Bus driver to face the music

david spiteri

Jul 22nd 2010, 23:37

i got d perfect punishment for the bus driver .... get the spanish tourist back to Malta and make him her taxi driver .. so basically he would take her all around malta for a whole day in a empty bus just for her.

FRANCIS PORTELLI

Jul 22nd 2010, 15:05

THE MALTESE AR VERY GENEROUS.
THIS SPANISH TOURIST FOUND IT HARD TO LET GO of 6 Euro cents tips to one of our hard working bus drivers.

Charles Micallef

Jul 22nd 2010, 09:32

Since some of the buses owners singed the agreement with the government to ‘cash in’ on years of providing a substandard service for the Maltese commuter, the service in general has taken a turn for the worse, with some of the already dilapidated buses are now being driven on our roads in the most appalling condition, timetables being totally ignored and being rude to their fare-paying passengers has become the order of the day!

Hence I would like to ask the relevant authorities what precautions were taken at the time to ensure that some sort of a decent service must be provided until the new operating company will take over.

Joe Fenech

Jul 22nd 2010, 09:23

Immediate explulsion and no discussions. No IFS no BUTS !

David Spiteri

Jul 21st 2010, 22:40

A lot is being said about this incident, but we have only heard one side till today. If you have read the times, today there was a court news where Spanish Guys broke all the furniture of their room in Coastline Hotel when their leader told them they must go to their country because of their behaviour. Same Country of this woman.... Should we say that Spanish People are all bad? About this bus driver no arraigment has been made so he is still innocent. Everybody can ride a bus so the drivers face all sorts of people with no one to defend him if need arise. I hope that when this woman is called to testify she will go and not just throw mud and as she already did a bad name to Malta.

Shaun Camilleri

Jul 21st 2010, 21:18

When is the new company taking over? These 'drivers' are dangerous - they cannot drive! When they are leaving the pavement they just come out without indicating (maybe they're saving on electricity) and without looking. When they decide to change lanes they do it without any regard to any other car in the street and without any fore thought ,and all this applies to lorry drivers too. Also I take my car for an MOT test and if my car smokes then I have to fix it which is good; however how come these people with large vehicles are privileged as every time one passes by me I am left in a cloud of black smoke? These people are rude, vulgar and crass.

John Pace

Jul 21st 2010, 20:58

One would have expected the outcome of proper investigations and for the proceedings
to be concluded before awarding any free holidays to complaining tourists since this
has alread prejudiced the outcome of the case before it has even started.

Emanuel C. Schembri

Jul 21st 2010, 14:36

"He added that, if the driver was tried before the law courts, the disciplinary proceedings would not take place since a person could not be tried twice for the same offence."
While this is true by the standards of natural justice, it is completely false by the standards of the Public Service Management Code. The Public Service Commission - equivalent to the former Church Inquisition - retries those who are employed by the Government AFTER these same persons are tried by the Law Courts. An employee may be freed by the Court and STILL get punished by the PSC. Naturally this depends on the identity of the employee concerned.
And Mr Editor: i hope you don't censor this comment too, as usual.
ECS

Vasilisa Brandenburg

Jul 21st 2010, 13:27

If turists are not happy with busses and drivers perhaps they should stay home.

Jean Camilleri

Jul 21st 2010, 13:08

@Ray Spiteri......... I guess you have never experienced a bus driver's arrogance. Well! One thing I tell you. I hope you never do. We all know how bus drivers are. We should install cameras on our buses to avoid such cases and for the safety of others.

Mavies Issac@mini

Jul 21st 2010, 12:50

BUS DRIVER TO FACE THE MUSIC, I HOPE HE IS A GOOD DANCER AND SINGS IN TUNE.

