Tuesday, 15th July 2008 - 07:57CET
UPDATE 7 - Transport strike: Police open road for black taxi at Valletta Waterfront
Bus emergency service stopped after violence
A large contingent of policemen has restricted taxi drivers to a section of Valletta Waterfront to enable a chauffeur-driven car to offer taxi services.
The taxi drivers jeered as a large contingent of policemen arrived at the waterfront, where passengers from the Norwegian Gem have had to trudge all the way up to Valletta under a blazing sun as the taxi drivers looked on. A chauffeur driver car was however blocked from offering the taxi service until the way was cleared by the policemen.
The taxi drivers then clapped in sarcasm as the car drove off with its passengers and also shouted "strikebreaker". They were then addressed by Police Assistant Commissioner Josie Brincat who told them they had a right to strike but not to break the law. They have now started to drive away.
Some black taxis have also been providing a limited service at the airport, although there too were clashes with striking drivers.
Earlier this morning the emergency bus service and the new Park and Ride service from Blata l-Bajda were suspended after violent incidents involving the vehicles providing the service.
The Transport Ministry said striking members of the Transport Federation had used their vehicles to block access to the Park and Ride in Blata l-Bajda, which was being used as a terminus for the bus emergency service.
A number of striking drivers also boarded vehicles used for the emergency service and intimidated passengers and drivers (who are AFM soldiers), forcing them off the vehicles. The vehicle keys were stolen.
Some windscreens were smashed.
Meanwhile, misery continued for thousands of car drivers caught up in long traffic jams notably in Msida, Regional Road, and Marsa.
Minibus drivers have closed off all but one lane in St Anne Street Floriana and have also blocked Sarria Street.
St Anne Street was blocked by red mini-buses in mid-afternoon yesterday during protests linked to the public transport workers' strike. Traffic to Valletta is being diverted towards Sarria Church. The road towards Valletta was earlier this morning completely blocked, but a lane has since been opened.
Heavy traffic has also been reported in Regional Road.
Many transport workers spent the night in St James Ditch, near the Valletta bus terminus, some of them holding a barbeque.
The strike started yesterday morning and brought no movement from the government or the Transport Federation. An emergency bus service is being launched today. There will also be ferries from Sliema and Vittoriosa to Valletta and vice-versa.
The Unscheduled Bus Service yesterday evening that its members would stop their services because of a lack of security. A number of private mini-vans and coaches carrying tourists were attacked yesterday, although no one was injured.
Comments
Workers have a right to strike, that right is enshrined in our laws, however, when they do so they are also bound by those very same laws that give them that right, and they must do so in an organised manner, without violence, without breaches of the peace, and without practically all of the aspects of this so-called strike (it appears more to be a lawless jamboree). Demonstrations are organised with police co-operation and police permits, why this 'strike' should be any different is beyond me.
Thing is.. these drivers were promised otherwise on the election's eve. I call thatlying.
First of all, the government is not the bus driver's employer. Please check the facts before posting.
Secondly, thanks for letting us know that if "your employer" had a "hidden agenda", you would beat innocent people up and destroy private property.
Thank God you're retired. The less violent thugs seeking excuses to prove their "machoism", the better for the rest of us.
In answer to your question - If my employer has a hidden agenda and if my job is threatened I would use any means at my disposal to protect that position.
PS I am retired now.
I cannot agree more with you in this i.e. that it's time that the Maltese ppl stand up for their rights and not let the govt. jirrombla min fuqhom, however i will never tolerate violence coming from whoever and for whatever reason.
They have the right to strike and every right to be angry if the govt. promised them something and he's not keeping his promises. I wonder who's next cause it seems that the govt is picking up on every minority in the country and make them look like they're the hamalli and thugs! First it was the hunters, now its the Public Transport.
I wonder where Maltese citizens left their courage cause no one is doing anything, Docks are going to be closed down and no one does anything, surcharge doubled and no one says anything, if this happened during a Labour Govt. then yes ppl would go out in the streets with pots and pans like in the old days. I think the ppl in malta are not even realising how critical the situation has become! Do you realise that if there's an uprising from the illegal immigrants there's no one to protect us?
