Government makes final offer to bus owners

S. Fenech

Jan 25th 2010, 16:21

One question... will the government put a limit to the tariff charge the new contractor will charge the public? May I point out that a lot of under 18 (non working) persons use the public transport and am pretty sure they will not be so happy if the tariffs increase.

E. Azzopardi

Jan 25th 2010, 15:51

Totally disagree. What do you mean by job guarantees? Who has a job guarantee today?
Do you mean that we shall still have all those rude and unpleasant bus drivers around for a minimum of 10 years?
I was always sceptical about the transport reform. It is useless "promising" the people efficient transport with same stuff. Hope this goes to a foreign bidder.
By the way, Euro III is not recomended by the EU. EU wants Euro 4 and Euro 5. In all probability we shall still be inhaling all those fumes!!! Efficient and clean my foot.
Why did we join the EU then? .

A.Gauci Cunningham

Jan 25th 2010, 14:23

@bus service---there is no way of going around it...the bus service in Malta leaves alot to be desired for various reasons. First of all it is completely outrageous that buses stop working at 21:30 when most people go out nowadays. Some buses are downright shabby and some bus drivers are extremely rude. To make matters worse the ADT has been left toothless and insignificant by the powers that be......typical eg-if the bus is late is there anywhere you can report without having to spend a whole morning waiting on the phone? Is there any watchdog to make sure that these "bad-apples" are kept in check?

@the compensation---the old buses do not cost 98,000 but the business which the individual has does. It seems many people are unaware that many bus drivers are not necessarily the owners of the buses. So the money is to compensate for the total closure of a particular business and not for a bus! I disagree with this concept because here in bugibba alone tens of businesses have had to close down and were all left picking the pieces. Nonetheless I still think some should really inform themselves better before rushing to their keyboard!

albert g storace

Jan 25th 2010, 00:23

Here we go again....another joy-ride!!!!!

Pierre Scerri

Jan 24th 2010, 19:01

Tista tkompli kemm trid. L-argument tieghi ghamiltu u ntennieh, Il-mod ta kif inhu immexxi is-settur hu kollu dettat mill-awtoritajiet, hin tar-rotot, frkwenza, buslanes inezistenti, manteniment ta dixxiplina u nistghu inkomplu. Barra minhekk ma tista qatt tpoggi lil kullhadd f'keffa wahda! Nies inqas tajba jezistu f'kull settur. Jekk trid tirbah l-argument billi twaqqaha li ghax jinza il-qmies, jitkellem fuq il-mobile, jieqaf fin-nofs ect, dan hadd ma jichdu imma min jirraguna jaf li huma il-ftit hziena min hafna tajba! u jien cert li hafna xuffiera u sidien jkunu kuntenti b'aktar dixxiplina fuq elementi hziena fosthom mill-awtoritajiet.

Barraminhekk l-awtoritajiet huma il-Gvern! Tidher li m'andek l-ebda idea tas-settur min kif qed titkellem! Facli ghalik titkellem hekk. Nixtieq nara lilek tahdem f'settur fejn L-gvern dahak bil-haddiema ghal snin shah.

Jiena nirkeb kuljum ghal Belt filghodu u filghaxija, gieli insib xufier u trukk mhux prezentabli imma il-bicca il-kbira dejjem prezentabli kienu. Issa mbilli noqod nghid ax ma wasaltx fil-hin, x'tort ghandu x-xufier jekk mar-rush hour filghodu u filghaxija ikun hemm imblokk f kull arterja principali. Tahseb int li l-operatur il-gdid ser jtir! ma nafx jista jkun ukoll, imma andi dubju.

Ghaldaqstant nhoss li mhux gust il-htija kollha tintefa fuq dawn il-povri xufiera u sidien.

Grazzi.

Sarah Camilleri

Jan 24th 2010, 18:43

http://news.coachbroker.co.uk/londons-bendy-buses-heading-to-malta-181000/

London's bendy buses may be heading to Malta...!!!!

