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Friday, August 20, 2010, 09:15 by

Juan Ameen

Charges filed against bus driver who attacked Spaniard

The police have filed charges against the bus driver who allegedly attacked a Spanish diver on holiday when she asked for change.

The suspect, who has been suspended by Transport Malta, will face court proceedings after Isabel Reymundo Cuesta accused him of acting aggressively to her and to a friend of hers.

Ms Reymundo Cuesta, who was so furious with what had happened, that at first she vowed never to return to Malta, has welcomed the news.

“Yes, I am satisfied because the Maltese authorities were interested in the case. This is enough for me,” she said when contacted on Wednesday.

She had already gone back on her promise not to visit the island again after she was offered an apology and a complimentary holiday by the tourism authority.

The tourist had complained that on June 29, the driver of a bus operating route 27 to Marsaxlokk i nsulted her and refused to give her change when she gave him €1 to pay for two tickets that cost 94c. She said the driver even tried to throw her off the vehicle.

She had informed a police officer stationed at the Valletta bus terminus and wrote a letter to The Times saying she was “shocked” and angry at the incident.

It is not known what charges were filed against the bus driver or when he will be arraigned. Questions sent to the police were still unanswered at the time of writing.

Public Transport Association president Victor Spiteri said he was not aware that charges had been filed adding that, if that were the case, then the bus driver could not face proceedings before the association’s disciplinary board. “It’s either one or the other. We can’t hear the case if the police go ahead,” he said. The PTA represents bus owners and drivers.

However, either way, it was very positive that action was taken, he said. “Of course, I think it is positive. Even we took it seriously and were going to bring him before the board,” Mr Spiteri said.

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Fred Medhurst

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:21

This is NOT about 3cents this is about thugs driving public service vehicles pretending to be a public service. To be honest I don't think the Spanish lady would have come back anyway. People are getting their underwear in a twist that it is costing a holiday for someone. This is more of a smoke screen. When tourists are treated well they tell their friend but if treated badly they tell everyone! It is not 3 cents it's the damage that one thug has done to damage Brand Malta

jasmine kemp

Aug 22nd 2010, 10:16

I have travelled all around spain and i have never met a rude person once, they say please and thankyou in the shops, where in malta they never say please and thankyou, i have never been short changed in spain, where in malta it happens regular, spanish men keep themselves to themselves. where in malta they stand around in groups verbally abusing women and young girls walking down the street, this has happened to me, there is nothing wrong with the spanish, they are ok.

Lorna Mifsud

Aug 22nd 2010, 11:57

All I can say is that I've travelled extensively in Spain and have met many Spaniars here in Malta both on business and leisure and I have always been impressed by their warmth and genuineness. I have yet to come across and arrogant, snobbish or rude Spaniard.

robert storace

Aug 22nd 2010, 10:03

it had to be 47 cents ....because the fare in Lm was 20cents...which converts to 47 euro cents.

just imagine the fare being rounded up to 50c....ara kemm kontu teqirdu fuq dan l-istess blog!!

I Falzon

Aug 21st 2010, 12:54

Charles Micallef

Many thanks for your support. the problem is that the cruise company is an Italian company therefore I would have to open court proceedings at an Italian court and I'm afraid I do not afford the expenses incurred as I would have to send my lawyer over for every sitting, at least that's what I was told by a local lawyer.

Fred Medhurst

Aug 21st 2010, 11:59

So if these drivers are being forced to work long hours why has nobody reminded them of the European Working Time Directive? Having seen this abuse case go on and on I feel that it is about time the EU Inspectorate became involved. Yes Malta you joined and there are stringent rules especially for breaches of EU driving/standby laws. Let's then see if the transport agency acts faced with massive fines for breaching EU regulations? I presume that the Maltese were told that joining the EU would help protect their terms and conditions as well as general safety? I wonder how many public service vehicles and trucks are using tachographs to log usage? Not many methinks. So the answer is simple call in the Inspectorate and this will force drivers to work no longer than an average of 47 hours over a 21 week period!! But then if they are not tired they may stop abusing both Maltese & visitors that dare to travel with them. I do think they might need all of those spare cents to help with the reduced wages. The reality of the EU will dawn soon. Be careful what you wish for!!

mario aquilina

Aug 20th 2010, 20:40

Mr.Falzon, what you wrote in Maltese is exactly what I was told, when some big shot Maltese business man jumped on my car and attacked me with another three accomplices. My money is as good as his, and I took him to court and won. When he took it easy to pay up, I stopped him from using his working tools, by sending the bailiffs. He did pay up in full. Then he was asking around to find out who I was. I never ran in my young days, and have no intention of starting now. Stand for what's yours, and don't take no for an answer.