Jean Camilleri

Jul 21st 2010, 12:41

I am glad to hear that the bus driver is getting what he deserves. They are arrogant and uneducated people that need to be thought a lesson. In cases like this having such people to be in contact with our bread and butter, I would put them through the test and a tough exam. People that work with rubbish trucks go through such things. Why not these too? I would firstly upgrade our buses with air conditioners, uniforms and ticket machines on buses. I find it unfair for people to travel in this heat with no airconditioning. The prime minister and his soldiers all travel in comfort. Are the rest animals? If needs be, put the price up by a couple of cents to get the costs back. But at least in summer, you travel in comfort and the driver might cool down too. We could make Malta a better place with the right people employed for such cases.

S Zammit

Jul 21st 2010, 11:56

1. In a country governed by the Rule of Law, the principle of Presumption of Innocence should be upheld even if faced by sensational accidents.

2. Criminal proceedings do not exclude disciplinary proceedings; these are suspended until former complete their iter in court.

3. One, two, ten, hundred bad mannered drivers should not equate ALL drivers. I am sure there are drivers who leave much to be desired just as much as there are lawyers, teachers, doctors, priests, grocers, waste-collectors etc.

4. Maltese authorities tend to be strong with the weak and vice-versa. This country needs immediate firmness all around. It is only fair versus decent, law-abiding citizens. Clear messages need to be sent in every direction. We pay our taxes to live in a civilized, modern country. We cannot tolerate any longer the feeling that in Malta you play the tough and everything goes, you befriend this and that and both eyes are closed.

M. Vella

Jul 21st 2010, 11:15

I am very sorry that Ms. Cuesta had to sample some of our Maltese inhospitality but honestly, do we need to offer her a free holiday? This will cause a precedent and other tourists will come calling foul in an attempt to get a free holiday, locking up resources and tax payers money which quite frankly I am not to happy to be dishing out to tourists with all due respect.

As for the bus driver, I hope he is heavily punished. Such attitude and arrogance should see his license revoked indefinitely. If he has a family to suppor then he should have thought of this before. He should be set as an example to the other rough, ignorant and dangerous bus drivers who roam our streets (case in point, Naxxar Route bus driving at great speed in built up area, ignoring roundabout rules and chatting on the mobile at the same time)

clare spiteri

Jul 21st 2010, 10:30

There is never any excuse for bad manners, so the driver should have apologised to the woman and that should be that.To give her a free holiday is pathetic.The grovelling by the authorities makes me cringe.I have encountered several badly behaved spaniards here. In sliema two years ago three portly spanish women stripped on the beach at the exiles in spite of the fact that there are signs everywhere saying that that is forbidden.The police had to be called and thankfully we were spared more awful exposure.I personally have encountered gross bad manners in Spain. I was fined repeatedly just because my car had a foreign registration.My list of complaints of awful manners in spain is enless.No one ever gave me a free ride as a apology.keep things in proportion, and stop grovelling to tourists. Take care of the locals. They are the ones who pay your salaries.

monica vella

Jul 21st 2010, 10:09

it is right that this bus driver should be punished for his apparent rudeness to this spanish visitor. However, I hope that the relevant authorities,will also heed the complaints of the maltese,who are often treated just as badly by some of the drivers. Let us not forget that It is us who pay the taxes to keep them in jobs,

ray spiteri

Jul 21st 2010, 10:00

@Peter Fenech
who are you to shame a driver without hearing the bus driver`s version of facts. i did witnessed on various occassions rude (foreigners) passangers. You only got the version of the tourist, i want to get also other version and witnesses to make gudgments before start ing shooting names and accusations to a maltese bus driver.

Adrian Wirth

Jul 21st 2010, 09:47

Were I Justice Minister, which thank god I'm not, I'd be somewhat concerned that seemingly a significant number of citizens havn't heard of or choose to ignore the over riding principle of justice in these islands namely that 'a person is innocent until proven guilty'.
That said, I see nothing wrong with either the Transport Authority or Police making public the name of a person arrested and charged with an offence and believe that in this case the concerned drivers name has been published in other sections of the press.
To go beyond these two steps is encroaching on allowing a person due justice and encouraging a presumption of guilt.

peter fenech

Jul 21st 2010, 09:28

name and shame the driver. he deserves no respect. He should be treated like a criminal and sentenced as one.

