Editorial

The primary duty of a government is to maintain law and order. In the early part of last week our government and the authorities did not do that - failing every law abiding citizen in this country.

They allowed bus and minibus drivers in particular - taxi drivers and hearse owners, who were supposedly the aggrieved party in this, were relatively quiet - to run amok. They allowed them to strike fear into locals who are justly proud of feeling safe in their own country, and into the people who are good enough to make the choice to visit this island.

Not only did bus and minibus drivers strike for no reason, which in itself was an overreaction to the inevitable issue of liberalisation; but they illegally prevented a number of people from going about either business or pleasure. Moreover, they assaulted anyone whom they deemed to be helping a needy other do just that. The government and the authorities looked on. And for too long did nothing to stop it.

The police on the ground cannot be blamed. They undoubtedly did their best - in extremely difficult circumstances - with the little resources they appeared to have. But the government must explain why it took so long to gain control over an intolerable situation.

It is possible the argument may be made that the armed forces and police were stretched because of the visit of Mahmoud Abbas. There is no question that this was unfortunate timing.

But if it was the case that protecting one man meant that thousands were left to fend for themselves against the thugs that pose as drivers, then that man should have kindly been asked not to visit at all. The government's overriding responsibility is to its people. That is not a negotiable commodity.

The Prime Minister has failed his citizens too. People were looking to him, in what needlessly turned into a national crisis, for leadership, encouragement and resolve. And, although there were evidently meetings going on behind the scenes, he was nowhere to be seen. His statement last Friday that the government would not tolerate law-breaking came five days too late and was still, even at that stage, not sufficiently backed up with action.

This is indeed a shame. Because there is no doubt that the government is right to press ahead with the liberalisation of public transport. Nor is there any doubt that it is right - Austin Gatt, in particular, is right - not to cave in to this sector's bullying demands. We live in an age where no sector should be permitted to operate in a non-competitive environment.

But even when that is achieved, as we hope it will be, the scars of the past few days will remain. How can parents feel comfortable that their children board vehicles driven by people who are so willing to resort to violence? How can commuters - already put off by discomfort and inefficiency - be persuaded to use public transport? How can we restore Malta's reputation among the tourists that were here that this really is a friendly island?

As with many tragic situations, this one was not without irony - the air in the main thoroughfares during the past week has never been so clear. That is a battle Dr Gatt must fight too. There seems little doubt he has the resolve. But the government he forms part of must back him, properly this time, if he is to see it through.