Public transport

Mario Falzon (November 23) should have made his research well before writing.

The agreement of 1995 which he quoted specificies that every bus owner will benefit from the subsidy for the purchase of a new bus.

That agreement stated that the bus owners would pay out only Lm15,000 and did not mention how much the government would contribute.

If the Public Transport Authority wishes to see improvement in the service, it should start implementing bus corridors, employ more bus dispatchers, start refurbishing the existing bus termini and equip them with telephone lines, because without these we cannot expect a better result.

But I am sorry to say Mr Falzon is repeating what those before him always stated, without doing what is the best for the service.

Stating that the authority is always open for discussions for the rest of the bus owners without contracts, is not correct.

In a letter sent to the association on November 2, 2001, it is clearly stated that every bus owner without a contract and who needs to replace his old bus with a new one, has to do this according to the specifications in the Government Gazette, so it is clear that these owners have to do without the subsidy.

Regarding the subsidy that bus owners are receiving, this contributes to subsidised fares for commuters.

I give Mr Falzon my word that together we can work out what is needed for a better public transport.