Michael Tanti

Jul 21st 2010, 08:15

Ok i Agree some drivers are just to Rude or Pushy. But last year when i had family over From Canada. someone left there very expensive camera on the bus. We flagged down the very next bus. who radioed the the bus we were on and also the supervisor who then held the bus at the Sliema bus terminal till we could get there. the camera was still there thank god and the driver was very nice even though he was held up for more then 15 mins. Even though the camera could be replaced all the memory's we captured that day could not. So yes weed out the bad ones but keep the good ones

Stefan Portelli

Jul 21st 2010, 07:07

I would also like to add;
I hope that this case doesn't keep going for a long time.

Stefan Portelli

Jul 21st 2010, 07:06

in court names of accused persons are published on the media. So why this messfull driver indentity is covered? To be able to commit other crimes? Mr.Spiteri Tell Us his name and its numberplate of his bus? He must be chopped off from public transport if we are a serious country.

Paul Busuttil

Jul 21st 2010, 01:36

So much emphasis is placed on how much funding Malta spends abroad in attracting potential tourist to the country. Having travelled to Malta on a number of occassions, it seems clear to me that, it's those so important and critical 'little' things you see elsewhere in the world, which are so bleeding obviously missed in Malta every time with monotonous regularity. It actually takes a while for the penny to drop until the Maltese authorities realise that these "minor things'' have been practiced overseas for years.
Instead of placing your eggs all in the one basket, why not start with simple, homegrown improvements like driver education, driver merit system, new buses, better bus terminals, driver uniforms. If these ' little things" had been instigated years earlier, little by little, they would not be the hurdles they present themselves to be today.

Jason Coleiro

Jul 21st 2010, 00:04

feed him to the lions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

S Borg

Jul 20th 2010, 23:50

Ghalhekk dan is-servizz tal-karozzi tal-linja hemm bzonn jitjieb u tajjeb li l-Ministru Gatt johrog linji gwidi kif ghandha tinstaq karozza tal-linja. Illum stess iltqajt ma' driver ta' karozza tal-linja ghadejja minn fejn il-luxol grounds madwar id-9 ta' fil-ghaxija bid-dwal mitfija. Biex tkompli taghqad id-driver beda jsuq b'mod eccessiv b'kawza li d-duhhan kif sostenibli. Jista xi hadd jghidli kif is-sena l-ohra kienet hareg artiklu fuq il-gazzetta li tal-linja ma jniddsux l-ambjent. Fejn qieghda transport malta kif biddilha isimha Austin Gatt imbaghad kollox l-istess. Dan ifisser kif jghid il-qawl Malti - il-huta minn rasha tinten = Austin Gatt + Lawrence Gonzi = PN.

ken anderson

Jul 20th 2010, 20:56

please dont tar all the maltese bus driver's with the same brush...every time we have been to malta and used the buses we have never had any 'nasty' driver's...and most of the time the driver's are helpfull when asked direction's etc........i have seen them many time's trying their best to help all tourist's from all over the world.....a thumb's up from us for the maltese bus driver's....................

A Said

Jul 20th 2010, 20:11

Correct if I'm wrong but I think that all the bus drivers, in the near future, are going to 'give' their licence, at a GOOD cost, to the government. So i cannot see how much this driver cares about the revocation of his licence.

