Transport liberalisation talks start

Transport Minister Austin Gatt had separate talks today with the presidents of the Minibus Coop and the White Taxis Amalgamated during which he explained that the government feels that more licences should be granted in their sectors.

The Transport Ministry said the talks were part of a consultation process for the liberalisation of the public transport sector, as agreed with the Transport Federation last week.

Dr Gatt thanked the two presidents - Charles Mercieca and Alfred Pace respectively - for what turned out to be a cordial and productive meetings. It was agreed that the two associations would convene their members to discuss the models of liberalisation. The talks will continue in the coming days.

In a statement the ministry referred to an earlier statement by Victor Spiteri, president of the Transport Federation, (see separate story) and said that his denial that the federation had agreed on liberalisation was a contradiction of what was written in an e-mail exchange which led to the end of the strike last week.