Police order VISET to stop shuttle service

The police have ordered VISET Malta, the operator of the cruise liner terminal at the Valletta waterfront, to stop the newly-introduced coach shuttle service for liner passengers.

This became clear from a VISET statement yesterday that said the consortium felt aggrieved not only by the "unlawful protest and action taken by taxi drivers on Saturday but also by the lack of support that it received from the police authorities, that rather than clearing the assembly of taxi drivers at the exit from the quays decided to give in to the requests of taxi drivers by ordering VISET to discontinue a lawful service it was providing to clients".

VISET was referring to the fact that on Saturday morning, taxi drivers and owners at Pinto Wharf blocked the exit of the sea terminal in protest, preventing a coach shuttle service for cruise liner passengers from operating.

VISET reacted angrily to the taxi drivers' claims that it was abusing its position and creating unfair competition with the operation of a new coach shuttle service.

"Nothing is further from the truth and it is outright irresponsible of senior officials of the Association of White Taxis to make similar statements.

"The truth is that the association expects to be able to prolong its status of monopoly in these situations while providing a shoddy and very expensive service to cruise liner passengers," VISET said.

VISET said it believed cruise liner passengers were entitled to select their own mode of transport to Valletta, and this included providing a full range of services, including taxi and coach services.

"VISET expects to be able to compete for cruise line business in the Mediterranean with other service providers and cannot be expected to be hampered in attaining this goal by anachronistic and outdated business practices.

"In this context and in an attempt to improve the service provided to cruise liner passengers and add value to the product given to such passengers, VISET inaugurated the service of coaches that transports tourists from the Valletta waterfront to Valletta and back. VISET reiterates its intention to reinstate the coach service as soon as practicable," it said.

VISET said it had already formally notified the police authorities of a similar incident in September last year and asked them to take criminal action against the assembly by taxi drivers - but no action was ever taken.

It said it intended to press for criminal action to be taken with respect to both the September 2003 incidents as well as the incidents that occurred last Saturday.

The committee of the Unscheduled Bus Service last night blamed the Malta Transport Authority (ADT), as well as the police, for stopping UBS members from providing the shuttle service.

The committee expressed "disgust" at the actions of officials involved.

"This action of the ADT and police officials seemed conditioned by fear of those who use force instead of reason and leads to a strengthening of an attitude that one should take the law in one's own hands to achieve one's aims," it said.

"The committee expresses its surprise at the silence of the authorities set up to look after the tourist sector when confronted with similar situations that cause so much damage to an industry that is so vital to our country."

The committee said it was reserving the right to take further action as the circumstances warranted.