Updated: Student apologises - but not for speaking her mind

Roseanne Stevens

Oct 13th 2011, 05:51

She was called in by a stranger to give her name. Very well so she is the victim & she gets pinned for speaking her mind, It only happens in Malta. To date I see no changes in the bus services. My daughter arrives late at school daily.

Joe Fenech

Oct 10th 2011, 15:01

Well done, young lady! May all Maltese students have b.... like you do ! Keep it going!

Mr Chris Grillo

Oct 8th 2011, 11:07

As much as I hated the old system, I have to say it was heaven compared to this crap we have now!!!

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Oct 8th 2011, 09:01

Relying on the wording of the report, I would agree with the Minister that he cannot be blamed if a bus was late. But the picture changes completely when all buses, introduced by the Honourable Minister with such prophetic statements about the future, arrive late or do not arrive at all. When buses are less frequent and trips take incredibly long, then it is not the question of one bus of Ms Garrett.

Would you blame anyone who sings to the Minister Marco Masini's song ? Just be at the terminus in Valletta and you will hear the chorus singing.

Charles Vassallo

Oct 8th 2011, 08:53

Good on you girl for having the guts to speak up!

Here in Pembroke we are still patiently waiting for some high and mighty decision maker to give us back route 66 that used to take us to Valletta.

One piece of advice, leave the long scenic trips for the tourism authorities to organise and give back the Maltese commuters simple and efficient routes.

A Camilleri

Oct 8th 2011, 06:57

Dr Gatt - considered the case closed??? has the issue been fixed? i dont think so! WELL DONE MS GARRET!!!!! we all feel the same way, even if its not to go to university! the CHAOS is ridiculous!!! BRING THE OLD BUSES BACK! they here only 10 minutes late even if full another 15 minutes another will pass, the routes where better!! and till a next summer of tourism, it will remain the same! thats how much faith i have :)

Joe Fenech

Oct 7th 2011, 23:08

Well done, young lady! May all Maltese students have b.... like you do !

Lee Galea

Oct 7th 2011, 21:37

Xi kultant nibqa imbelah li ahna il maltin jew nejnu lil xulxin jew infixklu lil xulxin. mela l ewwel haga qabel kollox nixtieq nejd prosit lil Nicola Abela li hi kienet l unika wahda min malta li qalet x tahseb fuq l arriva quddiem austin gatt. Issa jiena gili qbata l arriva u nahseb kulhadd zanzaza il linja il gdida, u min uzaha kulhadd jaf xi isaraf la ahna Maltin gergirna zgur!! pero nixtieq inkun naf alfejn studenta wahda kellha taffacha lil Austin Gatt ghalfejn shaba m ghejnuwiex? Nixtieq nigbed ukoll atenzjoni li meta Alfred Sant dahal l universita kulhadd ghajru pero lil l istudenti ma hadulomx isimom ghalfejn lil din iva? Dan huwa punt li qajimli kurzitta.

Sandra Pace

Oct 7th 2011, 19:06

prosit and well done! ms garret

C. Muscat

Oct 7th 2011, 14:12

I hope this is not to diversify our attention. Many people are suffering toooooo much with the service/non service of arriva. And mind you, I am also suffering. I am using my car; mela I am paying extra for petrol etc and I am still paying from my taxes more than I used to pay to Koptaco.
Maybe, (I have my doubts) in the next budget we will know how much these payments from public coffers for the service/disservice is. Preferably, I would like to know how much we paid before (the payment for the old buses keep them separate please) and how much the malta citizen is paying now for such a bad service.

A Caruana

Oct 7th 2011, 14:03

Brava - you said out loud what most people are thinking, maybe this will finally shock the arrogant minister Austin Gatt into doing something and maybe nudge the Prime Minister to take drastic action as he seems to have lost all control of his Minister and Transport Malta!

Jamie Iain Genovese

Oct 7th 2011, 13:41

As long as you planned it from before with a journalist on Facebook it's cool.

Oh wait, no, it's not.

Get off it, you didn't miss lectures and you don't have to. University only actually started having lectures on Wednesday, the 5th of October.

Michael Hudson

Oct 7th 2011, 13:20

Well done Ms. Nicola Abela Garrett. I don't think you needed to apologize, even if you were from the gutter. The gutter people also have a voice and deserve to be heard. He who has no sin cast the first stone.
Hon Gatt and many more like him on both sides deserve nothing less. Most of them are gutter people anyway.

Mr Paul Caruana

Oct 7th 2011, 11:39

Just get the service to run on time!

Mr John Azzopoardi

Oct 7th 2011, 11:33

Yes, this is what the maltese like to read and write about. The girls seems to want all kind of freebees and Gatt seems too arrogant. Did he have it coming. Oh well, arrogance beget arrogance I suppose. But I wouldn't give kudos to this girls as much as she may be an opportunist. People, you have it made. Look at ll the suffering in the world. By the way, Arriva in Malta has turned into a big joke.

JOSEPH VELLA

Oct 7th 2011, 10:55

@JOSEPH VELLA and you man still stuck in 70 /80 take a walk around your town or village you might learn something more, than always criticising theL.P.obviously you know nothing about the labour party only bad PRPOGANDA against theL.P.

Claude Camilleri

Oct 7th 2011, 09:54

No need of apologies, ok, its a fact !! we Maltese all swear

Somone finally spoke their mind in front of a "Minister", good on her.
I thought the whole idea of Arriva, was to replace old Maltese fuming buses. That was great.
Changing most routes, well, thats kind of silly. That was not so great....

Good idea will be to get Austion Gatt to take a ride on a bus, I could defintely suggest a nice route (it will be like being on a holiday, a whole day on a bus", we should also film it, great episode for Xarabank :)))

Carmen Borg

Oct 7th 2011, 09:09

I totally agree with you Mr Caruana. Whoever is responsible should immediately rectify the situation. Too many hours are lost and commuters are getting more frustrated every day.

Christian Grech

Oct 7th 2011, 08:21

Totally agree with this student, I wish I have enough faith in Arriva and start using it to go to work myself, what i don't agree is that although Dr Gatt may be behind all this havoc now it's time for the Arriva to start accepting it's responsibilities as a PRIVATE company and no longer under the wing of the government and maybe start giving out some credible answers for their saga of failure and please lets stop with these apologies from Arriva. ACTION PLEASE!! saying that I still believe that the old bus system needed to be axed and I believe that as politician Dr gatt is earning his money by not try to achieve the general popularity but by doing what needs to be done, even un-popular decisions...

Charles Camilleri

Oct 7th 2011, 08:13

No need of apolgizing to him, if it was me I had more insults to give him. I go to MCAST and he promised us direct routes, were are they? I live in Qormi and I used to go with no.63 then pick the 81 or 82 from Marsa P&R. Now he removed them and I have to go to Valletta. To arrive in time i get out of home at 5:45 and arrive ( If I am lucky) at 7:20. It is a disgrace. He wont give notice because he has his own personal driver and leaves when he wants. I not arriva faults because it has to do what transport Malta says and transport Malta is under Austin Gatt. I prefer the old busses. In summer you would be baked but I never arrived somewhere late. Austin if you read my comment your a disgrace to your party and a bigger disgrace to Malta and its people.

Mr Charles Falzon

Oct 7th 2011, 08:00

"Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister."
Clearly confirms we're living in a 'police' state. Uncontrolled, this attitude will turn the clock back to the black 80's and fascist attitudes. Rather than concentrating on the girl, our attention and the police should focus on investigating the identity of this 'stranger' and charge him in Court. This is a very serious matter! The girl was foolish enough to comply - highlighting her immaturity. I feel certain her name has been noted and will be remembered in more ways than one.

