Monday, 14th July 2008 - 18:05CET
Updated: Government announces emergency bus service
(Adds routes of emergency bus service)
The government will provide an emergency bus service from tomorrow, with routes from 13 destinations to Valletta, Transport Minister Austin Gatt told a press conference this afternoon.
He said the government would also provide a service of ferries between Sliema and Valletta while chauffeur-driven cars would be allowed to act as taxis for a charge of €15 per trip.
Dr Gatt said the transport workers had a right to strike, but no one had a right to disrupt other people’s lives. Incidents such as those witnessed today, including the blocking of roads and incidents involving white mini vans, as well as the clash outside Castille were unacceptable.
When he spoke on the background which led to this dispute, Dr Gatt said he had gone to Cabinet about the liberalisation of licences for hearses after talks with the association representing the owners of hearses, where no agreement was reached.
He was, however, surprised by the industrial action taking by the owners of mini-buses. Taxis and route buses. The liberalisation of mini-buses and taxis had not featured in the government plans. And as for the buses, he had already had talks with the president of the Bus Owners’ Association, Victor Spiteri in view of EU requirements.
He explained that the EU had presented three alternatives – a service run by SMEs, a state-run service, or a service awarded after an international tender. The government had originally opted for the former in association with the Public Transport Association, but the EU had rejected that, viewing it as a way to circumvent directives. Dr Gatt said the government had committed itself to present proposals to the association by the end of summer. Yet Mr Spiteri told him today he did not trust him, Dr Gatt said.
The minister stressed that the government was in favour of liberalisation wherever it benefited the country and consumers.
He said that since 1999 the government had subsidized the bus service to the tune €41 million since 1999.
The routes of the emergency bus service will be the following:
Route A Cottonera
Route B Żabbar/M’Scala
Route C B’Buġia, Zejtun, Gudja, Għaxaq
Route D Żurrieq, Safi, Kirkop, Qrendi, Mqabba
Route E Żebbuġ, Siggiewi, Qormi
Route F Attard, Rabat, Mtarfa, Dingli
Route G B’Kara, Balzan, Lija
Route H Mosta, Naxxar, Għargħur
Route I St Paul’s Bay, Ċirkewwa
Route J Gzira, Sliema, St Julians
Route K Mater Dei
Route L Buġibba, Qawra
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Last Saturday’s Times reported that government officials gave pre-election assurances to operators within the industry. It was reported that some operators made substantial investments on account of these pre-election promises. Before we move to deny the fundamental right to protest with challenging big talk and cancelling contracts, we need an official statement on what had been promised before the election. If those promises were diametrically opposed to principles of free trade, then Gonzi has a serious credibility issue.
Gonzi is indeed facing many credibility issues. For example, Gonzi’s pre-election promise to reform MEPA was yet another deceitful promise. We’ve seen the Forth Cambridge charade and the appointment of a close associate to chair the MEPA board. What’s the score for reform and credibility? I give zero points to Gonzi on both.
Is anyone considering their predicament?
We should make tourists our first priority; if necessary the army should be used to bus them into their hotels. We are in July for goodness sake. Is anyone dealing with this.
With 41 million euros, even assuming a high price of 100,000 euros each,
the state could have bought a whole new fleet of 400 new buses
which could be up an running tomorrow.
SUBSIDIES DO NOT WORK!
And with monopolies,
the state gives the monopolist the pistol with which
the monopolist can then keep the state at ransom for ever.
Monopolies and subsidies should go.
If a subsidy is given,
it should be given only directly to the consumer
eg a transport card to all
for which the bus owner gets money
only if we actually use it.
If my choice is between being led by Brussels or being led by the bunch of thugs who were in Valletta this morning and who felt they could hold the country hostage because they oppose liberalisation, then I opt for the former. Malta is no more independent if it is ruled by people who have no intention of respecting the law and who feel they are owed a living by the country (and my taxes).
Well done Austin...
Is Malta independent. Is the Maltese goverrnment responsible or is Malta led by its nose from Brussels.
We must change the geography of the Island and say Malta capital Brussels (no longer Valletta).
A state run service??? And this comming from Brussels who wants us to privatise everything?
And to pay no subsidies? Most probably it is a translator's mistake, or what's written does not mean what it says?
I am off for a dip, ciao
AUSTIN ROCKS!
Even i invested thousands in my business so that is no excuse.
With their arrogance I don't blame the gov for arriving to a dead end on the negotiations