ANNE MARIE MC CRARY

Jul 20th 2010, 19:19

I am glad that someone finally made a report against a bus driver. I for one have one too. I was in Malta just a month ago, and was shocked to see more then one, bus driver TEXTING while they were driving. Don't these idiots take it into consideration that they have all their passangers life in their hands. I know I should have made a report then, but did'nt want to ruin my vacation. I suggest someone does somethiang about these bad habits, before its too late. Anne Marie McCrary

Fernando Mercieca

Jul 20th 2010, 18:55

ARE YOU SERIOUS ? ? ? ? I MET SPANISH PERSONAL AT VALENCIA WHO WAS RACIST AGAINST MALTESE PEOPLE AND WHEN I COMPLAINED WITH THE TOURISM THEY SIMPLY CARED LESS!! AND WE GAVE THIS SPANIARD A FREE FLIGHT!! DUUUUH!!!!

John M. Grima

Jul 20th 2010, 18:52

Is it not about time that the Public Transport Assosiation adopted the EXACT CHANGE method, like other countries have done? This should be done by buying tockens and tickets for students and seniors, from Kiosks as well as stores all over Malta, and free the bus driver from the resposibility of making change. This will save time and cosequently improove the bus service in general.

Mary collinson

Jul 20th 2010, 18:21

I'm Maltese but live in Milan where such behavior would never happen let alone be tollerated. However since I use busses all the time in Malta I get to see the bad but also the good. What I do notice is that this system has not changed in donkey's years. some busses must be as old as me (1952) and a nightmare to get on at at the best of times. However, those bus drivers become more nervous I notice because a lot of time is spent on giving out tickets and after a long day on those bone rattling busses it is more likely that all it takes is the slightest word to turn these drivers into raging mad men. How about a system like abroad where tickets are paid before one gets on. I am sure that drivers would be less aggressive and us customers not short changed. Training these guys is a must.

Allan Gatt

Jul 20th 2010, 17:08

Oh, the Maltese people sure do love a public inquisition, don't they? Or should I say a Spanish one?

Your catechism hard at work, folks. Yell out those Hallelujahs!

Joseph Vassallo

Jul 20th 2010, 16:27

Can you please say what colour the truck was? Or where it was so I don't shop there please.

Your friend should report this incident to the tourism authorities because this is a tourist area and visitors should have some form of protection from being fleeced.

N.Calleja

Jul 20th 2010, 15:57

I suggest that bus-drivers should be given a point system. Whenever they break the rules, points are deducted and when they reach O level their driving licence is suspended. Among the many infringements they commit, the worst one is the way they park in bus lanes. This area is strickly reserved for them but almost all bus drivers simply park their bus three-quarters outside the lane, leaving all other drivers behind to wait until people dessent and alight the bus with all the hussle of paying for each ticket. All this happens regularly on our roads to the great frustration of all those drivers behind them!

carmel camilleri

Jul 20th 2010, 15:55

while living in Australia,exactli in Melbourne, in the seventees,I worked for as a Tram and Driver, with the Melbourne and metropolitan Tramways Board.A person like this driver, had no chanh ce as beeing employed from the first time he applies. When you applly, you have to spend 2 months at their school, where you learn how to handle people and Manners. From yhe first week they will notice your character, and if you were not suitable for the job , will tell you to look for another, job. In my opinion this driver is suitable to work in a quarry, not in Public Tranport. Public Tranport is the shop window of our country. So cases like this are very serious,and untill we wake up to this reality, it is very hard to attract high class tourists.

Joseph Vassallo

Jul 20th 2010, 15:02

QUOTE: "As with any fair hearing, he said, for the disciplinary hearing to start, the victim had to be present to testify."

and

"He added that, if the driver was tried before the law courts, the disciplinary proceedings would not take place since a person could not be tried twice for the same offence." UNQUOTE

It doesn't sound like the spokesman is very competent in matters of law, does it?

So, when the crime is murder and the victim is dead, does the law not try and convict the killer because the victim is not there to testify? According to this spokesman, apparently not.