Mr charles azzopardi

Oct 7th 2011, 07:33

rowdy students ! ( not only bus drivers ) .... when are we going to see a decent study from UOM on best public transport to malta instead of getting TM to pay foreigners for a system that does not apply ?

It is nice to have an old maltese bus with an F... W... decal design on the engine compartment ..

We have to look more at the social aspect .. remember please ..

Tony Zammit

Oct 7th 2011, 07:00

To Minister Gatt

You said zmien il-buzillotti issa spicca
What buzillotti were you talking about? Surly not the transport service, because if you were Sorry to say you’re mistaken.

If you was referring to transport buzillotti are going to get worse when the raining weather starts. Who is going to answer to these students being marked absent for their MCAST lecture, 80% missing lessons and one gets kicked out of school due to absentee. Then what? Should the unemployment answer for him/her? These are the future to Malta employment.

Us Students should have a direct bus from different localities to MCAST Colleges.

Now prove to use zmien il-buzillotti issa spicca or take action on this public transport we don’t care if buses are old or new we care about getting to school to learn.

Mark Cassar

Oct 7th 2011, 04:26

Writing the letter is what she should have done in the first place. The House is filled with OUR Representatives. That is what they are there for, and why they get paid. Re the Honourable Minister, the public transport reform was meant to be a victorious swan-song, but it seems to have gone pear-shaped. Shame for him and the present government and most importantly shame for us; but I am also wondering if the PL was in Government what would have happened? Probably nothing; because they would not have taken the decision to take such a bold step in the first place. It is really time for Arriva to consolidate all they have learnt in the past months and put things right; if they are able to do so.

andrew kelly

Oct 7th 2011, 03:10

come on guys....few more months and Malta can be called HEAVEN........viva labour party

Mr andreas bone

Oct 7th 2011, 01:17

Ms. Garret,

You surely have my respect! :)

Mr rene borg

Oct 7th 2011, 00:00

Nicola,

When one use foul language normally one automatically lose the argument. But in your case you have driven your argument directly to the minister without fear and even drawing a comment from the minister himself!

Do not be afraid to speak your mind, you have done the right thing! Many of us have been students and I recall today's MPs in their making organising protests and trying to garner support to change things for the better. And perhaps some of them did make a difference that today we take so forgranted but in those days it wasnt at all!

And to all students please talk, stand up and be counted and bring the ideas of change with you, and do not bother too much if you get frustrated and make mistakes like using foul language. Maltese politics need a huge gasp of fresh air and to get that fresh air we need u!

Do you know who brought change in Egypt and Tunisia? They are young people like you some of them from their laptop at home.

Philip Mallia

Oct 6th 2011, 23:56

Jien ma nafx, imma nahseb ahjar ghazlet li titghallem il-Malti din ghax biex iddahhak (f'dak li ghazlet tistudja) vera tajba imma biex titkellem bil-Malti DIZASTRU.

James Camilleri

Oct 6th 2011, 23:35

For all those who have been criticising this student. Without excusing the actual words she uttered, this student actually was acting as generally young people would. I am not stating that her outburst was immature but in line with her youth. She acted out of frustration and anger - frustration and anger which every commuter is undergoing every single day. Had her outburst been due to disagreeing with the Minister politically I too would have blamed her outburst. However what Ms Abela Garrett did was to get the message through to Dr Gatt that his “revolution” has failed miserably. It is useless his “hounding” of Arriva. It was his Ministry which planned the terms and conditions – fewer buses, different routes, interchanges, etc. Fewer buses, different routes and interchanges are at the basis of the mayhem in the bus service. If Arriva is not delivering the blame lies completely with the Minister’s. Dr Gatt has been leading us the garden path since Arriva started operating and no one is believing him anymore except for the apologist found in these posts, who most probably do not make use of the public transport service.
Ms Abela Garrett has shown everyone that politicians are not the sacred cows they used to be. Few people venerate our politicians as they used to in the past. And this is how it should be. Politicians are there to serve us and lead the country in the best possible way. When they fail to do so they are liable to our criticism. When they treat us with contempt they are liable to receive this contempt back.

Mr Denis Pace

Oct 6th 2011, 23:23

why did she announce what she was about to do on facebook the day before?
It was not spontaneous , was it?
It is not true she missed lectures....they had not started yet.

Mario Grima

Oct 6th 2011, 23:05

But the bus service was excellent during 'Notte Bianca' !!!!!!. Oops sorry no lessons at University during this event.

Noel Mifsud

Oct 6th 2011, 22:52

no need to apologise you made the right think and those who think otherwise are on the wrong side.

Mario Grima

Oct 6th 2011, 22:49

Xi hadd m'ilux hafna qalilna li-zmien il-buzillotti issa spicca. Tghid vera sur Ministru Gatt???????

mark borg

Oct 6th 2011, 22:33

@Karl Attard : your point is irrelevant ,still a person was offended . Anyway if you are trying to be funny, in that case LABOUR in the 70's created free education for anyone amongst many other social justices,such as free health care,pensions and the welfare state we know today : THAT IS WHAT THE STUDENTS SHOULD CHERISH.

Mario Desira

Oct 6th 2011, 22:20

I believe Ms Abela Garrett expressed the setiments of thousands of frustrated passengers who these last four months have endured a nightmare service, where whole chunks of time were lost waiting for a bus or trying to get to appointments and work on time. Dr No Lost Sleep is one of several incompetent persons who adorn both PN and LP and I wonder why people still equate getting elected with being competent. There is also a chasm between saying something needs to be done and actually doing it. As the minister responsible for transport he should have intervened to put competent people to handle the reform or resigned, he did neither. Dr No Lost Sleep should remember less than a year ago Gaddaffi lost no sleep over domestic affairs either.

Dominic Carbonaro

Oct 6th 2011, 22:15

lILL-Ministru Austin Gatt, nixtieq nghidlu li jekk l-arriva ma jonorawx il-kuntratt bil-konsegwenzi li studenti, haddiema, pazjenti m'humiex jaslu fil-hin ghall-appuntamenti taghhom, Allura nahseb illi il-gvern ghandu jiehu passi kontra Arriva bla ebda dewmien u jekk hemm bzonn il-gvern ghandu bis-serjeta jikkonsidra li jiehu hu il-kontroll tal-arriva f'Malta biex Haddiema , studenti , pazjenti u turisti ma jibqawx ibatu. Fil-kaz tat-turizmu irridu noqghodu attenti li s-sagrifficcju li ghamilna bhala poplu biex sahhahna l-industrija turistika, Ma jkun l-ebda barrani li igib is-sagrifficju taghna fix-xejn

M. Bezzina

Oct 6th 2011, 22:01

''PN resorts to past when it cannot attack PL'' - Deborah Schembri

I must agree with this lady !!!

Mr Karl Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 21:49

Here's a thought: a proactive person of her age and her health, who would do anything not to miss a lecture would jump on a bike and cycle to university.

James Wightman

Oct 6th 2011, 21:47

Well the abuse was a tiny sample of what the public have been giving Arriva drivers, and if someone left somebody else in the sun for 2 hours they'd probably get the same. Why should ministers be different?

Mr Paul Caruana

Oct 6th 2011, 21:18

The real issue is that, several months later, the new service is not able to run as per schedule, which means that, ultimately, the reform will be a failure unless this unreliability is quickly addressed.

Claire Busuttil

Oct 6th 2011, 21:16

imma ghalfejn, dawk li jaraw b lenti blu.....qedin isemmu biss il passat!?!?! mela wehiltu hemm??? issa qedin fis sena 2011, u Malta haqqa servizz decenti ta trasport publiku.....haga li ma ghandiex......xi hadd jista imieri dal fatt???? xi fatt jista jighd li qedin tajjeb?!?!?

