Updated: Taxis reform discussion document launched
(Adds White Taxi Licensed Amalgamated's reaction)
The White Taxi Licensed Amalgamated said this evening it was confident that discussions on the reform of the taxi sector would continue and hoped no hasty decisions based on ideas which would not have been studies and would have a negative impact for all would be taken.
The association was reaction to a news conference given by Transport Minister Austin Gatt this mornign during which he said the sector's reform should lead to the destruction of a cartel that has been created due to controls on the number of taxis and restrictions on competition.
The minister was launching a discussion document on the reform.
The minister said that when compared to Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Dublin, Prague, Barcelona and Rome, Malta’s cheapest fare was surpassed only by Amsterdam’s. Malta’s taxi fare for a standard five kilometre route was the fourth highest.
And while on a proportionate level there should be 700 taxis in Malta, there were only 250.
Dr Gatt said that intensive discussions were held with the WTLA before the publication of the document and although there was no agreement on liberalisation, the two sides were on the same wavelength on many other issues.
The WTLA said this evening that although some of the proposals made by Dr Gatt this morning were its own, there were others which it did not really agree with.
It saidd that the minister's news conference was held because of his wish to liberalise the market. The association said it believed this idea developed without any impact study this would have on the local market.
As for the comparisons made with foreign cities, these were irrelevant in the local market and what should be made was a profound and serious analyses by competent persons.
Dr Gatt said this morning that among the major problems in Malta were that taxi drivers did not consider the Maltese as their clients, they had a bad reputation with the locals, their system did not protect the client, they gave the impression they only wanted to operate from termini, there was no access to the service away from termini and because of lack of competition, the service was expensive.
Dr Gatt said that the use of taxis and metres had to be technologically monitored. There had to be contact between the Public Transport Authority and taxi drivers, passengers should be given more information about their rights and they should be offered more security.
The minister said there should be strict criteria which determined who should own a taxi, the number of termini should increase including in non-touristic places and advertisements on taxis should start to be allowed.
There should be a code of conduct and information on the service should become more accessible.
The reform should bring about a revision of legislation and policies and liberalised access to the sector, allowing for electric cabs to operate everywhere.
Taxis should also be allowed to operate between Malta and Gozo and a maximum fee should be established allowing for discounts to introduce competition in pricing.
Comments and proposals may be sent to the Ministry at 168, Strait Street, Valletta or on its website www.mitc.gov.mt up to November 1.
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16 Comments
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c. cachia
Oct 6th 2008, 22:08
Dear mr falzon, I can asure you that I know a M5 when i see one, I can very well tell when a cheap model is made to look like a supercar. To be honest I'm not sure why you assumed that your BM 5 was the one I saw about 2 months ago. Maybe you think that you can fool people into believing that a sports kit is what taxis need! I wonder, do you charge more because of this kit?
On the other hand could it be that the car was wearing a set of plates registered to another car?
Taxis should, like in London and other major cities, be bog standard with comfort and not speed/appearance as the priority.
I thank you for your invite of a free ride, BUT no thanks. Instead I'll challange you to a BMW trivia quiz. Are you up to it??
And.........
I drove 10 laps of the nurburgring in a proper M5 a few months ago and would recommend this experiance to anyone with a bit of petrol in his blood.
Charles Micallef
Oct 6th 2008, 09:26
@C. Cachia
I fully agree that the "Y & K" plates are abused from some who ought to know and can afford better, I would be ashamed if I had to drive my personal vehicle with such a number plate, especially when everyone knows that all I am not driving a Taxi or a Self drive Car and all I am doing is abusing system not to pay the due taxes like the rest of the citizen's.
Shame on the abusers, who in my book join the list tax defaulters in Malta!
S.Barbara
Oct 5th 2008, 11:50
This is ridiculous from when do we compare our tiny island with other european countries Can we ever compete?700 taxis on our streets don't you think we hv enough traffic jams?the majority of maltese families own 3-5 cars i want to see who's going to leave his own car in the garage and use taxis!the only reason why they use taxi abroad is ause cars do not have excess too everywhere!and these are the people who want to save the environment...great idea putting another 700 cars in the streets...doesthe EU agree with our "going green" system,What a shame!
a.falzon
Oct 5th 2008, 09:10
mr cachia.i am the owner of the bmw 5 but i think you dont intend nothing about cars thats a 2litre diesel 163bhp with a sports packacge.when you want you are welcome to hail me and i take you for a free ride.
Roger Chenery
Oct 4th 2008, 22:11
Whilst it is not my intention to judge the majority by the few, it appears to be a fact that some of the worst drivers on the roads in Malta are the taxi drivers. Just take a drive from St Julians to the airport and one is almost guaranteed to witness a Taxi being driven at excessive speed, changeing lanes constantly even through the road tunnels and even ignoring traffic lights. Why is it that Taxi drivers seem to think that they have a right to drive without due care and attention to other road users? There is definately need for reform within the Taxi sector and I am pleased to learn that it is on the cards.
c. cachia
Oct 4th 2008, 21:50
I am led to beleive that Taxis pay a reduce registration tax or none at all. I am also under the impression that a car with a 'Y' as the third letter of the number plate is a registered taxi. If I'm correct on both points can the minister responsible explain why we have one taxi which is a BMW M5 with 500+ BHP and capable of a top speed in excess of 200MPH !
