Gozo: environment and public transport
Published on The Times of Malta on Sunday 1st June, 2008 by Joe Portelli.
The government does not really have any plans to turn Gozo into an ecological island.
How can you have an ecological island with a virtual non-existent public transport system? The government always talks about public transport reform in Malta, but never about Gozo's. Gozo is in fact the island where time stood still with respect to public transport.
Why is Gozo's public transport not subsidised like Malta's?
Why is the monopoly still present, as well as taxis?
Why not have an efficient minibus service?
Why do people have to use their car for their daily needs: to transport their children to and from private lessons, to go to work, to go to the ferry, to go out in the evenings, and so on. Why do tourists have to rent a car or ride a costly taxi to enjoy Gozo?
It makes no sense, health-wise, money-wise, quality of life-wise, environmentally, or parking space-wise.
But time did not stand still regarding the continuing encroachment on our natural environment. This rage fuelled by big money will not stop until the monster has gobbled everything up.
Can I really believe this government when in the years past, it did nothing to protect our natural heritage?
Will Mepa protect Ramla from the villas and from the cemetery?
Will it protect Ta' Ċenċ or Ħondoq ir-Rummien?
Will all our remaining free ridges remain unspoilt?
Will construction outside development zones be stopped in Gozo?
Remember: it is not Mepa which is failing to protect the environment, but the government.
It has the power to change the Structure Plan, and to make Mepa more accountable.
Will Dr Gonzi take the bull by the horns, or will the bull ruin what little nature we have left?
The government does not really have any plans to turn Gozo into an ecological island.
How can you have an ecological island with a virtual non-existent public transport system? The government always talks about public transport reform in Malta, but never about Gozo's. Gozo is in fact the island where time stood still with respect to public transport.
Why is Gozo's public transport not subsidised like Malta's?
Why is the monopoly still present, as well as taxis?
Why not have an efficient minibus service?
Why do people have to use their car for their daily needs: to transport their children to and from private lessons, to go to work, to go to the ferry, to go out in the evenings, and so on. Why do tourists have to rent a car or ride a costly taxi to enjoy Gozo?
It makes no sense, health-wise, money-wise, quality of life-wise, environmentally, or parking space-wise.
But time did not stand still regarding the continuing encroachment on our natural environment. This rage fuelled by big money will not stop until the monster has gobbled everything up.
Can I really believe this government when in the years past, it did nothing to protect our natural heritage?
Will Mepa protect Ramla from the villas and from the cemetery?
Will it protect Ta' Ċenċ or Ħondoq ir-Rummien?
Will all our remaining free ridges remain unspoilt?
Will construction outside development zones be stopped in Gozo?
Remember: it is not Mepa which is failing to protect the environment, but the government.
It has the power to change the Structure Plan, and to make Mepa more accountable.
Will Dr Gonzi take the bull by the horns, or will the bull ruin what little nature we have left?
posted by Hondoq at
7:05 AM