You sure have a fertile imagination verging on hallucination!
By the way, your English leaves much to be desired.
Since liberalization in general, seems on its way, why not throw in an application for a personal advisor to Minister Austin Gatt. It would be a mere stepping stone to eventually advance to personal advisor to PM Lawrence Gonzi.
By any chance, is Joseph using you and a few others to stir the pot while he continues to come across as the ideal politician? I suspect so because initially he declared to be in favour of the immediate end of the strike, but has been completely silent since.
He finds it so difficult to get off that comfy fence!
Can you please tell us how the bus routes are to be liberalised? Will everybody be allowed to provide a transport service on all routes in a sense of competition? Will any number of operators serve the Sliema Valletta and other routes?
I await your reply.
Extreme circumstances require extreme measures; violence is not to be repaid by violence...legal arrest is no form of violence.
I understand the issue of striking, and I may agree with it too...but too much is too much - and it's now been blown out of proportion.
What hidden agenda? We have been in the EU for five years now. are you telling me that you did not know that the EU does not like monopolies? wow.! I've got news for you. That was one of the reasons many of us voted for the EU. We were fed up being stitched up by a small bunch of businessmen, which, incidentally,is what the hearse owners are. It's so ironic, is it not, that the supporter of the labour party, are now fighting the businessman's cause. But suddenly these aren't businessmen anymore. No they are fathers of families and mere workers. How bloody convenient.
And another thing can you please justify these people having a monopoly? i wait with baited breath, although i don't think I'll get a sensible answer from you.
it is a show of force : Dr Gatt vs Dr. Gonzi. Dr Gatt wants to show that he has "guts" as opposed to Gonzi`s talking without reaching conclusions and taking full decisions.
We are in this mess just because in his "superiors" absence from the country, Dr. Gatt decided to show his power (at least let`s hope its not just a "favour" to a few people who will get the licences) ... now he left the country in a mess, leaving the Interior minister to solve the mess and protect the public by deciding what limit ot force to use, and the prime minister to decide on whether to backtrack and look "cowardish" or keep going and lose public support.
A minister who had all the backing and who had the go-ahead by the cabinet and the PM to go forward WOULD NEVER THREATHEN TO RESIGN IF THEY DECISION IS OVERTURNED. It means that he went for it alone !!
I take it from your comment that you form part of the profession. I was not attacking the institution. I was simply saying that if the Minister is going to continue in this vein than he should go the whole way.
Sorry, but if I want to argue the point, there is nothing ludicrous with my suggestion, I performed such a deed a couple of years ago in the UK and saved myself £5,800, I do know that the procedure differs to that in Malta, but it is legal, if you have the know-how.
Incidentally, I was told only last night by a learned friend that such procedure is legal even here in Malta.
As I said, I am not attacking any profession, not even the ``So called Estate Agents``, and I will not apologise for what I have written. Just a lighthearted note....It is not the oldest profession!!
In answer to your question - If my employer has a hidden agenda and if my job is threatened I would use any means at my disposal to protect that position.
PS I am retired now.
@Corinne Vella When forces within the media want to draw a bad picture about a group or individuals they have that power. Efficiency and good service like corruption starts at the top.
what disappoint is that a section of the community is being picked on, when we should be looking more closely at the fat cats in the public service who are setting a bad example to those under there supervision.
Liberalization creates competition. Competition creates better service. Better service creates more ridership. More ridership creates less pollution. Less pollution creates better health. Better health reduces expenditures for the public health services. Cheaper public health services frees revenue which could be used for other projects. Other projects create more jobs. More jobs create more tax revenue. More tax revenue creates wealth. Wealth creates peace of mind.
Get the drift?
What the public is SCREAMING for is the removal of these thugs who claim that they are providing a service. What service? We don't want them driving our buses while they smoke / talk on the cell phone / swear at passengers / overcharge / maintain dirty buses / exceed passenger limits, and the list goes on and on.
