The businessmen are marching in...ouch ouch

The Times of Malta decided to give a short account of the presentation of his idea of an airstrip for Gozo The Times reported thus: "A blind Gozitan resident made a presentation on the long-running idea of building an airstrip allowing small passenger aircraft to land in Gozo."

Roy S. Perry, a blind ex-pat residing in Qala, expressed frustration saying that "Gozitan organisations have not exerted enough pressure on the government to improve tourist numbers on the island."

Frank Salt, obviously a supporter of the idea, noted that "It takes a blind man to put forward sensible ideas that will halt the decline in commerce and tourism."

The meeting was concluded with a resolve to form a working party of businessmen who will be approaching the government.

Ouch ouch....the businessmen are coming in.... Once again, several Times readers added their comments on the Times on-line, including those by Roy Perry himself and his wife Josie Perry. Then we have people like the Irish James A. Tyrrell - a regular contributor for the gozonews.com

The comments follow here:

L Galea

There is no need to continue destroying Gozo and increase the noise pollution from aircraft.

As I have already suggested what is needed is a bridge to solve the Shipyard problems, the installation of wind generators on the bridge itself to allievate the energy problem, and the provision of a continuous means of transport between Malta and Gozo solving the problem for Maltese and Gozitans and tourists, especially in an emergency.

Why do businessmen see nothing except their own narrow private interests instead of the common interest of the Maltese and Gozitan people?

Why are they so intent on continuing to destroy more land in both Malta and Gozo?

Leslie Mirasole

There is no need to spoil a large piece of land just for some silly little planes. when Gozo is served better by sea.

E Camilleri
Finally we have a fixed wing sea plane between malta-gozo, why the insistence to continue destroying the last few open spaces? Having an airstrip to increase gozo tourism is false. Leave Gozo in its remaining natural state and then only you can boost tourism or at least keep the numbers.

Maria Dolores Fenech
So Gozo would have a heliport which is no longer functional due to high fees, but an airstrip to accomodate a few businessmen! Would the Gozitans allow this to happen in their (still) unspoilt beautiful island?

James A. Tyrrell

Just what Gozo needs, a big concrete scar covering part of the island. Frank Salt talks about the decline in commerce and tourism. What decline? Everything I've read from the MTA has failed to mention any decline. Stop trying to fool the public with these lies. If anything is going to have a long-term effect on tourism it is the continued destruction of the island by so-called Gozitans and Maltese who care more about making a buck than caring for the environment. Having said that I have no doubt that the party of businessmen will be well received by the Government, as the present Government are nothing short of environmental rapists. As we have already seen just apply enough pressure and perhaps take along a big enough envelope and you will get your wish. Once the tourist trade dries up you can use the airstrip as foundations for high-rise apartments and fill them with illegal immigrants who will be the only people interested in going to Gozo!

Josie Perry

My Husband has spent many years studying the various ideas to improve communications between Malta and Gozo. A bridge will do more to harm the environment during the construction phase than any other civil engineering project. It would have to be in two sections via Comino and would totally destroy the environment in that island. In addoition to that there is the landfall site at Qala with new roads having to be built at both ends. At the pace of construction here it will be 50 years before this is complete. All we ask for is a small airfield to accommodate small aircraft with a link to Sicily for businessmen as well as richer tourist who find it stressful to trqavel by road. Why should Malta have the benefits of these visitors and not Gozo?

James A. Tyrrell

What Gozo needs Josie is what Gozo had before and lost due to lack of Government support, a helicopter service. This could easily accommodate the businessmen between Malta, Gozo and Sicily as well as catering for the tourists willing to pay that bit extra for the privilege of getting to Gozo quicker. Another problem you didn't raise with regard to the bridge idea would be the increase of crime on Gozo due to the direct road access.

L Galea

No Josie A bridge will not do any more harm. It will provide work for the shipyard workers during construction and maintenance, provide occasion to build a windfarm on the same bridge to reduce Malta's dependence on fossil fuels and thus better the environment and the exchequer's balance, and provide an uninterruptible road service to the Maltese and Gozitan people including TOURISTS who will enjoy a breathtaking view of the channel, and which will be extremely useful when incliment weather prevents any other means of transport from operating, including smal aircraft and helicopters. And why may I ask will a bridge ruin Comino's environment? By allowing easier access to Maltese, Gozitans and tourists? Or do you want it to be reserved for certain types of persons whoever and whatever they be who like isolation from other people's eyes? Would you perhaps recommend such a project in your home country which you have left Mrs Perry?