Adrian Borg

Jan 24th 2010, 17:51

@Pierre Scerri

Bil-korla ma ssewwi xejn habib ... anzi inqas tifimom l-affarijiet!

Tant hu hekk li int tghid li "imma nifhem ukoll li jehlu x xufiera ghal-kollox ghax il-passigier lix-xufier issib malli jirkeb! " ... meta fil-fatt jien qsamt it-tort: "Qadt ma kien profittabli s-servizz ghax kulhadd ghazzien u ma jhaddimx mohhu tal-linja, kemm il-management u anke x-xufiera."

Tal-linja ghandom image hazina ghax meta jigu rrapurtati kazijiet ma jittihdux passi mill-awtoritajiet kontrihom u qas jitnehhew licenzji. Tahdmu 13-il siegha habba l-istess awtoritajiet ghax mhux kapaci jaghmlu uzu mill-human resources li ghandom ghad-dispozizzjoni b'mod tajjeb, Mela lil tal-linja nghidilkom huduha kontra dawn l-awtoritajiet li ghandkom fuqkom mhux kontra l-Gvern u n-nies.

Mill-banda l-ohra ma nahsibx li l-awtorijiet jimponu fuq id-drivers regoli bhal: tinza l-qmis, issuq u ccempel jew tibghat bil-mobile, tghajjat u tipprova twaqqa ghac-cajt lin-nies, fejn hemm dahhla altapposta ghal tal-linja biex twaqqaf u ttella n-nies tieqaf fin-nofs tat-triq u twaqqaf it-traffiku, ma tkunx fil-hin fir-rotta tieghek jew aghar minn hekk qas biss taghmila ... u jekk terga tghidli nerga nkompli nzid!

Btw, tishonx ghax ma jaghmillekx tajjeb ghal qalb ;)

Pierre Scerri

Jan 24th 2010, 15:37

@ Adrian Borg

Nassigurak li kieku kullhadd ghazzien fuq tal-linja hadd minnhom ma jahdem hemm !! ghax sa fejn naf jien minhu ghazzien ma jazilx job li jibda mill-5 ta filghodu u jispicca tard, qatt inqas min 13 il-siegha kuljum!!!

Iz zmien itina parir! U jaghaddu sentejn ohra u naraw kemm mhux ser jithallas sussidju u il-fare jibqa l-istess!!! tidher gharef wisq int ruhi! mitluf awn!! Just for your info il-qies tal-vetturi kien decis mill-Adt! L-ebda xufier ma ridt karrozzi 11 meter!! Kollox hu deciz mill-ADT fis sistema prezenti! imma nifhem ukoll li jehlu x xufiera ghal-kollox ghax il-passigier lix-xufier issib malli jirkeb!

Tista tkompli sejjer ta jekk trid!!! mhiex problema!!!

D. Scerri

Jan 24th 2010, 09:53

Ibqa ghaddej kif int Ministru. Jekk din ir-riforma ma ssirx issa ma ssir qatt. Dawn ilhom zmien twil jiehdu sussidji u jweghdu li se jtejjbu s-servizz imma qatt m'ghamlu xejn. Keep up the good work Minister Gatt.

Antoine Attard MA (Econ)

Jan 24th 2010, 09:28

Everyone is afraid of change, the busowners/drivers too. I agree that many offer a disservice through their attitude, but this is a result of the monopoly they enjoyed, and lack of training in customer care. I augur the new co. will offer better training, and after a period of time, competition is introduced in the sector, in order for the transport sector to improve to levels we are dream of and deserve. I am always in favour of steps to dismantle these 'guaranteed' jobs - drydocks, transport, taxis, finance, manufacture e.g. of chocolate, telephone, TV, etc... as in all cases, the sector, country and consumers benefitted.

As to the compensation, I believe it is an evil we have to live with. We have to pay for outdated policies; the state cannot simply cut off these families way of life. Unfortunately, there is no such compensation for employees who are employed in a properly run sector (I mean fair competition) and lose their job; this is one other reason why many who dream of an improved economy are against monopolies, and are always looking forward for the next one being dismantled.

