campaign, fired away in rapid succession an endless list of proposals while campaigning in Gozo.
ADPD -The Green Party Deputy Secretary General Luke Caruana noted that government plans to expand the Gozo Channel fleet to five ferries. Will it be another repeat of the Nicolaus? Not much to be proud of.“While increasing ferry capacity is, in principle, a positive step, it must be stated clearly that connectivity policy cannot be reduced to headline numbers or electoral gimmicks. Demand for crossings between the islands has grown significantly over the years, placing pressure on both Gozo Channel ferries and fast ferry services. The priority must therefore be to ensure that Gozitan commuters have reliable, efficient, and guaranteed access to these services. Capacity must serve the needs of Gozitans first. As regards proper facilities, the Valletta Terminal has not been repaired yet after the damage caused by Storm Harry. While in Mġarr Gozo the ‘terminal’ is just a couple of temporary tents.”
“Labour’s proposal to make ferry crossings free for all foot passengers, while welcome, does not address the real issues. It is all well and good that those who travel without their car are rewarded but it is also equally important to invest in better public transport and other sustainable and safe mobility options in Gozo. That would be the real change required. It has unfortunately not been addressed.”
ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci added:”At the same time, the government’s broader vision for Gozo remains deeply contradictory. On one hand, it speaks of improving connectivity; on the other, it continues to promote overdevelopment that threatens the very character and sustainability of the island. The construction of the airstrip, an unnecessary and environmentally damaging project, reflects a short-term, speculative approach rather than a coherent vision for Gozo’s future. ADPD has consistently argued for policies making Gozo a sustainable island, prioritising quality of life, protecting its rural and natural environment, and supporting a resilient local economy rather than mass tourism and unchecked construction. ADPD in Parliament will insist that the Gozo airstrip plans are cancelled once and for all.”
