ADPD slams PL’s Gozo proposals as ‘Father Christmas-style campaigning’
Green Party calls for policies that prioritise Gozitans, warn against ‘electoral gimmicks’
ADPD slammed the Labour Party’s “endless list of proposals” to make Gozo a better place as amounting to nothing more than “Father Christmas-style electoral campaigning” as it called for policies that prioritise Gozitans.
While welcoming the plan to increase ferry capacity as a “positive step”, the Green Party’s deputy secretary general Luke Caruana insisted that connectivity policy “cannot be reduced to headline numbers or electoral gimmicks”.
As demand for crossings between the two islands continues to grow, Caruana said the priority must be to ensure that Gozitan commuters have a “reliable, efficient and guaranteed access to these services”.
“Capacity must serve the needs of Gozitans first,” Caruana added.
He also pointed at the lack of adequate port facilities, noting that the Valletta Terminal “has not been repaired yet” after the damage caused by Storm Harry, while the Mġarr terminal is “just a couple of temporary tents”.
The PL’s proposal of free ferry crossings for all foot passengers was also welcomed by the ADPD, but Caruana pointed out it “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 chairperson Sandra Gauci highlighted the “contradictions” in the government’s broader vision for Gozo, with improvements in connectivity on the one hand and on the other hand the promotion of “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,” Gauci said.
ADPD reiterated its view that Gozo must be a “sustainable island”, with policies “prioritising quality of life, protecting its rural and natural environment, and supporting a resilient local economy rather than mass tourism and unchecked construction”.