Christian Sciberras

Aug 21st 2010, 12:32

Two wrongs doesn't make one right.....

John Falzon

Aug 20th 2010, 17:55

……because Gozo is a different country altogether! They have their own unspoken legislation, contribute very little to the GDP and are consistently demanding financial support in terms of employment subsides and infrastructural projects. On paper the Gozitans are meant to be the poorest community of the archipelago…..but we all know what the truth is!

O. Falzon

Aug 20th 2010, 14:55

94c ... Since she paid for two tickets - 47c * 2

M Muscat

Aug 20th 2010, 14:57

47c each for two persons make 94c!!

Censu Blye

Aug 20th 2010, 13:35

A fair amount of people think exactly like you - 'You do not listen; You cannot take instruction, and You consider everything is a joke!' Time to grow up!

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2010, 12:23

In Maltese we have a saying "biex tiskongra trid tkun pur" - and I do sincerely believe that this saying applies exactly to you!

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2010, 13:02

Why can't we buy such tickets from stationery shops, bars etc just like we buy phone-cards (just like one does in Italy for example)?

Jurgen Rekkers

Aug 20th 2010, 16:11

A couple of years ago, this pre-paid card was introduced. I still have Lm2 on it. This also died a 'silent' death, the bus-drivers couldn't cheat it, so they pretended their machine was always broken and gave out these old tickets with a number. Actually, these red machines - from where they print the bustickets - are from this old system. Some buses still have the other part where you can stick the card in....

M Psaila

Aug 20th 2010, 13:53

C'mon - we've improved! No doubt you don't remember the bone shakers with the metre long gear stick with the tok-tok-tok of the engine drilling into your brain! Although I don't use buses much I have to say that my experience has been a pleasant one with considerate drivers being in the vast majority. As to the age of the buses, I would be sad to see them go as they have a lot of character, much better than the plain vanilla types we are seeing now.

G Psaila

Aug 20th 2010, 12:18

I would have gone to the minister to DEMAND answers!

Eric Gahn

Aug 20th 2010, 12:54

1) Get a foreign passport so you can have the better protection afforded by most states to thier citizens

2) Write to The Times

This case with the spanish lady and the way it is being pursued by the authorities clearly shows a policy of two meausures. And at this point in time they can easily rebutt that soon public transport will be privatised (as a monopoly...so expect to be milked).

anna bialczak

Aug 20th 2010, 13:09

And so should other tourists like myself. I was holidaying in Malta in July and had commented on the rudeness of some drivers to my relatives in Malta. However problems can be solved if there are maps and timetables at the bustops as well as on the buses so that I don't have to annoy the bus drivers. I often had to ask passengers whether I was on the right bus. The small change was also unnecessary. In Australia we don't have as many coins so fares should be rounded up to the nearest ten.
A smile and an explanation goes a long way. Not all drivers were rude however and I enjoyed the unique religous display of each bus that I was on.

C. Farrugia

Aug 20th 2010, 14:22

I second you on that. Cheap or Expensive fare is irrespective: the attitude just stinks! And, my point is: they are making a big thing out of this because a foreigner was involved and it will reflect badly on Malta. Yet, the Maltese have to face it everyday and NOTHING has changed for years on end!! (except the fares going up).

We are paying the stipulated fare and so we expect our change in full without having to ask for it!! What if we handed over one cent short??

O. Falzon

Aug 20th 2010, 11:26

No they don't. If a Maltese citizen complains,,, they will ignore it ... As they did to me.

linda falzon

Aug 20th 2010, 10:31

Its' not that we don't complain its that ~Maltese are not heard when we complain. Gall Malti kollox jghaddi imma allahares tohrog xi haga hazina barra mill pajjiz ghax imbghad nipruvaw nirrangaw u nahbu u elf skuza ingibu biex nidhru sbieh!!! Ma tridx tkun xi gharef biex tifhem dan!!

Barrie Smith Canberra

Aug 20th 2010, 10:31

The Maltese drivers sorry to say are as we call them down under Amateurs/and some act as Barbarians, its a harsh word but happens to be true., i will never ever ride on one of your well kept buses pity the people that operates them lower the image of the service.

louis Cilia

Aug 20th 2010, 11:32

Bravo Mr Bonello! We need courageous people like you and not moaners and whiners like the rest of us. Come on stand up for us.

