Chamber, MHRA hit out at taxi drivers' seaport action

The Chamber of Commerce yesterday referred to the protest by taxi drivers on Sunday saying it believed in freedom of competition and that the tourism business was large enough to allow all transport operators to earn their income.

Taxi drivers on Sunday blocked the exit of the sea passenger terminal in Grand Harbour to protest over coach services laid on for passengers who wished to go to Valletta.

The chamber said it could not understand the grounds on which the taxi drivers could claim "such a divine and exclusive right" to take passengers from the port to the capital.

It also could not fathom the reasons why the police failed to take immediate steps to allow the law to be observed.

"On the basis of free competition, the chamber feels that there is no valid explanation why a cruise operator cannot reserve any means of transport to carry clients to any destination they like as in fact happens in other ports. The chamber firmly believes that a tour operator has every right to transfer its tourists to hotels in coaches. Should our children be taken to their schools in taxis? Surely the Malta Transport Authority should exercise control on the taxi drivers and take the appropriate disciplinary action whenever this is necessary."

The chamber said this was by no means a novel situation and both at the seaport and the airport, lack of ethical standards by certain taxi drivers prejudiced the fragility of the tourism industry in Malta, as well as the reputation of their colleagues.

The chamber said it expected an immediate inquiry to be set up by the Minister of Transport to deal with this "regrettable" state of affairs.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association also deplored the "irresponsible action" taken by the taxi drivers and urged all concerned to find solutions to the problems that may exist out of sight of tourists and without affecting the visitors' experience while in Malta. Anything less could seriously damage the cruise liner business, the island's image and the tourism industry as a whole, it said.