Chris J Vassallo

Oct 6th 2011, 20:59

Well done Nicola! You should be the inspiration for the other 9,999 university students who need to get a voice and take a stand to make things right.

Mr Rodnick Abdilla

Oct 6th 2011, 20:53

My dear Nicole, now you and your University friends will realise that you are NOT living in a democratic country

mark borg

Oct 6th 2011, 20:52

Anyone remember last elections how a large number of students offended and booed Dr Sant everytime he opened his mouth ? no one made half the fuss . a REAL CASE OF DOUBLE STANDARDS.

joanna farrugia

Oct 6th 2011, 20:36

@ Karl Abela kumment vojt u bla sens mbasta nwaqqaw il laburisti fil baxx nsejt meta fl laqgha gewwa l kwartieri tal pn harget mara u ghajjret lil jm color blind? fejn kienu l kummenti tieghek dak iz zmien jew naraw it travu f ghajn haddiehor biss kapaci????

Justin Borg Saywell

Oct 6th 2011, 20:32

Just because Ms Abela Garrett said sorry does not make her not rude. It goes to show that high academic qualifications do not necessarily equate with good manners.

Andrea Giallombardo

Oct 6th 2011, 20:26

she might have actually made him listen!

Mrs c bonello

Oct 6th 2011, 20:23

@Mr D Bonello

G Sciberras

Oct 6th 2011, 20:21

BBC 1 TV on 6th OCT 2011 reported that -

1 - British are glad that they are getting rid of the bendy buses
2 - soon will be totally eliminated from UK roads
3 - bendy buses available ONLY IN MALTA

My young son missed a party due to these buses unreliability and he keeps asking about the spark who brough these buses over to Malta.

G Sciberras - Bugibba

Kenneth Galea

Oct 6th 2011, 20:21

I think the student should be left alone and in peace now and I hope she moves on. It was not right to swear in public, that showed her true colours that this girl is rather tempremental and these people should be treated with caution. She had a right to heckle Austin Gatt during a mass meeting but not to swear in public.
Arriva service caused a lot of headaches and it seems to me that the wrong operator was chosen to take over our transport system. Hawwadni ha nhawdek is my slogan for Arriva. They need to get a grip after more than 3 months operating.

Karl Abela

Oct 6th 2011, 20:21

I will not be surprised if she is a labour candidate for the next election. Not because she complained, but because of the way she complained.

Obviously this arrogant child knows little of what Austin Gatt has achieved during her childhood while she was playing around with her doll.

Julie Russell

Oct 6th 2011, 20:13

Good for her, i don't blame the students for getting angry, if they are late for their lectures all the time, they are going to suffer.
We need more women in power at least something will get done.

Maxine -

Oct 6th 2011, 20:10

Arroganza? Ahna nhallsu t-taxxi, ahna gejna mweghdin servizz tajjeb u ehe sewwa ghamlet. Xbajt nisma nies joffendu lil austin gatt, not directly off course imma fuq tal-linja. Now this girl did it directly. It is a shame yes that we still need improvement in the transport system. I'm a 14 year old student, how am I supposed to travel to places issa when i have O levels, in the future working and attending school. How?

Ms Rudi Mcbeal

Oct 6th 2011, 20:10

Silly, silly girl.

Frank Briffa

Oct 6th 2011, 20:05

Well done to Nicola for expressing your frustration and pain reflecting what the maltese people using the service are feeling! And for those mentioning the 70's and 80's era its just to write something to hide away the arrogance of Austin Gatt. Who is he to respond a student with that manner? You were right in showing your frustration to him and there is no need to excuse yourself, you were expected to get an ANSWER. Austin Gatt must excuse himself because he is the person RESPONSIBLE of Arriva and was the person arrogant in front of you. Nicola you were approached by university authorities because of your behaviour... where those students who insulted Dr Sant just before the election treated with the same manner? Don't think so ...

Philip Hili

Oct 6th 2011, 19:40

Tista' din le qeghdha tistidja "t-Tejatrin" tghidilna jekk "If there are no buses available, could I have a lift in your Jag, Mr Minister?" hix ARROGANZA GRASSA u issa nista' nghid li din qeghdha tinheba wara l-frustrazzjoni??

Philip Hili

Oct 6th 2011, 19:29

Tista' din le qeghdha tistidja "t-Tejatrin" tghidilna jekk "If there are no buses available, could I have a lift in your Jag, Mr Minister?" hix ARROGANZA GRASSA u issa nista' nghid li din qeghdha tinheba wara l-frustrazzjoni??

Mr D Bonello

Oct 6th 2011, 19:16

I cannot imagine the consequences of her behavior back in the 70s & 80s with the ministers of those days like Lorry Sant, Danny Cremona and a few more. Thank god for a our democracy today.

Franklyn Brincat

Oct 6th 2011, 18:59

"Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister." ?????? Are we living in Iraq!? She should have insulted this individual as well!! OMG! Rock Bottom Malta :/

Mr Joseph Calleja

Oct 6th 2011, 18:50

This episode reminds me of when journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at George W Bush during a Press Conference. ( See Youtube or Google), my only regret is that both shoes missed Mr Bush. Same arrogant type politician who had very little respect for the people. Frustration does crazy things to human behavior. Every person has a boiling point and it makes it very difficult to control sometimes. We all get to that boiling point sometimes and different people express it in different ways. Ms Garrett Abela released that frustration in the best way she knew how. One thing for sure she got the attention of the Minister and the attention of the whole country. Most bus riders go through this regimen at bus stops all over theisland, the only difference is that Minister Gatt is not there to hear the cussing and experience the frustration in person. How long is Dr Gatt going to let this irresponsible bus business to go on?

Giovann Demartino

Oct 6th 2011, 18:40

257 comments. THESE ARE OUR PROBLEMS. How lucky we are. ONLY IN MALTA so many adults give such importance to such trivialities

Stefan Sacco

Oct 6th 2011, 18:38

She tried to grab the opportunity to get her hour of fame!!! Show off........Try to get in the news for the right reasons...!!

David Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 18:38

Ahhhhh so he can talk!!! o goooddieeeee yes now all he has to do is DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! Man really a mickey mouse Counrty....

Lino Sant

Oct 6th 2011, 18:27

L. Sant

This lady one day will be prime minister.

Kep it up Ms. Garret,

LOUIS JOSEPH BORG

Oct 6th 2011, 18:20

two things came out from this issue
one the bad bus service!
two what a democratic and tolerant minister we have !
if this happened in the eighties the outcome for ms abela garret would have been quiet different!

Mr Sandro Lapira

Oct 6th 2011, 18:17

THANKS GOD HAWN GVERN TAL P.N......FTIT TAZ ZMIEN ILU MHUX IL BOGHOD IL BANBIN JAF X SAR MINNHA DIN IT TFAJLA.....GOOD LUCK GHAL ISTUDJI TIJAK MS. MANDIX DUBJU LI BIS SAHHA TIJAK QEDA L UNIVERSITA MA KELLEKX BZON 20 PUNT....

Daria Frendo

Oct 6th 2011, 18:14

95 page report?

If the report is intended for the people who can take action to fix this situation... I am a 100% sure they will not have time to “waste” reading a 95 page report!!! good effort...but anything beyond 2 pages, double line spaced, with font 12... is just useless!

Not in agreement with the way this student expressed herself.. although such a frustration would be hard to control for anyone!

BUT frankly. If she spoke up POLITELY as required by society... (media/news/reporting being so controlled/ing and messed up.. all at the same time)... her comments would have DEFINITLY gone by UN-NOTICED!

