University academic endorses permanent link between Malta and Gozo

Leading university academic Godfrey Baldacchino has spoken in favour of having a permanent link between Malta and Gozo.

Speaking during a press conference held by Front Favur il-Mina, Baldacchino spoke about his experience living in St. Edward’s Island, some miles off Canada, for ten years.

“The issue of having a permanent link is a multi-faceted one and it will have deep economic and social implications,” Baldacchino said, explaining that the island off Canada could be used as a model for the link between Malta and Gozo.

“We now have a history of around thirty years of the environmental, economic aspects of this bridge,” he said, adding that he had written a book on the matter.

Front favur il-Mina also announced that it will be organizing a national conference on April 16th to explain the salient issues and arguments behind the proposed permanent link between Malta and Gozo.

Coordinator Jonathan Mintoff said that the group was inaugurated in December, and that it had already held a number of meetings with Gozo minister Anton Refalo and Transport minister Joe Mizzi among others.

Mintoff added that the geological report on the feasibility of the tunnel  was expected to be finished by the end of the year and that the group had garnered support from various unions and groups including the MUT and the Gozo students union a!ong others.

“We are now ready to incorporate the general public into the discussions to describe case studies to illustrate some of the main concerns, risks and benefits of this long term solution,” he said describing the conference. He further urged the necessary studies to take place to further facilitate the lives of people in Gozo.

Front coordinator Carla Galea explained that two key note speakers of the event, Baldacchino and engineer Simon Mizzi would be present for the conference, and that opposition leader Simon Busuttil and prime minister Joseph Muscat would also be addressing the conference.

Mizzi added that he would discuss more technical issues centering around the safety aspects of building the tunnel.

“The aim of the conference is to discuss the risks and the challenges of building this tunnel with the general public,” he said

He added that this was a multifaceted discussion that ought to be based on facts rather than anything else.

Coordinator Beppe Galea invited people to attend the national conference, being organized in conjunction with Circolo Gozitan to be held at the Grand Mgarr Hotel starting at 9.30 where there would be time for questions from the public and that the conference would be. Moderated by journalist Keith Demicoli.

“The conference will be held in Gozo to give a taste of the daily challenge people from Gozo face,” Galea said asked about the choice of location for the conference.