The Shadow Minister for Gozo, Chris Said, asked today what had become of a study on the feasibility of the Gozo tunnel which a Chinese company was supposed to have carried out last year.

Speaking in Parliament during the Budget debate, Dr Said said Gozo Minister Anton Refalo had originally preferred a bridge to a tunnel but had now changed his view.

Unfortunately, the present government had not promptly picked up where the PN government left off with regard to the possible tunnel project. Instead it launched a study on a possible bridge, thus wasting three years.

Now that the government had returned to the tunnel proposal, the Opposition would back it, as long as it was serious.

But was the government serious or was this another gimmick? The government's track record regarding accessibility was not anything it should be proud of. In the Labour electoral programme and in two Budgets it promised an airstrip and a fast ferry service. Neither had materialised. 

A year ago the government said the Chinese company entrusted to carry out studies on a possible bridge had had its brief extended to cover a tunnel. What had happened to this study?

The only feasibility study issued so far was that carried out by Gozo Business Chamber with Transport Malta. 

What about the environmental study?

The Opposition's view, Dr Said said was that a fast ferry service should be introduced in the short term followed by the tunnel. The government, however, needed to be serious and carry out the required studies, including the geological study.

EXPORTS, AVERAGE WAGE BOTH DOWN IN GOZO

In other parts of his speech, Dr Said said exports from Gozo were down in the first eight months of this year. For the first time ever, he said, the average wage was also down, according to the government's own figures including 'Gozo in figures'.

He said the number of people employed by the government in Gozo was up 10% and the number of new jobs with the government far exceeded that with the private sector.

GOZO CHANNEL PROFITS UP

In his reply, Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said that between January and September, Gozo Channel Line made a profit of € 942,000 compared to a loss of €707,000 in the same period in 2012 under the former government.

This upswing in performance came about despite an increase in the number of trips,he said. The company made a small profit during those months last year, and returned a better performance this year.

Fares had not gone up and the government was actually planning to reduce them.

In his speech Dr Refalo listed works by the present government and insisted current restoration works at the Cittadella are a project of the present government as the plans had been totally revised.

Dr Refalo denied claims of civil service recruitment and said jobs were being created by the private sector and unemployment was at its lowest.

Four hotels closed at the time of the PN government, he said. Under the present government, a new hotel would open in Marsalforn.

Dr Refalo said Gozo was enjoying a strong feel-good factor. Investment in RS2 and the film By the Sea had yielded valuable lessons as Gozo sought its economic identity.

He said studies about a fibre-optic cable had been completed and now a decision was pending over whether to seek EU funds, national funds or a partnership with the private sector.

He said there are plans for a digital hub and creativity hub at the former MMU plant.