It would be much better if instead of focusing on individual proposals, government were to consider Gozo’s connectivity issues holistically together with the social, environmental and economic impacts generated. This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo, Alternattiva Demokratika’s spokesperson on Sustainable Development and Home Affairs.
Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, stated Cacopardo, has followed the declarations made in the past days on the proposal to link Malta and Gozo through the construction of a bridge as well as the Chinese assistence in assessing the vialbility of such an option. This offer, one notes, has been made whilst other studies are simultaneously under way on the linkage of the two islands through a tunnel below the seabed.
Alternattiva Demokratika considers that this government like its predecessor is tackling the issue incorrectly.
Instead of being addressed individually, the proposed solutions should be considered within the context of a Strategic Plan which addresses the Gozitan island’s connectivity, which assessment should factor in social, economic and ecological impacts. It does not make sense, added Cacopardo, that within the context of the EU’s regional policy Malta presents its case for Gozo’s double insularity and requests additional funding on this basis and then without consideration of the impacts opts to discard the double insularity issue through a physical link between the islands. It is to be pointed out that to date Gozo’s Tourism policy is based on Gozo’s double insularity and that tourism in Gozo could be wiped out as a result of the physical links proposed.
A Strategic Plan of this nature, concluded Cacopardo, after being examined in line with the provisions of the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive of the EU would then be subject to public consultation which should not be limited to Gozo but should be on a nationwide level.
***
PR 16-06-2013
Pjan Strateġiku għal Għawdex
Ikun aħjar li flok mal-Gvern jiffoka fuq proposti individwali jara l-istampa kollha tal-konnettivita ta’ Għawdex u l-impatti socjali, ambjentali u ekonomici b’mod olistiku. Dan qalu Carmel Cacopardo kelliemi ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika ghall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli u l-Intern.
Alternattiva Demokratika, qal Cacopardo, segwiet id-dikjarazzjonijiet li saru f’dawn il-ġranet dwar pont bejn Malta u Għawdex u l-għajnuna Ċiniża li ġiet offruta biex tiġi eżaminata kemm din il-proposta hi vijabbli. Din l-offerta ninnotaw qed issir waqt li suppost li preżentement għaddejjin studji dwar proposta oħra li ukoll tikkunsidra li tgħaqqad lill-Malta u lill-Għawdex permezz ta’ mina minn taħt il-baħar.
Alternattva Demokratika jidhrilha li l-Gvern tal-lum bħall-Gvern ta’ qablu qed jaqbad il-problema minn sieqha.
Flok ma jkunu indirizzati waħda waħda, s-soluzzjonijiet taħt konsiderazzjoni għandhom ikunu kkunsidrati flimkien u dan fil-kuntest ta’ Pjan Strateġiku li jindirizza l-konnettivita’ tal-gżira Għawdxija u l-impatti soċjali, ekonomiċi u ekoloġiċi. Ma jagħmilx sens, zied jghid Cacopardo li fil-kuntest tal-politika regjonali tal-Unjoni Ewropeja l-Gvern Malti jipprezenta posizzjoni u jinsisti ghal fondi addizzjonali minhabba l-insularita’ doppja u li imbaghad mingħajr konsiderazzjoni tal-impatti jagħzel li jelimina din l-insularita’ doppja b’ghaqda fiżika bejn il-gzejjer. Għandu jkun innutat li l-politika tat-Turiżmu għal Għawdex hi ibbażata fuq l-insularita doppja tal-gżira Għawdxija u li l-għaqda fiżika proposta tista’ tfisser id-daqqa tal-mewt ghat-turizmu f’Għawdex.
Pjan Strateġiku ta’ din ix-xorta, ikkonkluda Cacopardo, wara li jkun eżaminat skond il-proċeduri stabiliti mid-Direttiva tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar il-Valutazzjoni Strateġika Ambjentali, għandu imbagħad ikun soġġett għal konsultazzjoni pubblika mhux biss f’Għawdex iżda fuq livell nazzjonali.
Links relatati:
http://ralphcassar.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/ministers-tunnel-vision/
http://ralphcassar.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/liliput-and-chris-saids-tunnel/
http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com/category/malta-localities/gozo/gozo-tunnel/
http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com/tag/gozo-channel/
http://mikes-beat.blogspot.com/2013/06/bridge-to-gozo.html