Are there no parameters for cars to be registered as taxis or is this just blatant tax evaision !!
A Camilleri
Oct 4th 2008, 21:15
The White Taxi Association should assess the proposal with an open mind. With more taxis on the street and reduced prices, it is very likely that individual taxi owners will be earning more rather than less. If this happens it should be other sectors which should be worrying about competition from taxis. Of course, each taxi will be busier with actual driving taking more of his working day time rather than waiting for a fare. In the end this could well be a win-win situation. They should consider the possibility of increased business to Paceville nightspots, people taking a taxi to work, tourists opting to use taxis rather than hiring a car (which is very cheap by comparison). Keep in mind what happened when mobile telephony was liberalised. Cheaper for the consumer, increased demand, higher profits for all.
J Jenkins
Oct 4th 2008, 19:56
@I Galea who asks "Why limit to number to 700? Do we have a free market or not?"
you're always lamenting. On many other posts you show your opposition to free market. Decide.
Anyway, just in case you care to know - the Minister said 700 would be a proportionate equivalent, not that the number will be limited.
Even though I would prefer to see some limitations considering the limited space
Denis Catania
Oct 4th 2008, 16:55
Malta needs to remove taxi drivers with extensive criminal records. This would give most of the taxi drivers a better image.
J FARRUGIA
Oct 4th 2008, 16:40
I BELIEVE THAT 700 TAXIS IN mALTA IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. AS LONG AS THEIR FARE IS REDUCED PEOPLE WILL TAKE TAXIS EVEN TO WORK.
joseph abdilla
Oct 4th 2008, 14:23
can anyone tell me the road tax taxis in malta are subject to?
A.Gauci Cunningham
Oct 4th 2008, 13:09
There is no argument about liberalisation, this is good wherever it is existent as it creates competition which in turn pushes the prices down and ameliorates the services..it happened in the mobile telephony, it happened in the airline industry, it happened in the retail sector and it will happen in transport too!!! Only the inefficient are against it!!
On a political note it is very reassuring to see that Austin Gatt was not just stamping his feet to stir trouble a few months ago but means business about the liberalisation of this sector!! Go Austin!! The country is four square behind you!!
Charles Micallef
Oct 4th 2008, 12:28
Unforfunately the good and honest Taxi Drivers, inherits the bad name of the ones who are not!
Of course SOME prefer the Tourist trade, the Maltese know the streets well and cannot be taken "for a longer ride"!
I remember one particular incident at the time when there was agreement with the authorities and fares displayed at the Airport, only for these two Tourist to get to their Hotel in Bugibba from the Airport, to be told that that the price displayed at the Airport was per person!
Liberisation is the key word to improving this public service, Well done Dr Austin Gatt!
philip pace
Oct 4th 2008, 12:15
Welcome to the circus,
Well done Austin.
If we Maltese get a good rate per kilometer ACCORDING TO THE SIZE AND WAGES AS IN MALTA, I am all for it.
On Christmas day, I spent lm22 in the following manner.
Taxi to the Polyclinic Floriana from St.Venera= lm5.
Taxi from Valletta to Mater Dei=lm9.
And taxi from Mater Dei to St.Venera =lm8
Nice expensive equation? Read and think.
The comparing of Malta to other EU countries should stop as we don't have the wages that the other European countries have.
It is useless to come up with surveys reagrding the EU countries as we have very low wages.
The taxi reform should have the same rights as to the EU countries (vis a vis the consumer/taxi driver) but the meter charge (per kilometer) has to be lower than these countries.
The local taxi driver lacks good manners and dress sense and is very expensive.
Watch the shabby service given in Paceville at night to get the REAL picture.
I advice the Minister to consult with the people as well, if he wants satisfaction.
Organise a survey with the Maltese households and understand, please!
Expensive taxied bananas
J Oatmon
Oct 4th 2008, 11:59
A reform of the taxis is long overdue but still very welcome.
I never use taxis in Malta because they are a bad deal. Taxis in Malta are expensive, the cars are usually very old, the drivers treat the passengers as more of a nuisance than valuable clients. The drivers charge whatever they can get away whenever they can, because they have no meters - the drivers decision is final on what the cost should be.
Because there are not enough taxi's, there is vitrually no competition, and the service has dropped to the lowest level of the worst taxi and driver - and not risen to the highest level of the better taxis and drivers.
We need proper taxi meters, airconditioning as standard, and a ban on taxi's over 5 years old, as they do in many Asian cities. Also Malta needs professional taxi driver licences (not available for criminals) and Taxi inspectors to check the taxi and drivers papers are in order (no 'loaning out' of cabs to non licensed drivers).
It's not rocket science, Malta just has to do what works in other countries and not try to re-invent the wheel.
l Galea
Oct 4th 2008, 11:58
Why limit to number to 700?
What if more want to enter the taxi market?
Do we have a free market or not?