Tourism operators hold strikers responsible for damages

A number of tourism-related organisations yesterday filed a judicial protest holding the participants in the public transport strike responsible for damages.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), the Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (Fatta), the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta (Feltom), Malta International Airport plc, Air Malta plc and the Malta Tourism Authority filed the protest against the Public Transport Association, the White Taxis Amalgamated, the Mini Buses Co-Operative and the Gozo Bus Owners Association.

They said that what happened this week was totally unacceptable and deplorable.

They said that the amount of damage being caused to the island and to the future of the tourism industry was immeasurable and the actions had to stop immediately.

The six entities held the leaders of the perpetrators involved in the illegal activities personally liable and responsible for any expenses and for any future damages incurred as a result of the actions.

It was totally unacceptable that a few law-breaking individuals should attempt to take control of strategic areas. The six entities pledged the government their full support in any action that needed to be taken to bring matters back to normality and to avoid any similar actions from being taken in the future.

The protest was signed by lawyers Ian Refalo, Hugh Peralta and Mark Refalo.