P Pace Balzan

Aug 20th 2010, 10:42

The only time I used an automated ticketing system was in Italy.
Each bus had (and probably still has) three machines equally spaced out. Front/middle/rear.
I never faced any bus drivers. The bus drivers all carried out their duties. ie: they drove the bus.

If the system (on Maltese buses) was slow and was manually operated by the bus driver (as per your description) no one should blame him for his remark. A system should be designed amongst other things to eliminate bottlenecks and not create them.

You have to be in a person's boots to know what they are experiencing.
Learn not to call people rude. What is easy for you may be an insurmountable hurdle for others.

John Major (Emeritus Prime Minister of England) failed to become a bus conductor ( not driver inc) because the situation was tough on him and he failed to give the correct change for a 50pence trip. He was not rude and no low life was ever associated with him.

F. Aquilina

Aug 20th 2010, 11:17

The machine was slow in reading the cards. It took at least 30 seconds to read the card. and yes the driver still operated the machine therefore it was still the driver's duty to push the buttons and as they are there for passengers to use, NO HE SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE THAT REMARK. I agree that there should be an automated ticket system which can be used by passengers - it is time consuming.

if drivers fail to give the correct change because they somehow find it difficult to think fast because they have to hurry to be on time, fair enough. in a way they are "pressured" to hurry to arrive on time at the stations because people depend on them. people make mistakes therefore as you said, they cannot be called rude.

HOWEVER, if drivers give you the incorrect change to LM10, do not stop at bus stops, start fighting in the middle of the trip, talk on the phone whilst driving, and smoke whilst driving YES, they are RUDE!

P Pace Balzan

Aug 20th 2010, 10:02

As per your comment does a "low life" bus driver refer to:

A cashier, a human ticketing machine, a bus steward, a complaints officer and a bus driver all combined in one.

To me this not "low Life" but "hard Life".

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2010, 10:16

Mr Pace - hard life or not, it does not justify rude and agressive behaviour. It does not justify passing by a bus stop and not stopping because the driver is in a hurry. It does not mean neither that drivers are justified in not stopping for coloured people (maybe immigrants) - leaving them stranded (something I witnessed more than once)! NO, it being hard work does not justify these things.

P Pace Balzan

Aug 20th 2010, 12:39

@ Joseph Micallef
If you as a customer have witnessed these situations (racial discrimination, indifference etc..) and the authorities have never witnessed these situations or done nothing to correct / prevent them then it is pointless complaining about the drivers.

Start complaining about the (not to) authorities. Il-Huta min rasha tinten.

Transport Malta is the authority which is responsible for many ill doings legislated by government.
A number of which have and are still effecting me personally.

The situation is far from pleasant for all but it is EVIL to isolate one individual (over Eur0.06) when the whole structure / system is corrupt.

A new book has to opened and the old one discarded.

F. Aquilina

Aug 20th 2010, 10:15

Ghalfejn id-drivers ma jgibux ruhhom tajjeb mil-ewwel minflok noqghodu nirrapurtaw kull darba li tigri xahaga? Kieku mijiet ta rapporti kuljum jidhlu daqs kemm tisma kazi.

Jekk igibu ruhhom sew u jghamlu xogholhom tajjeb mill-ewwel, ma jkunx hemm problemi ma dawn id-drivers.

T Camilleri

Aug 20th 2010, 10:02

Roderick Micallef ever heard of the expression take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves?

I would like to take the opportunity to ask why the authorities have not taken any action for the total mayhem that one can see every day at the Valletta bus terminus with buses parked triple parking on double lines, buses parked around the Triton fountain, in the middle of the road and wherever they please in front of ADT officials, police officers and also wardens? The Valletta bus terminus is a perfect example of continuous illegalities being carried out in the face of the competent authorities without any action being taken.

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2010, 10:12

Mr. Micallef - try giving two cents less to the driver and see if he reasons like you! Ix-xufiera ma jfallux imma ta!

peter vella

Aug 20th 2010, 10:14

Ma taqbadiex tal linja donnok int habib hux vera?? 2c illum u 2 cents ada al sena shiha mit tnejn sal gimgha filghodu u filghaxija jamlu ta fis sena!! Ghax ghandu jehodhom id-driver meta inkun batejt ghalihom jien? Mela dan kulhadd qed isibhom il -flus cikk!!