Come on busowners, use your comon sense. And remember overtime.

N.Lawrence

Jan 24th 2010, 08:45

So Mr Gatt has over €52M of honest taxpayer's money to throw away. When I lose my job, will I enjoy a generous gov't hand out as well, or am I a member of the wrong club?

Adrian Borg

Jan 24th 2010, 08:24

@ Pierre Scerri

Qadt ma kien profittabli s-servizz ghax kulhadd ghazzien u ma jhaddimx mohhu tal-linja, kemm il-management u anke x-xufiera.

Il-ghala tibghat tal-linja tesgha 45-il persuna fuq rotta li ha tigbor 5 l-iktar? Uza specita mini-van halli tiffranka.

Il-ghala waqt li jkun qieghed jghabbi jew jistenna li jsir il-hin tal-linja jzomm il-magna mixghula ghal xi 5 minuti ta' l-inqas?

... u nista nkompli sejjer ...

H Fenech

Jan 24th 2010, 07:55

The Mayor of London via the major London transport operator Aviva is in negotiation with Malta to sell off 60 'Bendy ' buses to Malta ? The are known to blow up .

Thats hardly what our system needs !.

The Iconic London route master was redesigned to stay in keeping with brand London . Part of brand Malta was her vintage buses so why not have a new buses specialy designed for the Island which incorporate the old and new .

N.Lawrence

Jan 24th 2010, 05:55

Mr Gatt once again demonstrates a free and easy attitude to taxpayers money.

jmifsud

Jan 24th 2010, 01:44

Il Gvern idejh marbutin, tal linja kienu strajkjaw ma tal hearses u tat taxis, il Gvern biex jifridhom irranga ma tal hearses ghax kienu ftit u taghhom kumpens tajjeb, issa biex jirranga ma tal linja jippretendu listess ghax inkella ma joqghodux kwieti u wara dawn tat taxis, billi titfa l-problemi taht it-tapit ma tirranga xejn, allavolja tkun bully. Issa jkollom skuza li id-deficit telgha imhabba fihom ukoll bhal tad-dockyard.
Id-drivers tal linja mhux kollha ma jaghtux servizz tajjeb, imma l-hazin jispikka. jistgha jsir forma ta ezami ta l-ghazla hu dawk li huma tajbin jinzammu. Trid tqis ukoll l-aspett uman, kulhadd ghandu familja, u ma tistax taqta sinjal, ghax issolvim problema u tohloq ohra.

Pierre Scerri

Jan 23rd 2010, 21:47

@ Mr Dimech

Kieku minnek ma tantx noqod inpacpac la ma nafx id-dettalji!

Kun af li il-karrozzi tal-linja mhumiex azjenda, imma selfemployed! Ghaldaqstant s-sitwazzjoni tad-dockyard ma tistax tapplika ghal tal-linja. Apparti minhekk nassigurak li kull minhuwa sid u xuffier tal-karrozza tal-linja jigi jaqa u jqum mill-job li qed jiggarantixi il-gvern! Ara dawn hux ser jmorru jahdmu ma min serqilhom xogholhom u ittradihom!

Barra minhekk Int kont tahdem ma kumpanija u ma kellekx negozju tieghek! ghaldaqstant l-argument tieghek ma jreggiex.

Dawk kollha li qed tahsbu li il-poplu ser jmur ahjar ghax il-gvern ser jaqleb is-sistema ghal-operatur centrali ser jiffranka sejrin zball kbir. Issa tkunu tafu kemm irridu joghlew in-nollijiet biex tigi sistema sostenibli, u mbilli ma jridx il-gvern jogholi, x'jimpurtah min ser jiehu hsieb is-settur. Il-gvern jaghtih kumpens u ma jgholliex! semplici. Andikun dak sussidju jigi!!! Tghid mhux ser jigi operatur privat u jahdem karita ghal-poplu. Oholmu.

