Ariadne Massa and Cynthia Busuttil
Two mediation attempts fail
Strike break... Bus drivers lounged around on the grass outside City Gate, Valletta as the country fumed, yesterday. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Two attempts at mediation in the public transport dispute failed to break the stalemate yesterday as the public today faces the consequences of what many have defined as anarchy on the roads for the third day running.
Both sides stood their ground, with Transport Minister Austin Gatt pledging to resign if the government backtracked on its decision to liberalise the hearse sector.
Several organisations and political parties have rallied behind the government's stand and the decision to stand firm against the operators' bullying tactics.
The police began to make their first arrests in a bid to restore some calm on the streets and four mini-bus drivers were arraigned last night accused of attacking a van shuttling tourists. They were remanded in custody.
The day started badly after the government's emergency bus service was stopped at 7.30 a.m., just 90 minutes after it started, because of incidents in which a van's windscreen was smashed and people intimidated.
A double-decker tourist bus was ambushed by striking operators who intimidated sightseers and forced them to get off the vehicle, leaving them stranded in Pietà.
The police were also kept busy at the Valletta Waterfront at 10.30 a.m. when some 100 policemen stopped taxi drivers from disrupting the service provided to cruise line passengers by chauffeur-driven cars.
Police presence was visible along most arterial roads as they brought in reinforcements to battle the obstructions created by 1,200 striking transport operators.
They were also on high alert because the strike coincided with the visit of Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The frustrated public questioned why the police was not slapping the drivers, who recklessly blocked the roads, with parking tickets; if they got one a day they would think twice about obstructing main arteries. Otherwise, they proposed that buses be towed out of the way and St Anne Street, in Floriana, cleared.
However, Police Commissioner John Rizzo smiled at this suggestion: "We're not talking of tickets, this goes beyond tickets. I'm not saying they're not breaking the law and we'll take action. Plus, how can we tow a bus? We don't even have tow trucks that can haul such big vehicles".
Meanwhile, the strike dealt a double blow to families who were unable to bury their dead and the number of bodies at the Mater Dei Hospital mortuary reached 24 in just two days, almost half the mortuary's capacity. A number of sittings at the law courts were put off because witnesses failed to turn up because of the strike.
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In Discussion
15 Comments
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Robert Borg
Jul 17th 2008, 09:00
Come on Mr Police Commissioner - give them tickets like your force likes to give to individuals who park on a corner!! Keep on giving them tickets daily, tow their vehicles away - i am sure you can get hold of a truck or forklift and don't make us laugh!!, close the roads and only let private cars through. The Police seemed rather unprepared to handle this thing, the Police Commisioner role is to keep law and order NOT meditate and get involved. It is unbelievable that anarchy can reign uncontrolled in Malta, better still arrest the lot of them and let us have some peace and quiet!!
Andrea Vassallo
Jul 17th 2008, 08:49
I only think that these so called strikers are a bunch of lazy bullies who think they own Malta. The police are acting like ushers whilst they need to take action about the situation as it is getting worse every day. Isn’t a bus parked in the middle of a public street illegal? Isn’t it blocking the way for thousands of Maltese citizens who have nothing to do with the situation? What about emergencies that may happen? I am with Minister Gatt as regards to not going back from the decision taken but now the government and the police need to push back these bullies and show them that this is a democratic country where everybody has his rights.
n camilleri
Jul 17th 2008, 06:37
This is Pathetic!!!!
James Sultana
Jul 16th 2008, 22:14
The more we read and the more we observe, the more it becomes obvious : its not a favour being done for our benefit, its not something to break the monopolies, no ...
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 !!