So, Austin Gatt, keep firm and go right ahead with industry-wide liberalization. Do not surrender to intimidation. Never in history has the Maltese public backed a politician so squarely. Do not go for half measures. These louts should not be given any second chances.
For those inquiring where the other Ministers are - Decisions are taken by the Cabinet not individual Ministers. Obviously liberalization of hearses was taken by Cabinet.
And what about the service of mini buses picking children for school at 6.15am when school normally starts at 8.00. and driving dangerously to get another bunch of kids to another school.
It is a shame that it is being pushed down as if it was the only solution or some magic formula to improve our tranpsort system.
What a way to publicize Malta as a tourist attraction. A real BRAND MALTA item.
Or when it is time to do there Job up to the Most they are
........................... .... naive...................................
So do you condone illegally blocking roads, parking illegally, destruction of private property, attacking police and army officers, intimidating tourists, etc?
A straight yes or no would do, and it doesn't require a "barrack room lawyer" to answer the question.
What have notaries got to do with all of this?
I won't even comment on the ludicrous suggestion that the transfer of property can be made without the intervention of a notary!!
As for notary fees, they are indeed meagre when compared to those earned by the so-called 'estate agents' and by foreign notaries in their jurisdictions!
Please do think before attacking one of the oldest and most respectable professions on the island!
Also, has anyone seen a warden lately? They have been missing out on the ticket issueing boom of the decade, then again you need a spine to face up to angry violent thugs, better stick to old ladies who forget to put on seat belts.
The country is in a sad situation and all because of the wrong way of tackling things - sit around a table and negotiate. Everyone has a right to be heard.
And whilst you're all talking about the bad bus service as if they're the only bad service on the island why not think of the many delays you may have had on an Airmalta flight or in a queue at the bank or at a restaurant where you're not just paying 47 euro cent!!! The transport system may need improving but let's try to understand their tough job and long hours and not imply it's the only bad service. Good to read about transport in the UK too - not all rosy after all.
The sun shines for all of us.
May it shine even more !!
One sector, the silent majority, wants to live a normal life. They are decent, work hard and shun away from any conflicts. They want to live a civilized life and hence they have voted for Europe.
The other sector of the population believe in the motto “might is right”. They care about the self interest with total disregard for other people’s life. Most of all they think that the government and the rest of Malta owes them a living and should do so through the use of their taxes. In this category one can include illegal parking attendants, hunters, dry docks, illegal fireworks, certain sectors of the GWU, the rude transport drivers, people who bully the Maltese and the tourists alike – basically all the thugs who think that they can rule from the streets. Most of these people voted against the EU because they shun any form of civilization and consider rules as artificial limits to their behaviour.
In 1987, when Labour lost power their motto was “Il-Gvern jiggverna u ahna nikkmandaw”. Today, after 21 years, the attitude has not changed at all.
Otherwise, the current situation is that to please 6 people that shared 17 new hearse licences between them (with cars already here before this liberalisation was announced), we are in this state. We pay taxes ALSO to be safe in our country. Yet we read that soldiers were forced to leave the buses, and the government`s response towards the public`s needs was to REMOVE THE SERVICE rather than use the police and army to enforce it. Is this called guts and courage ???
......why dont you just spit it out with less rhetoric Mr.Spiteri : you are in favour of anything and everything that is anti-PN even if this means having to put up with a lame service day after day!!
.......and by the way if the bus drivers are causing all this havoc when they are not even effected by the hearses' decision I just dread to know what they'll do when and if the doors of competition open up!!!!!!!!!
Please do not pay anymore taxpayers funds in subsidies to these people, i object to my hard earned tax going to these peoples' pockets. Issue a call for transport providers ASAP throughout the EU if needed. Thugs deserve no sympathy.
What these thugs are doing is despicable, and totally unjustified. Except for the hearse companies (which might have an issue.... though what they are requesting is irrational, selfish and sheer arrogance) all other transport providers involved in this strike are just trying to intimidate the general public and show us how vile, low and uneducated the majority of them are...not that we had any doubts on the matter...Fighting and causing chaos for no real reason! Now that's a new one for their already splendid reputation!