Kunu afu li f'dan is-settur qatt ma setgha issir imvestiment mis-sidien ghax il-qliegh ma kienx jippermettih. U min irrid jirraguna jaf x'igifieri.

j.spiteri

Jan 23rd 2010, 21:34

Flimkien kollox possibli. Most of the bus owners are blue eyed boys so problem solved. Hux Gonz? Jew rega ma' qallek b'xejn Wistin?

Matthew Agius

Jan 23rd 2010, 21:30

I think it is time that this game of trying to take as much as we can ends.

Generous compensation is being offered.

It is time to move forward in the right way forward. The public transport arena has been a scar on Maltese economy, tourism, customer service etc. I am not blaming the bus owners. But it is time to take a decision in another sector to reform and move forward. The government seems to be sensitive to the parties concerned. Now the parties concerned have to be sensitive to this move towards improvement and react in such a way to be competitive and more available to what our economy and infrastructure needs.

It is about compromise and not wanting to get what we asked for in first place.

Anthony Borg

Jan 23rd 2010, 21:26

@N.Vella....
"We do not want the present Bus Drivers. It's not the vehicle which gives the service but the people. We need a total upgrade. Out the old, In the new, totally. Same people, same bad, arrogant, dirty service. As long as something from the present will remain in the future with the new company, I will never use public transport" ... Mr Vella, I echo your comment! You put it in nutshell. Mr. Minister... WE - I mean we (who use public transport daily and do not have the luxury of a chauffeured car, DO NOT WANT any of the arrogant, uncouth Bus Drivers. Employ only the handful of decent one which I have come to know and respect. If you employ them all, after the dust has settled, their arrogance will reappear...poor souls, they do not know any better!

Jessica Vella

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:47

@ Mr. Dimech.
First of all I sympathize with your situation however, having passed through that experience you should understand even more the worries of these bus owners.

You should also understand that this job is completely different. Bus owners have invested not only in their buses which require continuous expensive maintenance, but also in their garages and equipment which cost much more than you used to take with you at work. As for the job they have been offered, being a bus driver employed with the government is completely different from being self employed!

A. Zahra

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:28

Go ahead please with this project, and let us move to finalise it , today before tomorrow....we had enough (decades) of these old, ugly, uncomfortable, heavily-polluting buses, which are worse than those found in countries much poorer than Malta, in Africa and South East Asia....yes, and everyone who tarvelled outside this Island knows what I am talking about....and let us have a fleet of new buses.. and, more importantly, let us terminate any socio-economic monopoly of a group of (mostly) uneducated, vulgar, badly -dressed up drivers, ...especially in todays' rapidly changing world, and competitive cut-throat market economy, where highly educated, professional individuals, with doctorate degrees, who spend many years studying, as well as courageous businessmen who invest thousands of Euros, and take great risks, have no monopoly, or guarantee on their income, work, employment, business venture or future...

Joseph Brincat

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:24

Ara ma tahsbux li l-owners ser imorru jigru, mela dawn imgienen!

Lestu ruhkom ghal-strajk minn juza tal--linja il-gimgha d-diehla.

Dak deletant tal-imhatri lest jaghmel ohra?

A. Borg

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:23

Jessica Vella ,
Meta l-fabbrika li kont nahdem fiha jien ghalqet il-bibien mhux talli ma taghtniex kumpens talli kelli niehu mijiet ta liri li bqajt minghajrhom!
Din mhux gejja bhal tad-dockyard hux? Jiehdu s-somma u jibqghu jahdmu fl-azjenda!
Ghax dawn se jiehdu is-somma u se jibqghu xufiera!

R.Gauci

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:23

In my opinion the tax payer's money should be invested on the new bus service not on the old one which already took a lot of it on subsidies without giving back the right customer's feedback. After all no private businesses get any compensation when they are not capable to compete and run out of work! With a 10,000 euros wage a year you won't attract a lot of new faces to do the bus driver job, as they say if you pay peanuts you get only monkeys with all respect!!