Victor G. Mercieca
These very negative people who oppose rapid air commuting most likely have a good eye sight but prefer not to see! Airplanes are not silly, they are man's best invention which greatly enhances anybody's life in more ways then one, it seems these people have no idea & are installing a false picture! Maybe they prefer the site in question to continue be used as a dump site & a derelict heliport! Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association USA A valued member since 1993 # 01161606

James A. Tyrrell

Victor the comments in question are not negative, at least from the point of view of caring about the island of Gozo and its environment. Gozo is approximately 9 miles by 4 miles and you think it would be a good idea to cover yet more of it in concrete. I don't think so. To build an airstrip here would not only create an ugly concrete scar on the island; it would also destroy ancient cart ruts and rare plants. But that's okay so long as the few can benefit. I can guarantee you that if this ever happens in no time at all some idiot will be calling for it to be extended so that international flights can land, and if the right palms are greased I've no doubt that would happen too. The area in question by the way was being used as a dumpsite long before the helicopter service pulled out. Gozo does not and never will need an airstrip in the same way that it does not need a marina at Hondoq. The time has long since passed when people need to wake up and give this island treasure what it really needs, protection

Eugenio Taliana
During bad weather the seaplane does not operate, the Gozo ferry does not operate and even sometimes the Helicopter did not operate - what you, in Gozo need, is something that bad weather does not hinder its operations! is there a solution?

Roy Perry

I would prefer comments to be constructive and not personal. I have lived in Gozo since 1990 and have no home elsewhere. I have always tried to improve the standard of life and information in my adopted country and have generally been treated with respect.
Gozo will not benefit from a bridge which will cost hundreds of millions of Euros. The airlink proposals CANNOT be extended to include larger aircraft.
A. Because there is no need.
B. Because the Tarmac (not concrete) strip will not bear their weight.

So far as damage to the heritage and archaeology in concerned, I know exactly where every Cart Rut, Temple fragment, Bore Hole, Sewerage Outfall, etc. is located on the site. An airfield is a protected area where flora can thrive. If the development also looks after these heritage issues it is surely better than letting them be un-recognised or fall into decay - like the 16th Century St. Cecilia Chapel which is falling down for want of attention.

I have nothing to gain financially from the project - now isn't that foolish!

Raymond Sammut

An airstrip in Gozo would create an indelible mark on the tiny picturesque sister island. If presently there is some kind of a dump there, then the dump should be cleared, and the area tidied up. We are not to fix a wrong with something which is clearly incongruous. Now imagine living on a tiny island with small propeller aircrafts hovering over your roof. They are always looking for this damnable airstrip so they can land. It would make me feel nervous. These things are notorious for falling off the sky. All it takes is some pilot error, or something going loose in the mechanics. Once it happens, it happens. An entire family is gone. Now, that so much has been "invested", the airstrip will not go away. There will be an investigation to find out what caused the tragedy, but the show must go on -- Gozitans will simply have to get used to it. You're kidding me. I also have to disagree with you, L Galea. There are now 250,000 cars registered. Once you build a bridge, these cars will incessantly be heading Gozo's way. Gozo too will be infected with pollution as Malta is now.

Barry Drake

Having been involved in the traveling side of things since1986 and now residing for the past eight years there is something that puzzles me. Why, after building an acceptable sized heliport that coped quite well, is there never any talk about having a helicopter service again rather than a fixed wing service? Everyone says it not financially viable, but I`m sure that there must be some one with the same business acumen as Sir Richard Branson and who could see the benefits that such a service would bring to the island. I for one think it has been the best system used during my many visits since 1986

ouch when the saints
ouch when the saints
ouch when the saints go marching in...

Mind you, the word 'saints' in the local context has a very political meaning.
It's like when one says that "a saint in need is a saint indeed".
Ouch ouch