Liberalise conveyances (transfer of property). If a person is bright enough to do research and perform his own conveyance make it legal, and free us from some money grubbing Notaries that do a minimal job for a handsome return. I dare you Minister.
Yes of course on an analogous basis.
However, the Article is 86, provided it has not been renumbered.
Indeed the Court referred to and examined Articles 37, 85, 86 and 90(1) of the EEC Treaty in the case referred to.
Regards.
The Taxis and minibuses can be liberalized.. route buses is not that simple.
You must be reading my posts upside down.
Do you happen to be living in Australia?
The fact that I highlight that what the EU orders has to be done as was stated by an MP is to show that these people knew what they were voting for when they voted for the EU, so they should not be complaining now.
Even if the Government wanted to maintain the status quo it could not do so because the EU is breathing down its neck and will fine our country if it does not comply.
That, by the way, shows how sovereign the member countries are in the EU.
Which is another matter unconnected with this issue.
What I believe is that if it's right it should be done, but not because someone else is ordering me to do it.
Let us all hold hands and support the government who has decided to finally put a stop to the arrogance of these people. It is no show of weekness to express the truth, and deep down we all know that this is a bomb that was just waiting to explode. Let us not make a political issue or weappon out of this. It's true that every body has a right to express himself, but so does everybody have a right to open a business or pursue a career without having to pay the exagerated ammounts that these people ask for to buy a licence. It is a know fact that sums in the regions of LM50000 have been paid for a single taxi licence, and LM100000for a hearse licence. That is nothing less than extorsion.
AGAIN I STREE MY POINT. Let us all hold hand and support the government in this battle
800 dock workers were replaced with polish and indians and no one said a word, 5 years were added on our pensions and no one protested, just last week we had surcharge doubled and seems that no one was concerned and scores of illegal immigrants invading our island everyday and total silence!
the drivers showed that they are the only group of people who have the guts to take a stand. i only hope that the drivers don't give up, if they fall, then the government will have 'carte blanche' to continue his arrogance prevail upon us.
SUPPORT THE DRIVERS!
So there you have it from a learned person (many of his ilk think exactly like him) that the ongoing strike is Labour orchestrated.
Well done Doctor, I hope that I shall never need your services whatever they might be.
The government should be careful about liberasation. this happened to us when privitisation took place and our income is going down every minute. the government just signed us off and we are facing financial problems and having the government shrugging us .
Will these people, that earned their living working for others but could never had their own permit come forward and tell us what the current monopoly lead them to. Why should one pay someone else only because he has a title.
Well done Dr. Gatt keep it up Malta is with you and this is what Malta needs, the current chaos is only lack of intelligence, or better ignorance. What shall we taxpayers do regarding the subsidise, grants for the new buses, reduction in car registration fees these people get. Can the goverment please publicize these figures divided per capita. At last we have a minister doing what is needed in the transport sector, it had been a while.
Malta has had a rough time in the press over the past 3 years, people complaining about how dirty it is, how too many buildings are being built and how expensive it is getting, and the government wonder why tourists defect to Greece and Spain. This behavior only adds to the negative thinking about Malta.
I am a loyal tourist to Gozo and hopefully i won't be seeing any of this nonsense when i am over in August.
It all reminds me of those dark years, the 70's and 80's when this kind of violence was the order of the day.
As an employee in the Tourism Sector, it seems that nobody is taking into consideration the harm we are doing to this sector. We already heard and saw on TV one tourist who vowed that she will definately not come back to Malta. This same person will do us a lot of harm when in future she will speak about her ordeal in Malta.
Once I was thought something during a seminar in the hotel I worked for. A good advertisement by word of mouth maybe it will be picked up by five people, but a bad advertisement by word of mouth will be picked up by forty or more. This is the kind of disservice we are giving to the Tourism Sector.
since our soldiers are so naive (they were stopped from driving!)... and our bus drivers so strong, tough and almighty.. why don't we revese their roles ! We could leave the AFM to drive our buses and the bus drivers take care of all illegal immigrants(who would dare cross their paths?) !!!