J Zammit

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:17

Why have we to take everything out of perspective. Without going into the merits of right or wrong I want to give some points for thought:
1. Many do not know that in every country, wherever there is a limit on the licensing for a service, the license becomes an investment. This happened in Malta, in fact the banks were even giving out loans to the tune of 105,000 Euro just for the license of a public transport bus. What will happen to the families of those young bus owners who started a business a few years ago, before the government decided to take out this procedure and will have to pay the balance on such a loan?
2. If we really want to give a free hand to the public transport authority while still helping out the current bus drivers, why are we moving so fast in a blind way? Did we consider all the other options? Who will carry out the school children trips? Why doesn't Government form a company with the current bus fleet to cater for all government schools and give a decent salary as described to these bus drivers.

G.Portelli

Jan 23rd 2010, 20:16

@ Alexander Azzopardi

A dictator dictates and does not give alternatives. When the bus drivers deemed fit they striked and never thought about the harm they were doing to our country at the height of the tourism season. They are now being given good compensation from our taxes. Monopolies should end in this country.

Keep it up Dr.Gatt. Maybe some day this country will have an acceptable alternative to public transport.

joseph mifsud

Jan 23rd 2010, 19:54

mela dik paga li ha tijom dikpaga minima li se tijom mela bdik il paga ha tghix ix xufiera ta linja jisthoqilhom ahjar ta dawk is sieghat li jamlu kulljum.

Mark Falzon

Jan 23rd 2010, 19:52

Well done Hon. Minister Gatt for all this! I hope that they decide not to take up this option so we will rid ourselves of these parasites once and for all...

Naturally, tomorrow we will have to listen once more to Joe Muscat's opportunist speech, taking the side of the bus drivers. Hey, they vote, so PL will do ANYTHING to win their vote...PATHETIC!

T. Pulis

Jan 23rd 2010, 19:49

Alexander Azzopardi
Din mhix kwistjoni li mal-hazin qed jehel it-tajjeb. Ma nemminx li l-Ministru kellu dan f'rasu. Meta l-poplu ghazel l-Ewropa (u ejjew inkunu onesti hafna xufiera tal-linja riedu li Malta tkun Fl-UE) ghazel kollox. U jiena llum cittadin tal-Unjoni Ewropea u ghandi DRITT SAGROSANT nirkeb fiq xarabank suret in-nies u mmur f'diversi postijiet differenti minghajr ma nidhol il-Belt. Il-Maltacom cediet, Il-vodafone accettat, sa certu punt anke l-Airmalta, u issa anke tal-linja - Kulhadd irid jiftakar li zmien il-monopolju ilu li ntemm. Min xarrbu kielu l-bakkaljaw! U min ma xarrbux ha jieklu minn fuq dahar dawk li xarrbuh u ma jridux jikluh! Jalla din ir-riforma tirnexxi u iwa Austin Gatt jaf isib sehmu imma bis-sahha tieghu ser ikollna servizz tat-trasport pubbliku bhan-nies!

Peter Bonnici

Jan 23rd 2010, 19:41

@ Jeremy Camilleri. Mintoff would have confiscated the buses without compensation. But as for style of delivery, true, not very different.

Alexander Azzopardi

Jan 23rd 2010, 19:20

Jew taccetaw jew tibqaw bxejn !!!! car u tond daqs il kristall

ditaturi Maltin
miskon tishtu !!! tafu li daw andom familja id dar u kemm hadmu min sbieh alla sa sa dlam bil lejl , naqbel li emm minom aroganti imma mal hazin ma jehilx it tajjeb !!!

nispera li xhin jasal semmek isibu dr Gatt !!
Nixtieqlek mil qalb

Alexander Azzopardi
Qormi

Paul Barrett

Jan 23rd 2010, 19:09

Apart from the millions of euros this offer would cost us the tax payer, I really can't see any sensible outside bidder accepting the terms and restrictions that are being tied to this tender. The bus fare would have to be astronomical to cover even the break even costs with the handicaps being forced into the deal.

j. saliba

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:59

Keep it up Dr Gatt. 'Together' we can do a reform that the single handed great Dom could not achieve. We will reduce pollution something that the black dust campaigners and the opposition and not only the EU are pressing for. Something we all want and need. Being reasonable does not mean that you promise bus drivers you're not testing their buses for emmissions and then blame the others for introducing VRT testing without including emmission standards. Remember the hipocracy? Convinced that you are being just after discussing in a gentlemanly manner does not mean you don't take the decision. Dr Gatt we are all TOGETHER with you.

