Bus owners justify need for compensation

The Public Transport Association (PTA) this afternoon said government compensation for bus owners was justified because they had made substantial investment on the instigation of the government, and the government had then changed course and subjected the operation of the bus service to a call for tenders.

Replying to a statement by the Chamber of Commerce and comments by its president, Helga Ellul, PTA President Victor Spiteri said the bus owners were self employed persons who had paid for their business and not inherited it from the government or the people.

Six years ago the government forced them to invest heavily, particularly in new buses, as part of a needed reform, but now the government had changed direction and was going for tender. Therefore, the compensation was needed for the investment which the bus owners would lose.

Mr Spiteri regretted the comparison with the dockyard, pointing out that the dockyard workers had not invested their money, in contrast to the bus owners.

He also pointed out that the 10-year job guarantee offer was being made to those who were not requesting compensation since they were the employees of the bus owners.