A win-win situation no??
if he cannot live with his promises, the next step is to go home with his puppets
What is the goverment waiting for? That someone gets seriously injured or killed?
I have no sympathy left. Send in the armed forces now before it is too late
This is a cowboy country where lots of psataz are allowed to stop in the middle of the road to buy a loaf of bread from Giormina in the middle of St Pauls Bay main road jamming traffic from the Burmarrad roundabout, but if you park on a yellow line for some minutes prudently without obstructing traffic you swiftly get a parking ticket.
Enough is enough. Let's try hard to civilise our citizens by severe punishment, if that's the only way they learn. We have to start by first educating our police and wardens and setting the right priorities.
A counter-protest by civilians could turn nasty, would solve little, and create more chaos for the hapless tourist. Our best protest is with our feet, boycott the bus service, and offer lifts to anyone left stranded on the bus stops.
As for the police… where are those officers that beat up that immigrant? Where is that other officer that beat up that little old French lady? Our police force only shows its strength against the weak, never against thugs.
For shame really!
Do these people realise the amount of harm they are doing to the nation? What will these tourists think of Malta? The tourism sector could be negatively affected for a long time because of the bad press. The situation is totally out of control and they are behaving like terrorists. It seems like we are in a third world country. The government needs to act fast, and start arresting these criminals, because that is what they are!
Will the police show what you are really meant for? You were disgraced by the incident of Nicholas Azzopardi and labelled bullies because you took action against one person. And now because there are a handful of thugs are you being bullied? Are we really protected from the police or not? Come on, open the roads and whoever resists or tries to intimidate, arrest immediately.
I agree that the bus drivers have a right to strike.However I do not agree that to do so they should continue breaking the law. Once again I urge the authorities to bring out the army. Our civil rights as persons need to be safeguarded. Unfortunately because of these few thugs we are all suffering. Yes if these 'qabda hamalli' want war then war they should get. Yes bring out the army to clear our roads and to help us continue with our daily business.
Most comments speak about the merits or demerits of the government. Very few pause to think that if you so misguidedly decide to die today, you will not get buried, whether you are a Nationalist, a Labourite, a non-voter or whatever else.
I say the Maltese deserve much worse. Rather than forging a strong consumer association to fight for their rights, they have been led by the nose by various politicians, who were always out to better their lot, rather than the citizens' lot.
The Maltese have rarely fought for their rights, but have expended a lot of time fighting over trivialities; i.e. their poloitical party, the papier mache statue they carry during their feast, their band club, etc.
So, all that is befalling them is well deserved. When will the Maltese rise above petty pique and start to look after their affairs, rather than meekly let others decide what is best for them ?
I am truly ashamed at how insula we are !!!
1. The Public Transport Federation is not a registered union;
2. The Public Transport Federation does not have an ‘industrial dispute’ with Government as defined by law. There are Court Sentences that clearly stipulate that an ‘industrial dispute’ can only take place between the employer and the employees.
The Public Transport Federation is undertaking a protest in support of its aim to maintain the current monopoly regimes. But please don’t use the word ‘strike’ in this context.
So the question is clear: Should anyone have the right to break the law in protest? Only if a law is not legitimate. So are transport operators justified in breaking the law by blocking roads, hurting and intimidating people, and damaging property? Definitely not.
how come no one is mentioning this letter?? was it sent ? a simple yes / no will suffice.
if yes, then i think that someone has a lot to answer for !!
and i still am NOT in favour of what is happening in the streets.
maybe now the time has come for everyone concerned to listen to joseph muscat's suggestion to stop the strike and meet up and discuss !!!
If this situation will be kept going for long, Dr. Gonzi will lose a voter. Take action! Do it fast! Protect us and our tourism season!
And for the love of God, give us a liberlized market and I might again think of taking the bus to go to work!
This is not a strike, this is pure terrorisim, and all of Malta is being hurt indeed !
