Improve the ecological efficiency of land & marine provisions

Press Conference
23/02/09
www.adgozo.com

ALTERNATTIVA DEMOKRATIKA INSISTS ON THE PROVISION OF AN EFFICIENT AND ECOLOGICAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN GOZO

Alternativa Demokratika (AD), the Green Party, has called on the Government to improve the ecological efficiency of the land and marine public transport system for Gozo.

Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson, praised the Association of Local Councils, which, during a weekend seminar held in Gozo for Gozitan Council, announced that preparations were under way for the joint signing, by all the 14 Gozitan Mayors, of the European Local Council Agreement.

Professor Cassola said that By supporting such a holistic vision, the Gozitan Local Mayors have made a significant step forward towards the elimination of the petty divisions which characterize local politics in these islands, especially in Gozo. The European Local Council Agreement lays strong emphasis on the reconversion of the public transport system in European cities with a view to reduce pollution and energy waste while at the same time render it more sustainable and provide a better service to the citizens.

Against this background, Victor Galea, AD Secretary General and Spokesman for Gozo declared that Gozo has a golden opportunity to reduce pollution caused by present public transport system, both by sea and on land, whilst, at the same time, to provide an excellent service which make sense in today`s needs.

Victor Galea insisted that The reform in the public transport system in Gozo should ensure that all public transport vehicles, including buses and minibuses, should be powered by hydrogen, methane gas or electrical energy to reduce air pollution which is causing so much harm to people`s health. It is a pity that bio-diesel is still not available on the island of Gozo.

With regard to transport by sea, Alternattiva Demokratika would like to remind Government that this is the year when Gozo Channel`s monopoly in the provision of the public sea transport to and from Gozo has to come to an end. AD therefore strongly recommends to the Minister concerned that, apart from provisions safeguarding the employment of all the workers involved and all the social aspects, a clause should also be included, in the new tender, binding the winning tenderer to reduce to a minimum the pollution and energy consumption levels by the ships providing the service.

Professor Arnold Cassola concluded by saying that Government should not once again lose the opportunity, as happened in the past, to apply for funds from the European Union through the Marco Polo Program, whose call for applications opened again on the 10 February this year. Arnold Cassola added that these funds would help the Company, awarded the tender, to expand the transport of all merchandize from San Maison as well as from the Feeport, to Mgarr port and vice-versa, thereby reducing substantially the pollution, transport costs, road damage and traffic jams now resulting from the overland transport of goods by huge lorries.

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News & Politics

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