Stop the 'bullies'

The country neither wants bullies in the streets, nor in the Cabinet, Labour leader Joseph Muscat has said in the wake of the four-day public transport strike.

Speaking at a party activity in Marsa, Dr Muscat said no honest citizen could agree with the shameful events that took place last week and the country was the overall loser.

While condemning the violence, Dr Muscat said that in the circumstances the MLP consciously weighed its words and underlined the need for solutions and dialogue.

"From the outset, the Labour Party insisted that the public would suffer, rather than the government, if (the drivers took) action."

The Labour Party believes that liberalisation can lead to competition and that the consumer may benefit from improved services and lower prices.

Dr Muscat claimed that Investments Minister Austin Gatt's declaration that he would resign if he did not have his way on the liberalisation issue, was a clear challenge to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Dr Muscat said that former Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett had made it clear that the previous Cabinet had promised operators that a new Nationalist government would not change the status quo.

Once re-elected, Dr Gatt and Dr Gonzi broke the promise.