GozoNews.Com

The Malta Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises, the GRTU, has protested once again about what it said is the “totally unacceptable” cargo service between Gozo and Malta. Gozitan businessmen and hauliers, who transport containers between the two islands, were being treated as second-class clients by Gozo Channel, GRTU Director General Vince Farrugia said.

Mr Farrugia added that Gozo businessmen were already facing difficulties because they had to pay double the expenses to receive their goods, but much worse than this, the service was extremely poor. The service is only being offered twice a week from the former once a day, and only when vessels are available. There were times when the vessels did not berth at Sa Maison for up to four weeks at a time.

Moreover, there were a number of instances when, due to bad weather, as was the case this week, the service was not available, but did not resume as soon as the weather improved, sticking instead to the original schedule. This was the case on Wednesday, and Gozo Channel expected that the service would not to resume until Monday as was scheduled, Mr Farrugia said.

The poor service meant that important products for Gozo were stuck in Malta because “Gozo Channel does not want to recognise that its contractual obligations are such that the service from Sa Maison should be carried out consistently and on a regular and efficient schedule”.

The pressure put upon the ferry company resulted in its chairman conceding an extra voyage so that the trucks at Sa Maison could make the trip. Whilst thanking the chairman for that, Mr Farrugia said that such ad hoc solutions, although acceptable, were not proper solutions, and that permanent solutions were required.