The GOV had tolerated more than enough !!! now it's time for action to be taken,
the 70's & 80's are long gone bye and no riot like this or in any other way, will bring us back to that TIME ! Shame on all who are defending this GENNATA !
Dr Austin Gatt, is very well know for his Great way to handle all the BAD situations in a Profession way, as always ! Go Dr Gatt the Maltese Nation Depnds on you, Now More than
Ever. We are all Behind you,
It's article 82 not 86. ECJ cases are not "directly applicable" though I do not believe you implied this in the legal sense but rather in the sense of "analogous". ECJ decisions provide important guidelines as to how the treaty is to be interpreted. In the case of the hearse owners you did not need to go as far as the EU. The Commission for Fair Trading decided against extending an exemption to Competition law for Hearse owners back in 2001 in it's decision "Funerali" EZ1/2001. It's 2008 and we're beginning to wake up to this reality (and we haven't seen half of the changes needed in Transport). It's a tough one - but I'm all for Austin Gatt on this one.
There should be 3 other soldiers on each ride to protect the passengers and anyone attempting to storm the vehicle should be thrashed out of the door.
Plus, the government should stand up too and order the streets to be cleared. IF drivers continue blocking them, they should be arrested and fined harshly.
If the drivers still dont start working, fine, the government has the power to do anything it wants, so take control of the local buses, and use soldiers as drivers. Armed if needed so if another case of violence is made, it will be stopped.
In modern economies, liberalisation does not mean what you state. The Government is simply issuing a licence to whoever wants to operate a service under certain regulations and terms and conditions. As long as we have proper regulation and ENFORCEMENT there is nothing to fear from liberalisation. In the end it is a win win situation for those who want to provide a decent service at a decent profit and the consumer.
Leeches lose out.
Liberalisaiton of all sectors of the economy is in the interest of all civilised modern economies, not just because the EU says so. It is because of people with a mentality of yours that we citizens are burdened with millions of euros of subsides going towards services such as public transport ,that we may not even make use of. If you're happy paying, speak for yourself.
Whenever a bold step towards modernising the country is taken, we have people with a mentality like yours trying to make us regret having joining the EU and preferring the status quo!
Unbelievable
STOP THEM... DO SOMETHING AND STOP THEM!
The Court decided that Article 86 of the EC Treaty applies in this case.
Article 86 refers to the abuse of a dominant position by one or more undertakings within the common market or a substantial part of it.
The relevant case is case 30 of 1987, the name of the case is Corinne Bodson v SA Pompes funèbres des régions libérées, and it is reported in the European Court reports 1988 Page 02479
The European Court of Justice direct link to this case is http://eurlex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=en&numdoc=61987J0030
Go on read it and see what the European Court had decided way back in teh Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 4 May 1988.
Read the case and see how an enterprise from another member state has the right to offer the same services that you are offering in Malta at a lower price than yours and you can do absolutely nothing to stop it.
Go on. Read it and you will see that you have had it too good for too long.
Despite all this i still agree with the liberalization of the sector. The problem here is that the government (gonzi & mugliett) promised the impossible, so the bus drivers have all the right to protest.
for yr info joseph muscat has repeatedly called for the strikers to call off their action....or are you all conveniently ignoring this fact ??
is it true that ex-minister mugliette promised IN WRITING there will be no liberalisation just 4 months ago ??
where is mr par idejn sodi to sort out this mess??? now is the time to show your true mettle.
and btw.....i am NOT in favour of what is happening on the streets !!!
I'm under the impression that the strike is against the liberalisation of the funeral hearses and not the mini-buses (though I do agree that this sector should be liberalised too & immediately - They keep on increasing prices and packing our children like sardines).
However, no one can understand why the bus, taxi and mini-van drivers decided to strike yesterday when the government's liberalisation decision affected only the hearses whose owners had asked for a decision on their future.
So, Pauline and Mr Mckay, do you agree with the proposals made by the strikers that:
1) Persons with criminal records should continue to work in this sector? and
2) Increase in fees?
These are the proposals put forward by them. If the government accepts their proposals, then we, the majority of workers should STRIKE.
