Updated: Taxi drivers: No agreement on liberalisation

(Adds governemnt reaction)

The White Taxis Association has denied claims that some form of agreement had been reached for the liberalisation of the sector. The association said such claims by Transport Minister Austin Gatt were incorrect and aimed only at giving the impression that the minister had won some point in consequence of the transport strike.

The association said that in its only meeting with the minister it was told that liberalisation was the government's aim, but it never said it agreed with it.

What was agreed, on insistence by the association, was that people licensed as taxi drivers had to be fit for the job and that measures would be introduced to improve the service and encourage more use of taxis, possibly even by the Maltese.

Once these measures were implemented more meetings would be held to discuss whether the sector had reached a level which should lead for the granting of more licences, in consultation with the association.

In a reaction, the Transport Ministry said the White Taxis Association accepted liberalisation in writing through the Transport Federation when the public transport strike was brought to an end.

At the time it was agreed that the government, before issuing new licences for this sector would consult the association. At his meeting with the association, the minister, Dr Austin Gatt, reiterated that the government intends to issue new licences in the context of total liberalisation of the sector. He confirmed this would happen after consultation with the association.

The ministry noted that the association never met the government before taking part in the recent strike.

When the liberalisation talks started , the association informed the government that it would convene its members to discuss liberalisation. When that meeting was held, it was agreed that further talks would be held with the government.