L.Grima

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:56

How come that taxpayers will be forking out 98,000 euros to owners of old buses?! Some of these buses are so run down that they should have been taken off the road years ago...and the public now is being made to pay at a premium for the shabby service which they had to endure for so long ?!!
Come on!! Seems to me that commuters and taxpayers are being taken for a ride of a different sort...

J Vella

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:53

Shame on those complaining about the sum being given. Do you have a job? Imagine it being taken from you when you always did your job well and you have everything up to standard. Do you even have a family? Don't people who loose a job which they've been doing for their whole life deserve a compensation? Some of them might have been rude and might have ruined the reputation of their workmates - fair enough; but let's not blame everyone now! My father is a bus driver and I really know what they're going through at the moment. It ain't easy when you've been working in the same job all your life and now you have to stop being self-employed. I think you're very selfish to hate these people cause not all of them are what people say they are. And the buses with the permissions are actually worth more than they are being offered!

Manuel Micallef

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:51

Just imagine if it was Mintoff who did something like that?!!!! how much they will call "dictator"!!

Now PN's behaviour is even worse. They just gave then 3 days - take it or leave it. Good service or not, it smells a little bit dictatoral to me!!

S. Zahra

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:33

I think no one in this country has a 10-year job guarantee!!!!

Joe Morana

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:30

Do some readers reallly believe that the old,shabby and polluting buses and their relevant bus licence are really worth 98K...?? Would anyone or any company be really willing to pay for such a licence and buy such a bus/es for that price?!?
If yes, why should the Government intervene to buy and pay such outrageous prices out of taxpayers' moneys ?
Why should tax payers pay inflated (market? !!?) and overpriced licences and/or for overpriced "written- off" , shabby and polluting buses?
The Government may be thinking of safegaurding the votes of busowners and their folk, but I am confident that the Government would be perceived weak by many, many and many more . Meditate........!!!

Jessica Vella

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:21

Shame on those complaining about the sum being given. Do you have a job? Imagine it being taken from you when you always did your job well and you have everything up to standard. Do you even have a family? Don't people who loose a job which they've been doing for their whole life deserve a compensation? Some of them might have been rude and might have ruined the reputation of their workmates - fair enough; but let's not blame everyone now! My father is a bus driver and I really know what they're going through at the moment. It ain't easy when you've been working in the same job all your life and now you have to stop being self-employed. I think you're very selfish to hate these people cause not all of them are what people say they are- in fact a lot of them aren't but as in everything people see the bad things only. As for the sum of money being given, the buses with the permissions are actually worth more than they are being offered especially the new ones!!

Mike Magri

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:21

Questions:-

1. How much is this going to cost Mr. & Mrs. Taxpayer if they all take up the offer...??
2. Is this deal applicable to the Gozo Public Tranport as well...??
3. If not..... Why Not....??

Hope i get a clear cut answer to all....

Jeremy J Camilleri

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:11

Sometimes I do wonder whether Austin Gatt hero worships Mintoff.....because this is really something out of his book....

N Zahra

Jan 23rd 2010, 18:10

I have a very strong feeling that the bus fares will double, maybe treble, within two years at the most. Mark my words everyone, becuase they will. I'll give you two examples... MIA, and Valletta Gateway Terminals.

Oh - and about bus drivers, if anyone amongst you want to become one, please write to me. I'm always on the look-out for good chauffeurs.

p zammit

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:52

Thumbs up for Gonzi's Government for taking the bull by its horns! Now is the time for action!

Most probably during his usual sunday sermon tomorrow morning Joseph Muscat will try to take the side of the bus drivers and the sunday after of the commuters!

james muscat

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:52

@joe morana...it says the licence and the vehicle...