Issa Daqshekk! ;)
They are mostly PN supporters who have voted PN and who have been hoodwinked by their own party, that's why they are so angry.
Didn't you see that person on TV with the letter given to them on General Election Saturday afternoon?
Whatever they do, the EU has ordered the liberalization of the sector and that's what will have to be done, whether they like it or not.
Remember what was said by someone from the Government side some tiem ago.
The EU wants this to be done and it shall be done.
1...PN should stop promising things that cannot keep to win elections
2...PN is in government and is resposible for the good order of this country
3...There are ways and other ways to impose liberalisations surely Dr Gatt chose the wrong way as usual, since the right way is discussing around a table and not putting Malta in a state of anarchy which will have negative effects that will last months if not years.
4...All monopolies should go being transport, pharmacies, airports etc and this should be made clear by the government and not resort to point 1
5...I hope Dr Gatt will accept to meet these thugs (yes these are thugs) and deal with them in a civil way so we are not put to suffer the incompetence of this government. We are already enough burdened with taxes and bills.
Hope this is solved peacfully and quickly so all of us can help our ailing economy move and not the other way round
Do not politicise this national issue. Did you make a headcount of who voted for whom in the last election?
The Labour Party issued a very clear statement yesterday and, last Sunday Joseph Muscat called on the Federation to refrain from striking.
the EU was indeed a good idea just for the reasons you mention negatively we need some more EU chickens especially when they make us save money and get a better service... hoorraayyyyy the EU impositions when they suit me citizen fine....
@ charles mackay
keep on the paroli.......
after all that's why the MLP has spent the last 20 years in opposition and the PN 20 years in Government.... PN acted.. MLP talked.....
Dr Muscat wants to discuss....as if 40 years of discussions with these thugs have led anywhere........
oh no.....we WANT change...but in action not paroli....
It might be better if you keep silent than for John Rizzo to resign. What else can the police do? At least we don't see policeman aiming their guns like we see in other countries.
The police acted accordingly and wish everyone supports them.
I was pointing at the fact that the Xemxija Bypass was still partially closed to traffic years after it was 'opened' - the reason -- Caqnu was involved
Well the Bypass is still in the same state so Caqnu determines when us taxpayers can make full use of such an important road, despite all the public and EU funds that went into it
Now the bus drivers have taken charge of the roads, stopped the emergency bus service etc.
I ask Dr Gonzi once more, who is in charge here? Come on get the army out, Mintoff faced such situations before and solved them
What you wrote was: "well done Taxis....mini buses......buses........keep on blocking......all Malta with u".
So you apparently agree with these people keeping us all hostages by blocking roads. That's why you got the replies you deserved.
Well done, Mr Mackay...keep on writing...all Malta against u.
@ maria Dolores Fenech where have you read that people are against strikes? we are against lawlessness, violence and the blocking of roads. These tactics are obsolete in a democratic country.
Commissioner, Prime Minister, Minister - since they seem to want matters to escalate, by all means oblige them. This cannot go on.
The only thing that irritates me is that the authorities are so lenient with these law breakers.
Why are these people allowed to roam our streets and harass tourists and workers?
Where are the riot squad, AFM and police? Anyone breaking the law should be arrested and have their vehicles towed away with full force if need be.
Who controls our streets? the authorities or these thugs?
Liberalise the whole transport - Stand hard Gatt !! Even if it takes a month!
You have done huge damage to the Tourism Industry and what the tourists are going through right now will affect future tourism. You put a black spot on Malta.
President Reagen once fired all the Air Traffic Controllers when they striked and brought the country to a halt.
Victor, there were several peaceful and effective ways to conduct such a strike and you know that your people are capable of doing what they did but still went ahead with this disgusting "strike".
You ruined the already shot bus drivers' reputation. Many of those who participated in this jungle style strike deserve to be jailed.
Police should write down the licence plate numbers of all the buses and cars used to block the main roads and fine them all.
No Victor, you have no right to bring this cuntry to a halt and what you did is shameful.