K borg

Jul 20th 2010, 13:53

wow does she really have to cross 3000km again to testify? ahna ahna jew m'ahniex man? how about modern technology? internet - video conferencing, come on even a baby could use these modern tools.

what if she cannot attend? will the case be dropped and the driver will go back to his normal arrogance?
i seriously think that all bus and mini bus drivers should attend some sort of marketing class and yes why not an annual driving test

c spiteri

Jul 20th 2010, 13:29

jekk din it turista irrapurtat lil pulizja ghax ma hadux il passi konra id driver ? forsi xi hatt mill kwartieri tal pulizija jirispondini NISTENNA IR RISPOSTA

joe muscat

Jul 20th 2010, 13:28

Why does everyone mention this driver ONLY? We all know what load of uneducated, foul mouthed , sadistic types these can be. Why does it have to take a spanish tourist to sort something out in this country....Are we Maltese not worth the trouble?

Something else...My french friend's daughter went to buy some fruit and vegetables last week from a fruit van in Bugibba. For a Kilo of tomatoes and 4 peaches he charged her 25 euros....and obviously...no receipt... She was so shocked she paid and left..... How's that for our tourism industry? The guy should be locked up....Where are the inspectors when you want them.....What a joke?...the guy is well known...

mark dalli

Jul 20th 2010, 13:21

There should be no compromise. Tourists come first. he should be fined for all the expenses i.e. flight and holiday given as compensation.....we as citizens should not pay from our pocket for HIS MISTAKE.

I hope he was suspended without pay...not suspended and taking time off on our pubic money!!

J. Degiovanni

Jul 20th 2010, 13:15

About a month or so ago, on this same bus route, my wife and I, witnessed two German women tourists being harassed insistently by the bus driver and two of his friends, who were standing up next to the driver's cabin and even jostling each other and trying to push each other off the bus. They kept on pestering these tourists about whether their one day ticket was still valid or not, in the most aggressive and coarse fashion right up to the very end of their trip.

Keith D'Amato

Jul 20th 2010, 13:13

kemm jista jehel? gimgha minajr licenzja? haha hallina....

Ivor Ramsden

Jul 20th 2010, 13:08

Would it be a good idea for Transport Malta or somebody to organise a "mystery shopper" exercise on the buses? We are regular visitors to Malta and the attitude of a few bus drivers is appalling whilst others are very good. I love Malta so the unpleasant drivers won't put me off but I KNOW that poor and aggressive attitudes have prevented some people from re-visiting. Such an exercise will help the authorities to identify some of the less-evolved drivers.
As a retired Trading Standards Officer I have trawled the depths of poor customer service over the years and I'll be only too pleased to volunteer as a mystery shopper if TM will pay my bus fares.

Kevin Zammit

Jul 20th 2010, 12:54

I had a very bad opinion of bus drivers in general until one day the bus i was on regularly stopped at a stage in Marsa were a gang of teens were watching on while two of their members were fighting. The bus driver was the only person who chastised them and asked the rest to stop the fight. The gang became quite aggressive towards him and he had no choice but to drive off.

The moral here is that bus driver like this one I am sure is the majority. They should start weeding out the bad apples amongst them cause they're giving them a very bad name and eventually will come back to bite them.

sandro catania

Jul 20th 2010, 12:50

Barra minn Malta biex tkun xufier ta karozza tal linja trid tghamel kors intensiv hafna kemm prattiku kif ukoll tat tejorija u trid tghaddi minn kollox biex jghatuk il- licenzja. Hawn Malta l- importanti li tkun taf xi ministru jew lill xi hadd li jahdem mal-ministru!! Din il-problema hija kollha tort tal gvern ghax wara iktar minn ghoxrin sena fil gvern qatt ma ha dan is-settur bis serjeta, dejjem kien jghati is-sussidju lis-sidien biex jghalqilhom halqhom u jiddobba xi erbgha voti.Bqajna pajjiz tal gungla fejn jidher bic car li dawn in-nies jew ma hadu l- ebda tip ta tahrig serju inkell tant huma injoranti li ghalxejn tipprova tghallimhom ghax ma jitghallmux. Issa wara li il-gvern ta skoss miljuni mit taxxi tal maltin lill dawn in-nies li dejjem offrew servizz kemm jist ikun inferjuri u trattaw lin nies ta annimali, nisperaw li ma narawhomx fuq is-servizz tal-linja il-gdid li suppost ser jibda fix xhur li gejjin.