N.Vella

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:51

We do not want the present Bus Drivers. It's not the vehicle which gives the service but the people. We need a total upgrade. Out the old, In the new, totally. Same people, same bad, arrogant, dirty service. As long as something from the present will remain in the future with the new company, I will never use public transport.

Joe Morana

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:43

Did the Government originally really charged €98,000 (circa LM42,060) for each Bus Licence?!?!

martin saliba

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:38

This is a take it or leave it offer. Seems to be legal extortion. When Mintoff did this kind of thing to protect the public in the seventies he was called a dictator and strikes sprung out from everywhere with protests from mostly PN supporters . What do these people say now when primary bread winners are offered less than 10K a year ? Of course they will be supporting the PN and say that Gonzi is getting rid of a monster. Come on EU stamp us further into the ground with your rules and regulations because that is what the maltese people voted for after being told of only the good things in the EU by the PN.

Adrian Borg

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:36

@ J.Cauchi ... well if they do deserve anything better, let them find another more well-paid job!

Beggars cannot be choosers!

C. Farrugia

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:28

@ J Cauchi: I think you have your calculations wrong. The minimum wage is in the range of EUR 7560 per annum. Unfortunately there are thousands of Maltese living on this wage.

C. Bartolo

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:25

Dear Austin..... my queryis why should we actually pay them for a license when that license belongs to the Govrenment and can be terminated at any given time. Why worry buying old trucks which would have to be replaced in a couple of years time. And WHY ON EARTH offer a 10 yr job to the guys that are the actual problem. Just dispose and move onto the new system. The winning bidder should actually ensure that ONLY the guys/woman with a clean record and a disposition to customer service are employed as drivers.

Same approach should be adopted towards the shop "owners" at City Gate - the rent expired .. thank you very much.. MOVE OUT.

Why should such people get different treatment from Government ??

Peter Bonnici

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:11

I recently spoke with 2 bus owners, separately, both of whom own newer buses within the Euro III spec. Their version was somewhat different, in fact they both told me that the government wanted the Euro III off the roads, and that they would get NIL compensation.!!

Its funny how distorted facts get when others negotiate on someone else's behalf.

J Psaila

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:08

The bus drivers will get to know what GonziPN meant by his "Flimkien kollox possibbli". They are experiencing exactly the same thing that the dockyard workers, hunters, etc, experienced after the 2008 election.

Charles Micallef

Jan 23rd 2010, 17:06

A 10-year job guarantee for the present bus drivers and then we call this a new state of the art bus service, who does the Minister brought the public transport service to it's knees in the first instance, are you real Mr Minister and do you really want to improve the bus service in Malta?

J.Cauchi

Jan 23rd 2010, 16:53

@Adrian borg---I long to know what you would do with a minimum wage of less than 10,000 euros per annum. I long to know how you'd live comfortably, feed three children, pay mortgages and pay hefty bills that GonziPN is sending us.

S. Zahra

Jan 23rd 2010, 16:49

I hope that they do not accept the offer .......

r pace bonello

Jan 23rd 2010, 16:47

With these bus owners driving with the new Company it will be more of the same. Does anyone expect these people to be customer friendly and conform with the rules and regulations as will be set by the successful bidder? I will not be surprised if this move will scare any prospective bidder away. The fact that they are being offered very generous terms for their old, filthy and poisonous vehicles is much more than they deserve. But to offer them employment after having treated the travelling public so badly for such a long time is wrong and will, definitely, create problems earlier rather than later.

A. Borg

Jan 23rd 2010, 16:34

Most probably we go on foot for work on Monday!
All will be infront of the Sea Malta offices in Marsa with their logbook and ID cards!

Adrian Borg

Jan 23rd 2010, 16:30

That is exactly how these people should be dealt with! They think they can rule the roads and the public transport? They think that the public transport is made up of them ... They are part of the public transport and not vice versa!

They should be thankful enough for these generous offers. I still hope that they don't share my view so that they don't accept them and we will be rid of them once and for all!