The article suggests that he fought against monopolies in the European parliament. Good. I am asking Dr Muscat to please fight against monopolies in the Maltese parliament and come out in favour of liberalising hearse licences.
The article quotes Dr Muscat as saying that “there should be liberalisation wherever the consumer is not well served”. Good. I am asking Dr Muscat to please acknowledge that the transportation sector is a case in point and that the MLP should start by supporting the liberalisation of hearse licences.
Furthermore, I want to hear Dr Muscat condemn the threatening behaviour we saw at Castille yesterday. This is not the way to get your point across in a modern democracy.
Calculate the damage done to the economy and sue the bus owners this amount.
These people have a right to protest but they have exceeded their limits.
I am sorry to say that in the event of things getting further out of hand - i.e. riots - our police force and army are UNABLE to handle matters. Both are poorly funded and weak.
How dare they smash windscreens? How come AFM soldiers driving the vehicles did not react?
We have had alot of progress and democracy come in since 1987, however police and army strength has floundered since the pre-1987 regime. These rogues would never have got away with it in those times.
If the police cannot act, then we as citizens must hold a protest march, putting aside our political differences and showing that we are not afraid of these striking members.
They may be violent, they would be incidents, however they are limited in number, and they are destined to lose the battle.
how many of them have been arraigned so far? If police needs proof, all the media is brimming with it....
Our Police Force is ridiculous - the Boy Scouts would be
ashamed to be compared to the behaviour of our Police force yesterday.
There's illegality on our roads and the bus owners know that
if they don't block the roads,
very few people would notice there is a strike on.
All we need is for this illegality to stop
and for bus owners to strike to their hearts' content.
But the Police have done NOTHING!
Commissioner John Rizzo should resign.
These are the "men" who should be taking care of us, driving us "safely" from one place to another.
These are the "men" with whom we trust our kids and children each and every day, morning and afternoon.
These same "men" are today proving what we always thought of them!
They need to learn that you have to earn your job, do it properly or GET OUT. They are no more special than other people so they should comply to their job description and then they have no need to be afraid of competition!!!
It's common sense after all.
@R Attard - Chauffers were on TV, showing letters sent to them by Mr. Mugliett prior to election stating that the transport service would not be liberalised.
I deplore the antics currently being deployed by the drivers, but I'm amazed we haven't heard anything from Gonzi, he is the Prime Minister after all!!!
Whilst at it I hope that the Government will not give in....and for the MLP to express its disapproval of such pitiful behaviour from many of its voters!
The longer these criminals are allowed to break the law by blocking our roads to rob us of our right of freedom of movement, the stronger they feel. Cut them down to size now!
We spend MILLIONS to have a good image for tourism, then when the tourists actually come, we scare the living heck out of them!!! IS THIS FOR REAL!!!
Are we going back to 70's and 80's in Malta!!! WHAT ARROGANCE!!! HOW DARE THEY!!! Threatening anybody is wrong, but threatening a whole country is TERRORISM!!!
Fines to every participating member E5000, all those directly involved in this violence double, all participating members license revoked, those who stopped the ambulance yest 5 years prison, if you can't pay work it off doing community service at 50% pay till it is payed off
HOW DARE THEY MESS UP TOURISM for the whole country, threaten every citizen!! We all work, we all strive to improve ourself except our bus drivers!!!
Hijacking emergency services!!!
STRICT DETERMINED CONSEQUENCES!!! Nothing less!!!
Perhaps AFM drivers should carry a weapon. Force must be used against those using force against passengers etc. AFM spend hundreds of hours shooting etc in their penbroke traning grounds. At least they practice their training. This is terrorisim! They have a right to stike but we have a right to carry on with our lives.
Although everyone knows that the public transport is in need of a great change (im one of those who use public transport everyday) the government did a wrong job. First they told the drivers that no change was going to take place, than after few months in power and without any alert he just decided to liberise everthing.
I'm sorry but this was not the way of doing things, I dont want to finish in the same situation as the drivers, first they promise me something and than they do the other way round.
As the government did to the drivers, maybe someday he will do the same to me....