David Caruana

Oct 6th 2011, 18:05

KSU = Kunsill STUDENTI Universitarji

Qed ngħidlek kemm huma rapreżentanti tal-istudenti!

Hekk kienu fi żmieni u hekk għadhom, lagħqa tal-PN u bażużli li diġa' għandhom it-triq imwittija!

Misskom tistħu!

Jista' xi ħadd jitfa' dawl fuq min hu dan l-individwu li mar jieħu isimha? B'liema skop? Il-pulizija mhix ħa tinvestiga? Dan b'liema dritt jindaħal u jtlobha isimha?

Frank Drew

Oct 6th 2011, 17:54

Has anyone seen any bus inspectors in and around Valletta,Qawra,etc they should get a grip and start releasing the buses on time,and start going on the buses and write reports to be forwarded to the respective departments,and work to get a solution ,because we cannot go on like this people losing pay for being late,students being late for classes,Ministers cannot run a business by proxy in other words get your minions out and get it sorted

cesco di luigi

Oct 6th 2011, 17:43

When mediocrity and incompetence are the order of the day and members of the public vent their frustration in oubursts of this sort, the mediocre and the incompetent and their lackeys will rush to defend their own mediocrity and incompetence by expressing their shock at the outbursts, so that they can continue to wallow in their medicority for ever and ever. How very convenient! In todays age of media and communications the days of the high priests are over. Maybe the Minister's entourage should take note when they have a break from licking his boots.

Luke Scicluna

Oct 6th 2011, 17:38

As a fellow student, I applaud you, Ms. Garrett.

And I have this to say.
Is it fair to make students get up at 5am in order to get to their 8am lecture on time? And then make them wait for an hour after they are finished (usually at 4 or 5pm) to catch a bus, then another hour to catch their connection, His Holiness The Revered Minister? In the rain, no less? Either under no shelter whatsoever (cough cough, Msida Junior College bus stop, cough cough) or under horribly designed shelters which have a GAP and HOLES in them? A roof. With a gap. It does not take Spock to notice some lack of logic there, now does it?

Oh but of course. You drive around in your Jag. Actually let me rephrase that.
PEOPLE drive you around. In your Jag. With taxpayer money.

I say, let these ministers who keep saying 'oh, nothing's wrong' go to work on public transport for a month.

And tell those KSU poster boys to sell their cars and do the same.

C Frendo

Oct 6th 2011, 17:31

you have full marks for showing your opinion and all maltas frustration

Emmanuel Scicluna

Oct 6th 2011, 17:22

1984 revisited

S Fenech

Oct 6th 2011, 17:19

I'm disgusted by certain comments. I am really feeling ashamed of myself, being Maltese. These comments certainly encourage aggression, hatred and disrespect. We can potentially end up like Greece, UK and other European countries if people keep using media to encourage all this! Last but not least, media certainly should not give attention and highlight destructive matters.

Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior

Oct 6th 2011, 17:14

Arriva seems to prioritise itself on cost efficiency by reducing the number of buses on the road to a minimum, thus maximising the least number of buses possible.

Whereas in the past, say 50 commuters were serviced by two buses within a 2 thirty-minute interval in one hour, today Arriva is still servicing the same 50 commuters, but with 1 bus every 1 hour.

It’s called the Maximisation of Resources.

This cost cutting exercise is hurting the commuter indiscriminately and it is NOT FAIR, as one has to spend double the time in waiting unnecessarily!

This is one of the main causes of the inefficiency of Arriva and unless this situation is tackled, then the commuter has to lump it, with the only beneficiary being Arriva which will be laughing all the way to the bank!

Arriva should adhere to the contract that she itself signed and stick to the programme as agreed upon, by a) increasing the number of the present buses on the road and b) stick to the schedules and time-tables as declared on all the notice-boards and adverts.

Honeymoon is over.

Arriva must deliver!

JC.

Mr Albert Dimech

Oct 6th 2011, 17:10

Why all this fuss? In another country Minister Gatt would have been showered with eggs or worse. Let us not forget this is an awfully expensive reform, simply buying out the xarabank drivers cost €52 million euro in tax payer money.

This Arriva disaster, because it is nothing less, calls for his and Manuel Delia's immediate resignation.

C. Muscat

Oct 6th 2011, 17:01

I think this government is like that dreadful disease; it corrodes your inside and you still feel great. Arriva airconditioned and while you wait and wait you are (air) conditioned. Bus drivers used to be booled by the police because they leave Valletta with just one person standing!! What a bad joke!!!

Keith Goodlip

Oct 6th 2011, 16:54

"I assure Ms Abela Garrett that I will continue hounding Arriva until they deliver the service contracted for and which the travelling public expects," Dr Gatt said.

Of course there is a way......fine them!! The contract must have laid down a way to fine Arriva if the expected service is not upheld.

Vince Cachia

Oct 6th 2011, 16:54

WHY THE APOLOGY??? THE MAN DESERVES ALL THE BLAME THERE IS FOR ALL THE INCONVENIENCE ARRIVA IS CREATING WETHER IT IS UNIVERSITY, MATER DEI OR PLACE OF WORK!!!

Mr Joseph Calleja

Oct 6th 2011, 16:52

Ms Abela Garrett you did what you had to do to get your point across because it seems like nobody else has the guts and stamina to do so. Honestly, Would the Minister sit there and listen if you were very polite and refrained from using profanity? Of course not. Nicola you did what most of us would like to do but don't have the guts and stamina to do it. You were speaking to a very arrogant Minister and nothing would have mattered if you did not use some strong words to arouse his attention. Disregard everything else, most bus riders express the same feelings in those long lines waiting for late buses to arrive. As we all can see the Minister is pointing fingers at Arriva but never accepted responsibility for him and the incompetent Transport Malta. Even if Arriva is to blame he is still responsible for the fiasco because he had no idea of how to run a Bus System. Like Minister Fenech who had no idea of how to run an Airline. Look at both results. "Ix-Xoghol tieh lil min jaf jghamlu" which means don't send a boy to do a man's job. It takes a noble man to admit he is wrong. And so far no man has apologized for anything. So Ms Abela Garrett you have nothing to be ashamed for, you did what you had to do. I hope the Prime Minister is paying attention to what his Ministers are doing? Too bad there is no system of being able to impeach a Minister because under the circumstances Dr Gatt will make a good candidate. Ms Garrett Abela as you can see there are more people on your side than not and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Good luck on your studies and hope things will return to normal for you. Thank you for your courage on speaking out and for bringing out this whole Arriva fiasco to the attention of the Transportation Minister. Thanks to you, I guarantee you he is having nightmares and a lot of sleepless nights contrary to what he wants us to believe. Nobody likes to be humiliated in public and no matter how cold Dr Gatt is, or tries to be, an incident like this will surely keep him awake at night. As far as the critics go, may I remind them that you cannot be polite to this Minister because as usual he will brush you off, not this time. Minister Gatt maybe you are right, Arriva took you and the Maltese public for a ride and Transport Malta is a big accomplice. Please try to be on time?

Peter Shaw

Oct 6th 2011, 16:49

Dont hold your breath waiting for the service to improve !

Victor Baldacchino

Oct 6th 2011, 16:48

Soon be approached to be Labour candidate.

James Hili

Oct 6th 2011, 16:41

I guess those two of of KSU are blue eyed boys hux...its like in North Korea if you speak your mind against the Government you get its agents to threaten you...misskom tisthu you two bullies!

G. Borg

Oct 6th 2011, 16:41

You just showed what type of person you are Ms Garrett, your place is not at University, you are a shame to all the other students. That is not the way to do things and you should know better !

