Gatt rebuffs 'threats' from transport federation

Transport operators currently enjoying some sort of protection could not expect to have a veto on any initiatives taken in the interests of users of public transport, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Austin Gatt warned this afternoon.

He was reacting to a statement by the Federation of Transport Operators in Malta which claimed that Dr Gatt last week made a proposal to the Cabinet to liberalise the sectors of tourist coaches, hearses and taxis.

The federation said it had not been consulted and would hold an urgent meeting for its members, adding that the proposal should be withdrawn. It warned the Prime Minister that he should not tolerate this sort of arrogance from his ministers unless he wanted the country paralysed through a stoppage of public transport.

Dr Gatt in his reaction said the business of the Cabinet was confidential, but the federation’s claim about a proposal he had made regarding coaches and taxis was a total invention.

Furthermore, the Association of Hearses Owners had held a meeting with him and it was agreed that the minister would seek Cabinet direction on this sector.

Dr Gatt said the government did not condition its policies on the basis of threats such as those made by the so-called federation . He would move any proposal he thought fit in the Cabinet without fear or favour and without being in any way conditioned by such threats.

As had been publicly stated, monopolies and central economic control were, in principle, something which should be avoided except where it was evident that an open market was not in the interests of consumers. Furthermore, the government’s first duty was towards those who used, or could use public transport and not the operators.

Dr Gatt said the quality of service given by different sectors of public transport did not meet the people’s reasonable expectations and it was therefore clear that through reform was needed.

Once the government decided on a course of action, implementation would follow effective consultation.