Transport Federation threatens to strike over proposed taxi reform
Government will forge ahead with reform
The government says it will forge ahead with its public transport reform despite fresh threats by the Transport Federation to strike over the proposed white taxi reform.
While the federation yesterday warned Transport Minister Austin Gatt to stick to what was agreed upon at the end of the last strike, the ministry urged the federation to come up with reform suggestions instead of threats because the public was eager for reform.
The federation's ominous warning follows the launch on Saturday of a consultation document on the reform of the white taxi service.
During the launch of the consultation document, Dr Gatt severely criticised the present white taxi system, calling it a "cartel", and proposed that the number of licences go up from the present 250 to 700.
Yesterday, however, the federation reminded the government that when the transport strike had ended last July, it was agreed that a study of the market would be carried out.
If the studies showed that the market needed more permits to meet the demand, that would be discussed.
Instead, the ministry forged ahead without any such study, the federation said, echoing the stand taken by the Association of White Taxis.
The ministry, however, insisted that the consultation process should be an open one and that the public should feel free to express its opinion on how the reform should be without being conditioned by the federation's threats.
The ministry insisted that the threatening attitude, "continuously adopted by a particular faction within the federation", was in itself a clear justification for the sector's liberalisation. But the federation stressed that the government's proposal to increase taxi permits to 700 clearly showed it had "not carried out studies evaluating what the Maltese market can actually support".
During the winter season, it complained, there is usually not enough business to go around for the 200 white taxis, let alone 700.
However, it added somewhat contradictorily, that the taxi sector was not made up of just 200 white taxis but included over 2,000 taxi services, among then black and grey taxis, and the red and white mini-vans.
On this basis, the federation maintained that Maltese commuters already had a wide choice in transport, as well as tariffs.
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D. A . Agius
Oct 8th 2008, 21:25
Take the licences up to 700? Why? Liberalise the numbers of taxis, not enlarge the monopoly and end up with a stronger opponent.
Introduce drug / alcohol / smoking screening, test "tourists", taxi stands in more localities and introduce set fees or payment in advance systems. No half measures, we've already had too many of them!
carmelo Briffa
Oct 8th 2008, 12:55
I would like to know who is RUNNING THIS COUNTRY MALTA....Is it the EU?. Is it the PN GONZI GOVERMENT?. Or a bunch of Fussellis or Zuziss....Can any nice gentleman please answer my question. Twenty years ago I was stopped by a taxi man got beaten up and did a lot of damage to my car and to my health broke my window glass and he also made my son to swollow brake fluid. me and my son both finished in hospital but I have never been yet compensated. 4 weeks later he slashed my 4 tires. Since I did not see him again I forged out more money to have my tires changed......Austin Gatt should never given in.
Charles Micallef
Oct 8th 2008, 11:27
The 250 white taxis take the cream, and they leave the rest to the remaining transport industry take what is left over!
As for the strike threats, please bring it on and give us a few more days of driving pleasure on our roads! and by the way, can you please insist that the bus drivers come with you in sympathy!
Joseph E Briffa
Oct 8th 2008, 10:54
As far as I know liberalisation by definition means the removal of constraints. To me it doesn't make much sense to raise the number of licences to taxis, or whatever; simply remove the capping of 200. In a free market, nobody in their right senses will apply for a licence if they feel there is no market for the service. On the other hand there will be applications if people think there is.. Competition and availability of choice favour the consumer. And how long are we going to take to decide? Talks have been going on for ages now. It's understandable that the Fed would press for more talks, they are playing for time. They are against liberalisation and they will keep resisting it; they want to keep the status quo...because they are happy with it and they fear that they will have to put in more effort when liberalisation comes about. The consumer however is not so happy with the current situation and they are clamouring for liberalisation. I would just propose an amendment to existing legislation to remove any clause that refers to a capping of the number of licences. Simple enough.