Mr Paul Pace

Oct 6th 2011, 16:40

"I'm an ambitious student who'd just like to get to lectures on time, without having to wait for an hour or more on a bus stop, as I have been doing for the past four months or so."

I don't understand, Arriva started on the 3 July and the University on the 3 October!!!!

The route the young lady uses was not revealed. Unbiased readers would have been able to verify.

I myself complained and made suggestions on the transport system. I did this in a civilised manner of course and to the right persons.

Judging by the many changes made in th routes since July 3, I conclude that Transport Malta and Arriva are doing their best to provide a better service.

Veronica Bartolo

Oct 6th 2011, 16:40

Well done to Miss. Nicole and I would like to bring to your attention that even Mcast students at Mosta are having a difficult time with the Arriva buses.

Ray Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 16:39

Ms Abela Garrett apologised for her outburst, which, she said, was a mixture of frustration and anger, "which had been boiling up for four months whilst waiting for many long hours on many bus stops." Ms Garrett should apologise. Firstly for her rudeness which is surely not acceptable behaviour in our country. Secondly for exaggerating - the new bus system has only been running for 3 months, no? If she has been waiting for 4 months then she is verysilly. In a country where we encourage people to be dramatic we shouldn't be surprised at such an outbusrt form a drama student ey! How can the government listen to those with genuine comments when the ones like she shout out to be in the limelight and move away from the issues we need them to resolve - like routes and bus stops.

S Fenech

Oct 6th 2011, 16:34

@ Franco Abela - Just because it is called frustration does not mean that you can insult people. Raising your voice or shouting at someone when you are angry or frustrated is one thing and insulting or demoralising another person is another thing. If I had to argue from your point of view, then we justify other forms of expression of frustration such as violence and aggression. Isn't that frustration too? If I had to punch you in the face or call you a F*****g W****r because you are frustrating me with you argument, how would you feel? Respected?!! Would you justify my frustration at you?!!!!

Christopher Debattista

Oct 6th 2011, 16:30

Nicola Abela Garrett - You're my hero ! We need to stand out from this arrogance. Not just for Arriva, but for many, many other reasons. I don't want to start a composition though because there are a lot of ''professors'' here

Mr Joseph Sammut

Oct 6th 2011, 16:30

@ Mr J. Busuttil - "Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister". That is the situation today!

Chris J Vassallo

Oct 6th 2011, 16:25

How can one justify an investment of 180 million and not deliver the goods?How come the new bus service can’t keep to a schedule? Who was responsible for the shambolic agreement with Arriva? How come Malta has a bus service worse then the one we had before?

Mr J Busuttil

Oct 6th 2011, 16:18

Mhur giba titkellem hekk fiz-zmien il-Labour Ommi Ma. I lived those times.

Mr saviour ellul-bonici

Oct 6th 2011, 16:13

Well one thing is certain this girl has talent. She'll be superb playing the fishwife in 'Eastenders'

Sue De Nym

Oct 6th 2011, 16:10

Arriva is a joke. At 10.05am, I was on the bus stop near the old stadium in Gzira to catch no. 32 to Valletta. Its schedule as stated on the Arriva website is one every 20 minutes..... At 10.55 it finally appeared......packed like a can of sardines.

On the way home from Valletta at around 2.45 the no. 22 never materialised.... I boarded the 32 and take the longer route instead of risking getting drenched. On its way back to Valletta, in Mrabat, (from the narrow end towards the top of Savoy Hill), we encountered THREE no. 22's.............

Oh and speaking of rain..... hope the drivers waiting for their next scheduled route are not soaking wet in Il-Mall garden... or has it been renamed as Arriva Garden?

Robert Mifsud

Oct 6th 2011, 16:02

I hope that the minister Gatt reads all these comments posted because its a disgrace.Before with so many old buses around and run by maltese the service was much better although there was alot of space for improvement.This morning my daughter actually walked it to the university after waiting invain for 40 minutes for the 22,which is supposed to go directly there.
Prosit sur Gatt,veru haqqek medalja tad-deheb.But the real prosit goes to Nicola Abela Garrett,who gave Dr Gatt a piece of her mind.Let there be more like her,maybe someone will really listen.

Carmel Zammit

Oct 6th 2011, 16:00

A big well done goes to you Ms Abela Garrett for having the wit to hit the nail on the head. Arrogant people deserve no better and therefore I see no reason for any apologies. If only Malta had more students like you!!

A Dimech

Oct 6th 2011, 15:59

UNDEMOCRATIC MALTA SUFFOCATES PEOPLE'S RIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!

and then Austin comes and tell us that the "places the trust into peopel"

What is this -

"Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister."

Stephen Camilleri

Oct 6th 2011, 15:55

Well done Nicola i admire you for what you did, arrogant people deserve nothing but arrogance..well done and keep it up.

caroline zarre

Oct 6th 2011, 15:50

why u dont get a car , then u dont have problems to be there in time

J. Camilleri

Oct 6th 2011, 15:45

"Konna u ghadna nghixu,
f'pajjiz tal-mickey mouse,
fejn ta fuq jigbdu l-ispaga
u mal-pupazzi nimmarcjaw

u Jekk manridux nibqghu
pajjiz tal-mickey mouse,
jenhtieg naghmlu xi haga
BIEX LILNA JIRISPETTAW"

-John Bundy-

FRANS H SAID

Oct 6th 2011, 15:41

Why must the die-hards of both parties always defend, even what is obviously stupid? Any govt has its mistakes and any govt has its good points. When are we going to learn to criticise what is wrong and praise what is right indepdendent of the colour of the glasses we are wearing?

S Fenech

Oct 6th 2011, 15:38

Then why didn't she say that in the first place without being impolite? Totally unexpected from a University student who does not have an idea of how to respect others, let alone, being professional in her work in the future. You have to keep in mind that even if you have a point in your message, there were appropriate ways of voicing your concerns and you need to address this as a personal issue because you are going to have problems in your career, whatever it is, in the future!

riccardo borg

Oct 6th 2011, 15:35

It is not right or nice to use vulgar language to address Ministers. But....... sometimes a vulgar or low language use does get you through what you want and have been asking for some time.
I have tried though in anger more than once and funnily enough I got what I wanted. Not brcause of the bad language I used but because letters must be filed and a letter with bad language does not look good in a file.
A person is more likely to remember such a letter than ordinary begging letters whichcome in plenty.
One must always remember that not everyone is ready to accept written bad language and therefore it could misfire badly against the writer. One must consider the chances first and most of all the cause for writing such a letter.

Steve M. Engerer

Oct 6th 2011, 15:32

In Malta when something goes wrong it is not the government's responsibility!!!
But if it all is going well, then all the praise has to go to the minister / government concerned...

This aplies for both parties...

Well done Ms. Garrett!!

ARRIVA pls note the frustration being caused to bus commuters...
The frustration is such, because we were promised a service state of the art!!

Mr P Pace Balzan

Oct 6th 2011, 15:25

"Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister."
.
FORCED - to give her NAME to a STRANGER.
WELCOME to NAZI Malta.
Stop it before it gets worse.

B Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 15:19

Ms Garrett keep it up.

Giovann Demartino

Oct 6th 2011, 15:17

If the people want the old routes, give them the old routes!

Ms. Garrett should thank the PN because TODAY she can speak her mind without any problems. But she is too young to remember. That IS the problem the PN will be facing at the general election. Some 30 years ago a university student was sued for libel NOT because he spoke his mind, nor because he used vulgar words in public, but, believe it or not, because he looked "threateningly" at the Minister and at the President of the Republic. If you don't believe me ask the Hon Michael Frendo, Speaker of the house.

