12 - 18 July 2001

Malta Maritime Authority chairman ‘is too busy’ to meet Gozo Chamber

by Ivan Brincat

The chairman of the Malta Maritime Authority Marc Bonello does not have the time to meet the Gozo Business Chamber and discuss the planned Mgarr passenger terminal.
Gozo Business Chamber President John Magro told The Malta Business Weekly they have been requesting a meeting with the Malta Maritime Authority since 8 June but so far their calls have been turned down. They were told by the chairman’s secretary that “he was too busy”.
Mr Magro said this is unacceptable and unfair, adding that the passenger terminal will cost millions of liri in public funds.
“At the end of the day, our members are every-day users of the Mgarr harbour and we want to be consulted on the issue. We cannot even comment on the designs because we have not seen them yet.” However, they are aware that the terminal building will be three storeys high and will include a 200-car parking facility with separate ramps which will enable passengers and cars to board the Gozo ferries separately.
The least one would expect, Mr Magro said, is that when millions of liri in public funds are being spent, those who use the facility are told what is going to happen and how the terminal will operate.
“This is very unfair. The excuse is that the Malta Maritime Authority chairman is too busy to meet us.”
Mr Magro said the Gozo Business Chamber was not against the terminal or having a separate exit for cars and passengers but “does Gozo need such a monstrosity?”
Asked to comment on the design, Mr Magro said they could not comment because they first want to see the designs and get to know all the facts.
Before embarking on such a project, the Malta Maritime Authority should have examined what the Mgarr Harbour really needs and the possibility of increasing the number of berthing facilities.
“There should be a long-term vision for the Mgarr harbour. For example, why should Gozo not be a port of call for cruise liners, ” he asked.
“We wrote to the Malta Maritime Author-ity twice and phoned three times. We feel that any project should reflect what the people want and really need. The Chamber represents a wide spectrum of users – businessmen and tourist operators who use the Mgarr harbour every day. The MMA should have asked to meet us and not the other way round.”
Mr Magro said the first slot available for a meeting is next Monday, however in Malta. “Our committee comprises 12 people and we expect the Malta Maritime Authority to come over to meet us.”
The project in Mgarr has already been controversial. In May, The Malta Independent on Sunday quoted Malta Maritime Authority sources as stating that there was an amount of reluctance within the authority over the project but the plans are being pushed – unofficially – by the Gozo Ministry. Certain MMA officials believe the project is useless and the building will be an eyesore that would ruin the quaint harbour’s landscape.
Another problem is that no one knows how the terminal will be run and what the running costs will be.
The need for a three-storey building is also being questioned because there are other ways passengers can exit and board the ferries.