Demis Paul Scerri

Aug 20th 2010, 12:12

2 cents x 2 ways x 5 days x 52 weeks = EURO 10. 40c tips per passenger per year to our pleasent bus drivers. Just calculate and imagine the number of bus users.

O. Falzon

Aug 20th 2010, 11:38

The free holiday should be paid from the pockets of this bus driver...

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2010, 10:09

...and to add one more to your set of questions

WHY DID THE DRIVER NEED TO BE AGRESSIVE?

The charges are not because he refused to give change but because of his attitude!

peter said

Aug 20th 2010, 10:10

Ma taqbadiex tal linja donnok int habib hux vera?? 6 c illum u 6 cents ada al sena shiha mit tnejn sal gimgha filghodu u filghaxija jamlu ta!! Mela dan kulhadd qed isibhom il -flus cikk??

SMifsud

Aug 20th 2010, 10:26

Well said. About time that CCTV cameras are installed. If it were the case, we would have learnt the truth, maybe the Spaniard insisted on having her six bucks back which depending on her tone of voice certainly would have irritated the driver. (May I add that with these cheap flights, the type of tourist now is generally the spending-conscious type, sometimes even to the extreme, being obsessive)
Or else the driver was really aggressive, and wanted to intimidate. We can never learn the truth. (No CCTV unfortunately)
I can presume that being a bus driver is no easy job. They have to endure the heat, calculate change, and notwithstanding this they have the punctuality time bomb which adds up to their stress.

Joseph Micallef

Aug 20th 2010, 11:07

Smifsud - inti bis-serjeta jew!? Don't you realise that there were other people in the bus and that this Spaniard will be testifying under oath. From when is has it become important to have a CCTV camera installed so that the truth is learned about crimes!? Or does this rule only hold for bus drivers maybe!

Fred Medhurst

Aug 20th 2010, 12:47

SMifsud please why is there is fixation about low cost flights? It seems having cake and eating it springs to mind. These toursists dont sleep under the stars nor bring a packed lunch with them so the implication is just a diversion. To the subject. I was a one man operated bus driver for 8 years and NOT once did i feel the need to abuse a passenger. I ALWAYS gave the correct change and did my best to give the best service to my passengers. This year our car broke down at Xemxija. I knew I could get help at St Pauls Bay and jumped on the bus leaving my fellow passengers at the car. Unfortunately I only had a €5 note for the €1.16 journey. The bus driver folded the note, put it in his pocket then told me to sit down. I asked for my change and again was told to sit down followed by some other mutterings. At St Pauls Bay I again asked the driver for my change and he told me I was at my stop. I refused to leave until my change was given. Eventually he submitted the change. Buses NEVER AGAIN.

John Falzon

Aug 20th 2010, 14:22

Mr. Pace Balzan – Two wrongs don’t make a right but something concerning the approach in general has to be done at some point. Is this the only incident you are aware of with Maltese bus drivers? Are you not aware that this category have a very bad image contributing to the way we live in terms of dependence of vehicles because the service is lousy, unreliable, uncomfortable, dirty and on top of that with an attitude problem of ‘some’ bus drivers?

M Muscat

Aug 20th 2010, 15:08

@SMifsud-Int bis-serjeta? Int tghix Malta jew le? Jew inkella wiehed mix-xufiera? Mhux kulhadd jaf li ma jghatux bqija ghalfejn qed twahhal fit-titjiriet irhas? Jien insiefer ta spiss bl-irhas flights li nsib u l-flus nonfoqhom fil-pajjiz li nkun. Ma jfissirx li ghax turist tarmi jew tqassam il-flus u l-anqas m'hemm bzonn tkun xi miljunarju biex tmur vaganza. Qum mir-raqda li qieghed fiha!

Christine Bartolo

Aug 20th 2010, 09:51

This same thing happened to me yesterday, i had just finished work and was waiting for the bus home, when i put my arm out for it to stop he made a rude gesture towards me and just kept going!!

Philip Sultana

Aug 20th 2010, 11:25

How disgraceful! This has been a national problem for a long number of years. It is a bad reflection on public transport employees generally as well as their union and its leaders, and a disgrace on the various authorities for failing to address the issue. Ultimately, it reflects badly on Malta as a whole. No wonder we can only operate in the lower end of the tourism markets, attracting cheap tourists!!!

D M Grech

Aug 20th 2010, 09:48

The compensation is already reflected in the cheap fares we pay. Pay peanuts, get monkeys - an orang-utan or gorilla, sometimes.

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