Christina Pace

Oct 6th 2011, 15:15

Aw maaaaaaaannn! Il-Ministru instab uzguuuuuuuuuuur man! Fejn hu Jonny l-Cowboy?!

Cajt apparti...kif jista jghid il ministru li "case is closed" jekk din l-istudenta ghada frustrata? Jekk min juza l-Arriva m'hu jasal imkien bla ma jizgarra xi tnejn al wicc it-transport Malta u jzellaq xi hamsa al wicc il-gvern? kif dan jista jghid li case closed?
Ma ndahhqux Hon. Gatt. Din arroganti daqs, jekk mhux iktar min, meta ddikjarajt li ghadek torqod sew. Case closed u torqod sew jekk hawn min qed ikollu johrog mid-dar fil hamsa biex jodhol xoghol fit-8 u jasal f'xi t-8 d-dar ax l_arriva qed jaghmlu li jridu? Hekk seww? Qed narak tigri warajhom biex ifittxu jirrangaw. Ghalekk 3 xhur wara ghadna nistennew dil-genna fl-art. Ara sewwa qalet Nicola li ma jimpurtakx ax int bil Jaguar tmur fejt trid u fi xhin jiftillek u mandekx ax tinkwiet fuq parking ax rizervat.

Frank Drew

Oct 6th 2011, 15:11

Old buses third rate but first class service,new buses first class but but third rate service plus the fact there is discrimination in the fares for locals and visitors,highly illegal ,however this anomaly is being raised in theEuropean parliement

Mr Albert Gauci Cunningham

Oct 6th 2011, 15:10

Qed tara kemm ghandna Ministru helu!! He did a Pontius Pilate! As if Arriva and the routes they have to follow are nothing to do with him. What cheek!! What bloody cheek! But does this guy actually take us for nincompoops? He took centre stage when the going was good (and spent 80,000 eur in the process to tell us what a "revolution" he was about to make) and he will have to take centre stage (whether he likes it or not) whenever the plan ,of his own doing, goes haywire!

j brincat

Oct 6th 2011, 15:07

@Mr Lawrence Calleja

"What all the bloggers have not mentioned is the fact that years ago under the LP government all those who critisized or spoke against the government were somehow penalized and given a jail sentence. Nowadays it is a different story. Nevertheless, what Garrett has done is wrong and very low. Using such low words against other persons reflects the character of that person"

Tell us another and GROW up!

(jb).

Mr Alexander Pace Gouder.

Oct 6th 2011, 15:06

Well done Nicola. We need more citizens who have the courage to face our Hard Headed and Arrogant Parlamentarians especially some of the Ministers. The only problem was The Vulgar Words you used. But understand your feelings if you have been having this Arriva Problem for 4 months and you were not getting any feedback for your complains.Well this may happen in the heat of the moment. The rest a big HI HI HURRA to you.

j brincat

Oct 6th 2011, 15:04

Is it possible that the government has not realised by now that something urgently has got to be done with ARRIVA?

It is useless procrastinating. The people are hurt and they are crying out loud.

Now it's up to the government to put things right.

The people are waiting!

(jb)

Lisa Seisun

Oct 6th 2011, 15:01

If a minister replies to a state problem with NO Problem then He should not continue to be a Minister and should resign cause a Minister's Job is to take care of the state not taking money to not care

Mr James Grech

Oct 6th 2011, 15:01

Someone said that the increase in the amount of traffic is causing Arriva to not be on time and then ppl use their own transport causing further delays to all and sundry.
I tend to agree with this. The persistent hiccups of the new bus service is most probably the main culprit since it was initially hyped to drastically decrease the amount of cars in the street and has in effect caused more havoc then solutions.
I have a solution which could give Arriva, TM and possibly the general public an good idea of whether Arriva is actually delivering or not and possibly help in concretely identifying what is not working.
Perform a week long exercise during which only private cars with alternate registration number plates are allowed on particular days. So for e.g. on some day, only cars with number plates starting off with A, C, E etc can circulate and on the nxt day cars with plate numbers starting with B, D, F etc can circulate.
Exceptions would be police cars and business cars, which would not be able to offer a service without their transportation means.
It might sound to be drastic, but we're going through some drastic changes and the every increasing chaos requires drastic measures.
I hope that this idea be considered and/or maybe someone else has similar ideas that could be put forward for consideration.

j brincat

Oct 6th 2011, 15:00

"Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister"

That she used vulgar language is something that is not be be encouraged.

BUT who is this person? Was he threatening her for speaking off her mind. Does this really happen in Y2011 to our UNI students?

"two KSU representatives who were not pleased with my behaviour."

Who should be surprised? It now known by one and all which party line KSU toes.

(jb)

Sarah Grech

Oct 6th 2011, 14:59

Well done Ms. Garrett. Although, perhaps, the vulgar language was uncalled for, you are still to be applauded. If we had more people like you on this island, arrogant politicians such as Austin Gatt would not be walking on us like they do.

May I add you to my friends list on Facebook please?

John Zammit

Oct 6th 2011, 14:48

I admire Nicola for her guts in facing the most arrogant Minister Malta ever had He is responsible for the havoc on our roods His department was responsible for determining the number of buses So why shred off all responsibly.Another thing that's hitting old people is that buses to Mater Dei from certain localities in the south of Malta can not let the passengers alight from them near the Hospital but have to go down near university and take it on foot. Imagine a 80 year old blind or with feet injuries walking all the lent to outpatients

Mr Mario P. Sciberras

Oct 6th 2011, 14:45

"I assure Ms Abela Garrett that I will continue hounding Arriva until they deliver the service contracted for and which the travelling public expects," Dr Gatt said.
We need a minister not a hound. A minister who assumes responsibility and get us results.
To hound or not to hound is not the question
But results are

Warmer Libri

Oct 6th 2011, 14:44

I do not know why all this aggressive attitude to word arriva bus service which really gave us as locals and even the taurists a big jump in transport service!!!! Malta Transport Authority and Arriva are always welcoming the feed back to improve thier service as much as possible and to meet the demands of all maltese and even non maltese. I think we have all to be grateful and highly appreciate the progress made through arriva and if we have any sugesstion we have to go through the normal legal channels in a civilized way! not like this student has done!! she said that she is 4 months suffering from Arriva delay service!!! Remember that arriva started in July 2011 so it is not yet four months and further more the University academic year started this week[Allora may she mixes the things up} SORRY TA!! it does mean a lot when you do intential unacceptable behavoir. God bless you all

Mark Galea

Oct 6th 2011, 14:41

Next local councils elections I am considering writing ARRIVA on the vote.

Mr Lawrence Calleja

Oct 6th 2011, 14:28

What all the bloggers have not mentioned is the fact that years ago under the LP government all those who critisized or spoke against the government were somehow penalized and given a jail sentence. Nowadays it is a different story. Nevertheless, what Garrett has done is wrong and very low. Using such low words against other persons reflects the character of that person.

Mr Anthony Mizzi

Oct 6th 2011, 14:28

I assure Ms Abela Garrett that I will continue hounding Arriva until they deliver the service contracted for and which the travelling public expects and was promised without any BUZULLOTI....EVEN IF COSTLIER THAN THE OLD SERVICE AND WITH ALL ROUND LESS PARKING FACILITIES!
.

Why not give bak to the public the Floriana Park & Ride? Arriva was supposed to provide Transport and not parking at an exorbient and unaffordable price... on a daily basis !

T Gauci

Oct 6th 2011, 14:22

You don't need to apologize, the one and only one who must apologize is the minister himself.