Noel Zarb
Jul 16th 2008, 18:59
These people can't keep expecting that they rule the country. They are one of the few monopolies left, and if only they carried out their service diligently, with good manners, with resepct and whatnot then they would deserve to still remain a monopoly. But not like this, they are showing the whole country how low and how ignorant they all are. Other than that the Authority shouldn't be the one to speak....over the past three weeks people from the Hal Far Industrial Estate have complained about route number 13 which is NEVER carried out well. We were asked whether we would want to witness, and we said yes....DID WE GET CALLED? No! and i think it is all because these people have the strike threat always handy, as in the past they have always had their way when they go on strike....but this time it is not the case. Also, God Forbid, I would like to know how a bus driver will react if a close relative of his dies and he wont be able to say a proper final goodbye. It sounds evil and harsh and low...but,if you can't beat them, join them! Shame on you all
I Abela
Jul 16th 2008, 18:05
We criticise the police and AFM when we should really be criticising the government. If the police and AFM wanted to end this mess it wouldn't take them more than an hour. They are well equipped to do this, contrary to what many people may think. Legally any retaliation by police or AFM is justified in the fact that the strike per se is legal but the violence and anarchy is illegal so there is legal ground to stop this mess. However the government would not give that order because in the future he would not be able to mention again the violence of the 80's under the MLP. Anzi since it would be more recent he is afraid that people would remember the GonziPN government as violent. But this is not a case of violence. This is about law and order and protecting our citizens. We have a right to continue with our own lives. Gonzi do something NOW.
Kenneth Cassar
Jul 16th 2008, 16:33
Commissioner Rizzo may think its funny, but all the people who get fined whenever they park illegally don't. We should all be equal under the law.
Matthew Brincat
Jul 16th 2008, 16:30
come on lazey people! get your lazey bottoms up, and go back to work and stop fooling around. you are only looking rediculous with these "stikes"
Tonio Farrugia
Jul 16th 2008, 15:57
The Government has failed miserably in the handling of a matter in which it should have the support of the entire country. If it had not foreseen that a relatively minor issue of motor hearses would be escalated to the entire public transport system, it should have at least prepared a back-up plan once the PTF announced the strike action. It is inconceivable that a Minister should have to indicate publicly that his action might not be fully supported by the Cabinet. We should not return to the Mintoff days, but the Government should ensure that while it tolerates industrial action, it cannot allow bullying by a few thugs. Why should the public and other non-striking operators feel threatened and unprotected?
But the Administration's main failure was in the initial communication of its plans, both to the public and to the transport operators. A proper communication plan would have scotched any arguments that public transport operators would be without a job because of liberalisation of the market. Unfortunately, though Dr Gonzi appointed a strong, young and determined cabinet, it seems that not all Ministers are surrounded by capable, experienced and mature advisors.
Gordon Camenzuli
Jul 16th 2008, 15:37
These striking operators should be fined thousands of Euros for doing so much harm to tourism in Malta.
Guys are you crazy???? Do you know how much the Maltese economy relies on TOURISM!!!!!
Dave Pulis
Jul 16th 2008, 14:27
Mr. Borg, About time you realise that the rule of law in this country is a joke. Well I will keep on paying my fines in an orderly fashion since I classify as a non-powerful citizen.
Chris Vella
Jul 16th 2008, 12:59
I'm sure many of you have noticed this, but is that guy (on the left) enjoying an afternoon nap with his head resting on his colleague's back?
Mario Caruana
Jul 16th 2008, 12:33
Cannot tow a bus? Get a fork lift and remove any obstruction no matter how much damage is done. I have no sympathy for the strikers and they are alienating the whole of Malta. All law breakers should be arrested and not fined. We have had enough of bullying and police who seem like Keystone Cops
Matthew Azzoaprdi
Jul 16th 2008, 11:14
We dont have....what?!?!? tow trucks that can haul such big vehicles....Mr. Rizzi, are you really trying to fool us! What did the journalists say about this?! They didn's counter attack your version. Il boy scouts kien imexxu ahjar minnkom
Bernard Borg
Jul 16th 2008, 10:10
This is disgusting: the law of the jungle reins supreme on Malta. Striking drivers breaking the law do not get fined?! Is it because they have bullied the police too? In case I get fined, should I bully my way out of paying the fine in the same way? Wouldn´t the imposition of fines end this fiasco sooner? Imposing fines would go a long way towards ending this fiasco fast, as well as showing that the rule of law is above any sort of bullying (it would also help balancing the country´s finances... or are fines only for weak law-abiding citizens?). What is actually happening reinforces the striking drivers bullying and encourages others to follow their example. This is shameful.