alan cox

Jul 20th 2010, 12:43

This driver will be found not guilty of such crime.... this will be published aborad.... the minister of tourism(Gov) is spending huge sums of tax payers money on advertising Malta abroad to attract the tourist...... Result millions down the drain. Why because we Maltese do not have the guts to offer decent well mannered public transport like other civilised nations.

P. Borg

Jul 20th 2010, 12:35

Naqbad u nkeccih. Mghandix dubju li it-turista qalet il-verita. Kulhadd jaf kif igibu ruhhom il-maggoranza ta xufiera. Dan x'aktarx xi cowboy li jafas xi karozza ma xi kantuniera biex jaddi hu jew xi wiehed jaghddi xi erba kummenti tal-qamel biex minghalih se jiggustawh. Nat ezempju bih u ingibu unemployed darba ghal dejjem.

Paul Fenech

Jul 20th 2010, 12:31

Its not fair because of few rude bus drivers all the bus drivers are put in the same light.

Terry Bryan Ferdinkum Aus.

Jul 20th 2010, 12:18

Lovely Jubbly, thats the end of his clean record, no way he can emigrate to a host country with a criminal record if he is convicted, especially to the US-Aus/Canada or any european country immigration is very particular whom they want in their country, unlike Malta anything goes. T.Bryan-Aus. visiter.

J Oatmon

Jul 20th 2010, 11:57

It is simply rubbish to state: "He added that, if the driver was tried before the law courts, the disciplinary proceedings would not take place since a person could not be tried twice for the same offence".

This guy can face multiple disciplinary hearings, and then be prosecuted in a court of law.

I would suggest for theft (since both women were no given their change, when they asked for it), assault, and swearing in public etc.

I suggest the PTA check his bus is roadworthy, and check the insurance etc - he obviously does not take into consideration the well being of his passengers.

Jesmond Micallef

Jul 20th 2010, 11:56

I have learnt a very nice lesson reading about this incident here. Next time round when I'm working in an airport security area surrounded by products of selected and priviledged human propagation of the non Maltese type and told that I'm a terrorist planing to sabotage a plane, I will make sure the news hits these pages in a very spectacular manner. I do not forget and forgive very easily in such instances as a proud Maltese. Once the extremely destructive radioactive technological devices are removed from the world stage of the "Keeping the Peace" type, I will reconsider my stand and probably forget and forgive in complete humbleness and submission just like a dog with its tail between its back legs.

Some work contracts are very interesting in this regard, they are very cleverly designed by very clever and gifted lawyers ensuring that everything remains in house, or shall I say within the concern, just like in former times. Primordial cultures on continental europe are still pretty much alive and kicking, to say the very least.

Robert Azzopardi

Jul 20th 2010, 11:47

name of the driver?

G Snook

Jul 20th 2010, 11:47

.................. and this is why people do not report bad service from drivers. The arrogance does not end with the deed. They then start acting as if they are the victim ! ! !

C. Buhagiar

Jul 20th 2010, 11:40

I do not wish to judge this driver. I wasn't a witness, so that would not be prudent. However, I would like to comment on a particular attitude of many bus drivers (NB. not ALL bus drivers) which I find very irritating. If you give them the exact amount for the ticket, they complain because of the small change. If you give them more than 50c they complain because you don't give them the right amount. And what is the right amount to these drivers? It's 50c and not 47c. I'm really sick and tired of receiving unpleasant comments and looks from drivers when I wait for my 3c change from a 50c, and also fed up of getting only 2c instead of 3c. It's just a cent I know, but I find it very arrogant that many bus drivers are now taking it as a given that the fare is 50c.

reno calleja

Jul 20th 2010, 11:28

The transport authority should immediately withdraw the tag of this bus driver so he will never drive a bus again.|As chairman of the MTA I had no power to withdraw the driving licence.
That was a matter for the police.
However I had the power, (and I am sure the present chairman has it too) to withdraw the tag that allows a bus driver to drive a bus.