Mr James Tyrrell

Oct 6th 2011, 14:20

"Dr Gatt said that while he was still baffled as to why he should be blamed because a bus was late." That in itself is a perfect reason why he shouldn't be in the job he is in! It is very easy to blame Arriva in this matter and let's face it they do deserve a lot of blame. However the Transport Ministry were the ones who laid the groundwork for the new bus service, and the Transport Ministry drew up the new routes which appear to be a joke. Dr Gatt is the Minister for Transport and therefore the buck stops with him.

Ms Abela Garrett you have absolutely nothing to feel sorry about and I'm sure all those who know you understand this. You simply had the guts to speak up for all the people of Malta and you should be commended for that. I would suggest that you switch from Theatre Studies to Political Studies as I think you would be a force to reckon as a politician.

A Cuschieri

Oct 6th 2011, 14:17

Once again, I reiterate.

Look at the article covering the actual event - http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111005/local/university.387866

0 Comments. Yet this article, 108 comments as I'm submitting this one.

Unbelievable how people are giving more importance to this girl trying to seek attention (clearly) and not to the new courses (i.e. opportunities for youths) that were launched.

Not to mention the irony from this girl - as quoted above ""He continued to say that I should be grateful for my stipend. Not only was this remark out of context," ... so much out of context (yes) as her remarks towards the minister I guess.

By the way, I can't say that she's completely in the wrong mind you - but probably could have done it in a more civilised and respectful manner. Same goes to the way the Minister answered some questions recently to be fair.

Ms Maria Vella

Oct 6th 2011, 14:17

Thank God you are University in these times and not in the 80s, you would have not risked talking like that and if you had you would have been arrested.

I think having had such an outburst it was logical to ask the name, how did you think you could remain anonymous when causing such a stir.

Having said that I can appreciate your frustration at the hassle you go through to get to your lectures or any other place for all that matters. Arriva is a shambles

Alfred Fenech

Oct 6th 2011, 14:10

Thank God for people that speak their mind. I was always a YES MAN, and got scorched all the time.
Nowmy old age, I have learnt my lesson. Go to it, thats your future career you are looking after.

C Baldacchino

Oct 6th 2011, 14:09

Dear Nicola you are a star!!! This country is in the state that it is because we don't have people like you who are not afraid to expose their feelings in front of people who are supposed to take care of our country!!! I think everyone should learn from this situation and start being real people and really fight for what is truly ours!!!!
Once again thanks for this braveness you shown!!!! (Everyone should learn from it)

Jose Pasillas

Oct 6th 2011, 14:07

I would like to add that since Arriva came along, HUGE traffic jams fill the streets of Malta in the morning with many spending more than 75 minutes in traffic and arriving late for work, this includes me. and I beleive that this is no coincidence. It shouldn't take an hour to drive a 10 minute route.

Arriva failed to gain trust in the Maltese publick, infact it grabbed trust by the neck and threw it off a building. when this happened, the average working man decided that it would be better to just get that car out of the garage and drive to work in the morning thus creating huge traffic jams.

I have been going to work every morning for years now and have NEVER come accross this much traffic. Everybody knows that as soon as school starts it`s a nightmare, but now it`s a huge nightmare because students who used the bus service are also chosing to use their car.

and if you get the parents who for some reason tend to take their children to school each morning, instead of sending them with private transport vans, and if you get all those people who are now scared to use the public bus transport and put them in the maltese streets all at the same time you will get all this chaos every morning. cars are constantly increasing as teenagers get their licence and traffic continues to increase. and since many people do not drive motorbikes, and since many maltese drivers do not give a crap about motorbikes and they infact even ignore them in the streets I`m afraid there is no remedy for this.

I also tend to notice that Arriva is working perfectly fine and I hardly found anything to criticise Arriva about. the only two problems are the changing of the routes. they where good as they where and Malta Transport didn't need to change them. and the other problem is the people themselves. If the people are jamming the streets every morning, the bus cannot fly over these cars obviously, so the bus is getting stuck and more people seem to point their fingers to the bus service. come on give the bus service a try once again. leave your cars in the garage and hop on the bus like the old days and once your cars are off the road, the bus driver would be able to nevigate his way much quicker. and if parents send their kids to school by private transport then this would be much much better.

I conclude by saying that I do not pretend that every worker/student/commuter has a fault by using their own car, because like me I have so many things to do after work and It`s impossible to manage my time using a bus, and I`m afraid of using a motor bike because of hazardous drivers. but I am fully confident that the whole public transport revolution is in the peoples` hands.

Thanks

Tony Borg

Oct 6th 2011, 14:01

"Dr Gatt said that while he was still baffled as to why he should be blamed because a bus waslate or
because Arriva failed to respond to customer queries"

Is this guy serious? Isn't he the Minister in charge? Isn't he the guy who said "zmien il-buzullotti spicca" Isn't his assistant Delia the guy who served as Arriva's PR man replying to queries/complaints during the first few days of the new (dis)service until he was overwhelmed by the number of complaints, and finally, Isn't this minister politically responsible for Transport Malta who was the architect of this whole mess?

Well, are we to be surprised by such a statement from the Minister who personifies arrogance?

Ms Tanya Briffa

Oct 6th 2011, 13:59

I wonder who this bully was who gave her a dressing down and made her give her name? If she did not recognise him he was probably not a Uni official. He was too chicken to give her his own name so we'll never know eh?

Young people usually have the energy and courage to fight the rot and bull excrement they see all around them. Until the system bullies them into submission that is.

Good luck Nicola, may you do well in your studies and in life!

Mr Pierre Portelli

Oct 6th 2011, 13:58

"I was a student once and I expect nothing less from a student, but to speak her mind and publicly express her protests without fear.

Well said Austin!

anthony attard

Oct 6th 2011, 13:57

you are a girl of grit and gutts, all you did was to stand for yours and other rigthts to have decent time scedules. If the majority of people are proud of democracy then no one should point a finger at you , and keep that courage bubbling . God Bless People Like You.

Mr John Said

Oct 6th 2011, 13:55

This girl got her few minutes of fame.....probably opened new doors for her future (I wounder how come Joseph Muscat has not yet asked her to join the party)........... and with such arrogance....... Austin Gatt must actualy be her hero!!!!!!!!!!! What a free country we have....... if someone did this 30 years ago...........we would have found him dead in some valley!!!!!!!!

Charles Sammut

Oct 6th 2011, 13:55

Well done Nicola!! You should not have wasted your apology to this parasite!!
Pigs will fly before this arrogant creature apologises to anyone! We, the VOTERS should have the balls in 2013 and vote gonziPN and his cohorts like austin and tonio out of running the country and bleeding us dry with their corruption and ineptness!!
It is about time the Maltesers stop their whingeing and moaning and get active by showing this arrogant administration the door to the opposition benches!!

...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......

Maria Rosaria Schembri

Oct 6th 2011, 13:54

MsAbela Gerret

in my opinion Yuo dont have to apologise to anyone what youv done you have to be proud of yourself keep
in mind that nobody had the gatz to follow you

Ian Christie

Oct 6th 2011, 13:54

It’s a bout time ministers and other ppl in public service realize that they are there to serve us , the tax paying public. They are accountable to us ( and not just during the election fury).
This student did what all of us should do. And No apology needed .

D Agius

Oct 6th 2011, 13:53

She gained the respect of many for giving the minister a dose of his own medicine, she lost the respect of a few who felt the minister shouldn't be called a sexual act... I wasn't one of those.

However, this girl has just won back the respect of those who WERE offended by her choice of words. She apologised for her choice of words but not her actions. Many, many people would be too cowardice to show their face again in public after doing what she did. This girl not only gave her name and showed her photo, but also showed humilty where it's due.

