Bid to break impasse

Transport Minister Censu Galea said mediation efforts were made yesterday to bring bus owners and the government together around a table in a bid to resolve the current dispute.

He said more than one attempt was being made but he would not reveal the mediators' names.

He said he was prepared to launch "open talks" with the bus owners' association on the much needed reform of the public transport service but restated his two pre-conditions.

"The bus owners must immediately withdraw their industrial action of charging elderly people higher bus fares instead of the discounted ones laid down by law and they must accept the introduction of the bus ticketing machines due next week."

The government, he repeated, was determined to carry out reforms in the public transport service. "I reaffirm that what has to be done is going to be done."

The bus owners have set four conditions for lifting their action, all rejected by Mr Galea.

The Public Transport Association's directive, which came into force on Wednesday, was still in place yesterday, and Mr Galea reported that more bus owners had been fined for overcharging elderly people.

Inspections are taking place on the buses and elderly people have been urged to report offending drivers.

The General Workers' Union pensioners' association yesterday deplored the action being taken by the bus owners, saying it had a direct impact on elderly people and their pensions.