I suspended two drivers. A gozitan and a Maltese
. I was proved right.
One ended up accused of murder and is still in prison serving a long sentense, The other is alwayys in trouble with the police. Not a month passes when he is not mentioned in the press for being aggressive with the police or members of the public. These people do not deserve any sympathy from society. Off course they both threatened me and one of them even came to my office threatening me with violence. I did not fear him. . It turned out that he was a coward.. I understand he is still without the tag.
Get rid of these irresponsble drievers and make sure they never drive a bus

ALBERT FENECH

Jul 20th 2010, 11:23

When is this shambolic country going to sort itself out once and for all? Independent employment disciplinary proceedings are not relative to what happens in Law Courts. If anything, a person found guilty by the Law Courts would automatically be dismissed from employment on the grounds of having a criminal record. In the case of a Public Transport driver, this is even MORE important. One further point, if the tourist (Ms Cuesta) had not been in a position to return and testify, would the case have been dismissed as if nothing had actually happened? Islamic countries practice Sharia Law (it has its good points too) - is there anyone who can tell me what sort of Law we practice in this country? It beats me.

Evarist Saliba

Jul 20th 2010, 11:21

The odds are heavily stacked against an abused bus passenger who is a visitor to the island.
If we care about attracting visitors to Malta, and tourism plays a significant role in Malta's economy, government should act NOW to ensure that complaints are acted upon swiftly and efficiently, eliminating the lethargic, inconvenient and costly process which puts the visitor at a great disadvantage which has nothing to do with justice or fairness.

r.gauci

Jul 20th 2010, 11:14

When CCTVS & Datatracking are going to be installed on the bus fleet as these will avoid a lot of misbehaviour from both drivers and passengers as they will know that these provide proves in case of prosectution? Don't tell me when the suppose reform is made cause I won't believe it until it starts to work!

R.Caruana

Jul 20th 2010, 11:14

Il-Knisja f'kollox trid tindahal. Stat u knisja ghandhom ikunu separati. Ghax ma jitkellmux fuq l-ghaqda li ghamlu dan l-ahhar mal-Musulmani biex jiddikjaraw gwerra favur il-familja! L-istampa ta familja , ragel u mara u zewgt i'tfal (idealment tifel u tifla u konceputi naturalment!) ma treggix, hawn hafna familji alternattivi u kulhadd ghandu dritt jghix fil-paci kif joghgob lilu basta ma jdejjaq lil Hadd. Live and let Live

Dunstan Crockford

Jul 20th 2010, 11:10

When I worked with Dr.Refalo,whose remit was tourism,he made it a point to hold regular meetings with what he called the `front men`...including bus drivers,waiters,boatmen and so many others who did not have professional traing on how to deal with tourists but who faced them regularly in their day to day work! They were made to understand and feel how important they were for our little Island`s Tourism Industry. It paid off then as we had little or no complaints..and whenever we did have they were trashed out immediately,thanks to the excellent work done by the Field Officers .Maybe this practice should be emulated.

Gordon Sammut

Jul 20th 2010, 11:02

Oh...let me guess...he'll be back driving the bus and will also probably be included in the transport reform!!! all that money from our taxes given to a load of bullies!!! What a joke of a PTA including the Ministers!!!

Charles Micallef

Jul 20th 2010, 11:02

To all those bloggers who on this and previous articles claimed that this is all about a 6c fare are totally wrong, the 6c discrepancy in the fare could and would cost big thousands of Euros,,!

