Meeting on public transport reform 'not fruitful'

While the government yesterday described a meeting on public transport reform with Mini-bus Coop Services Ltd as cordial and productive, the coop defined it as "not fruitful".

Contacted yesterday, Charles Mercieca, from the Mini-bus Coop, said yesterday's 15-minute meeting was not even a formal one.

"We still don't know what is happening," he told The Times.

The talks follow a national public transport strike last month that brought the country to a standstill.

Yesterday's separate meetings with the minibus cooperative and White Taxis Amalgamated focused on measures to mitigate the impact of liberalisation on current operators.

The ministry said that while it wants to liberalise the two sectors, it was prepared to discuss the views of the associations before implementing the policy.

But Mr Mercieca said the two sides were far apart, and he could not imagine how a breakthrough could be achieved.

On his part, Alfred Pace, from White Taxis Amalgamated preferred not to comment, saying that the association was asked to present its proposals.

Another round of talks with the two associations is scheduled in two weeks' time.