Think of the repercussions in bad publicity which cancels all the efforts to promote Tourism in Malta before you make such a claim.

s pace

Jul 20th 2010, 10:41

"He added that, if the driver was tried before the law courts, the disciplinary proceedings would not take place since a person could not be tried twice for the same offence."

There is something wrong either with this country, or with the person saying the above. For it is not so. Or it should not be so. As far as I know, a person cannot be tried twice, only in the law courts. There are countless examples of concurrent law courts and independent disciplinary board proceedings. And the verdict is independent, the latter being the tougher. Not least in the sporting world (Luciano Moggi), but not only.

berys said

Jul 20th 2010, 10:40

The attitude of the bus drivers is definately getting worse. I have British visitors staying with me at the moment and they are horrified by the bus drivers shouting at foreigners, not giving change, refusing to take black people on board (this has happened on three buses this week alone) and on one occassion a black lady with her small child boarded the bus in the intense heat and was physically pushed off.by the driver - when my firends complained to the bus driver, he just swore at them.
What is going on? Forget hunters giving Malta a bad press, these rude, racist bus drivers are ruining tourism all on their own. I know not all bus drivers are the same but sadly that is the impression given to our valuable tourists. Brand Malta??

Joe Grima

Jul 20th 2010, 10:39

Frustrating the efforts of so many thousands engaged in increasing tourism to Malta and, in ten seconds flat, wiping out the huge investment that this country puts into the tourism industry in this manner, should be made a criminal offence. in the case of this driver, who now wants to engage an arty lawyer who will play with words to get him off the hook, I suggest that his license is revoked permanently whatever the outcome. if he wants to play the cowboy, he should go and live in Arizona.

David Gatt

Jul 20th 2010, 10:35

I'm pretty sure he'll be back on his job in a month's time. That's what always happened and that's why the transport in Malta is as it is today.

j grech

Jul 20th 2010, 10:34

the driver if thats what he calls himself says he will contest the case against him, i hope dearly that any passengers that were on that bus will do the right thing and come forward as witnesses or at least go and make a signed statement that can be read out at the hearing,if this guy is a well known bully, he should have his licence revoked.

J Apap

Jul 20th 2010, 10:32

Yeah Yeah Yeah! as always, IF found guilty we slap him a little bit on his hand, and let him go!

Storm in a teacup as this guy will be giving us a service again soon (no ifs and buts!)....

R. Gauci

Jul 20th 2010, 10:25

Ghal 6c jista jitlef il-job!! Pero nies b'din l-attitudni ma haqqomx ahjar ghax qed jaghmlu hsara kbira lit-turizmu.

K. Vella

Jul 20th 2010, 10:21

The last paragraph is very telling. Basically this tourist can choose between the disciplinary board, which might not take that long and his licenses are likely to be revoked, or the law courts, where the sentence will drag on for years and he'll get away with a suspended sentence and back to work the next day.

I hope the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, himself a lawyer and the son of a distinguished criminal lawyer, realises the sad irony that this driver's errant behaviour is not the only odd thing in this charade.

N.Tanti

Jul 20th 2010, 10:11

Get the ball rolling and get these cowboys out of our streets! This one should have all licenses revoked!

Please note that not all drivers are like this A**. Some of them are very helpful and clean!

And can someone please explain why some bus drivers do not switch on their lights at night? Do they think it will cost them fuel??

C. Schembri

Jul 20th 2010, 10:09

So, do we have to wait for the tourist to come back to Malta? Who says that she will be coming any sooner?

This is a severe allegation, in which allegedly one stupid driver is tarnishing Malta's identity with foreigners. This must be dealt with ASAP. I think that this case calls for a video conference or something similar!

Furthermore, regarding the last sentence in the article, does this also mean that if teh driver is found guilty before the disciplinary board, he will not be tried before the law courts?

If this driver is really guilty, let's teach thugs like him a lesson or two about manners!