I don't know her, but kudos for her actions yesterday and today. If only others had the guts that she has, this country would be in such a better shape.

Mr Anthony Borg

Oct 6th 2011, 13:52

Miss Abela Garrett, if you were our daughter, I would be very proud of you!

You had the moral courage to face an arrogant minister and “tell it to his face” – the great stress we all have been going through these last 3 months- few buses to service all routes, drivers driving like the devil was behind them to meet time schedules, unreasonable routes and WORST of all, NOT KEEPING TO PRINTED SCHEDULES (yes, I know, I am shouting... wish I had the opportunity to “tell it to his face”.

Well done girl.

Ms Kristina Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 13:51

Very well said!!

I liked the part of KSU because most of them enter for political gain and they will be the politicians of tomorrow. Sometimes I get the feeling that they entered KSU to try covering up mistakes by the government.

matthew tanti

Oct 6th 2011, 13:49

go girl!

Mr Lawrence Mifsud

Oct 6th 2011, 13:47

Rest assured that you are not the only one uttering foul language because of the dis-service by Arriva!

Mr R ferriggi

Oct 6th 2011, 13:45

an apology from Gatt?!?!?!?!

u must be joking.

Mr George Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 13:43

"I'm not looking for attention, even if I am reading an Honours degree in Theatre Studies." that is funny, she is quoted she is not looking for attention then she tells the press what she is majoring in. please.

i sympathize with you, even applaud what you did and it shows real humiltiy to publicly apologize but if you're not looking for attention then why quote something like that.

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Oct 6th 2011, 13:42

Well done for speaking your mind and you did not have to apologise if your message was directed at a particular objective.If the objective was reached,apologising signifies retracting on your stand especially if your statement is based on undisputed facts.

IF my country had more people like you, but who stand their ground,this would be a much better country.NEVER APOLOGISE FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS - Cosmic Divinity.

wendy isaac

Oct 6th 2011, 13:42

Well well well the Maltese are not just hard headed and stubburn but are very temperamental with very short temper, its in their genes i guess maybe their local food and the weather has alot to do with it, i think this girl is making a mistake in not apologising to the minister and the people concerned, its a black mark against her CV for any(?) future employment, so she might as well emigrate and start from stratch.
Jean Brian (Mrs) Bristol Uni,

Mr Ronald Cauchi

Oct 6th 2011, 13:41

Good for you girl. This island is full of sacred cows and their sycophants. Its good to see that among the student population there are one or two students who are not impressed by official arrogance and pomposity.

Connie Camilleri

Oct 6th 2011, 13:39

"I just want a bus system that runs on time and doesn't give me a detour all around Malta before I get to my desired destination........Left Birzebbugia at 06:45 and arrived JC @ 08:55 cause we don't have a bus which goes through Msida before it reaches Univerity. Can never get on time for the first lecture if they don't change the routes.

D. A . Agius

Oct 6th 2011, 13:37

I guess the 130 complaints a day involve much more vulgar language than she's used.

And the scores of people on bus stops even more than that

I've been using quite regularly the buses only in the last couple of weeks. So far I have mixed feelings. I can definitely notice however that at least the bus routes I use are quite full most of the times, even at off peak hours.

I've already sent in my comments for that.

I hope that since our dear MP, the Hon. Austin Gatt so much believes that this service is better, he leaves his Jaguar only for occasional stints and instead becomes a regular bus user.

And I hope all cabinet and MPs (even the opposition) to follow suit. In the case of the former, we pay for their fuel. If they can't afford an Arriva ticket with the 500Eur increase, bloody well I'll pay for a couple of them, or better, they could redirect their gas guzzling cars fuel budget to cover their Arriva fees.

In the case of the latter, they can definitely meet up a lot of their constituents this way, not leave us notes at home asking for us to give them a call since we were not at home. We might have well been at the bus stop, better have a chat with them than giving nice wishes to Hon. Gatt!

Anthony Pace

Oct 6th 2011, 13:35

Well done for speaking her mind in front of the minister.

We all want the previous bus routes restored with the ability
1) to get from A to Z in the shortest possible time and
2) in the quickest method available and
3) in the cheapest way possible.

I congratulate this student for saying something others dared not say.

Mr Mark Demicoli

Oct 6th 2011, 13:33

great girl!

E Falzon

Oct 6th 2011, 13:33

Well done Ms Abela Garett

Charles J. Buttigieg

Oct 6th 2011, 13:26

This is all very nice. The story ended somewhat different thanthan that after the outburst against Dr Sant when he visited the students at election time.

Clint Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 13:25

Did we get any apologise for all the tax money that was spend for nothing? did austin gatt do anything to fix it without spending lots of more tax money on it ? NO. So why should she apologise to him?

Mr M Mamo

Oct 6th 2011, 13:22

1. On time for lectures? From Attard to Naxxar you WERE NOT going to lectures, University is in MSIDA
2. Attard have a direct route - you are arguing? what should others who have none do?
3. You are probably the only one to use the stipend on university stuff ... everyone I know uses stipend for his weekend outings (PV etc...) a 600 euros maintenance grant is more than enough for uni stuff...

Drama Queen ...

Victor Cordina

Oct 6th 2011, 13:22

If it is any consolation you are not alone. I use the direct bus from Zejtun (Ta Ganza) to Valletta. This bus is very eratic and frequently does not turn up. Once (at Valletta) it did turn up but went into the wrong bay and then reversed and left without picking up any passengers and leaving us stranded. This all in the presence of Arriva Dispatcher who told him that he was in the wrong bay. When the Dispatcher saw this he just walked away. Do not blame it all on traffic. The traffic is there because we still lack a decent service

Mr Peter Agius

Oct 6th 2011, 13:22

I speak for myself. Your apology is not accepted.

Mr S Cachia

Oct 6th 2011, 13:21

Ms Abela Garrett, you needn't apologise for your actions. You vented a whole nation's frustration. Well done. If only we had politicians who had your courage and guts, and not the crappy "Yes, Sir!" polititians we have. Once again, well done and wish you well in your studies!

And dear Minister Gatt, please do us all a favour and resign.... you aren't worthy to receive 100th of our salary let alone an increase of 500 eur weekly...

John Spiteri

Oct 6th 2011, 13:19

Well done Ms Abela Garrett, I must agree to most things you said about the new bus system, needless to say that 95% of the general public agrees with you, but when in argument somebody uses bad language than that person has lost credibility of the argument. But also can understand your frustration.
Next election time make your vote counts, even if you vote for the green party.

john muscat

Oct 6th 2011, 13:13

Go and padlock yourselves, you and your fellow students to Castille railings as it was used to be, otherwise you will be IGNORED.

C Galea

Oct 6th 2011, 13:07

Nicola You got my 100% support if everyone was like you .But I feel that one day you will pay dearly for what you did

Mr ADRIAN GRECH

Oct 6th 2011, 13:04

"I am in no way a gutter girl "
Your actions showed otherwise

Mr Joe Micallef

Oct 6th 2011, 13:03

Nicola

I called you a "kumidjanta" on these blogs – I apologise.

I was unduly fast to react, particularly because my main aggravation was against the heroine label, attributed by others, which I am sure you were not after.

Whislt I do not agree with your generalisation on the bus service I do not at all mind, actually I support your freedom to voice your concerns.

Mr George Calleja

Oct 6th 2011, 13:02

Ms.Abela Garrett nghidlek prosit li ghazilt il-kors ghall 'Theatre Studies' ghax veru tajba ghal fuq il-palk! Ghamilt 'show' u irnexxielek tohloq kjass ma shabek u ma min qara l-gazzetti u ra t-TV il-bierah. Ibqa sejra hekk u malajr jingaggak xi Fellini jew De Laurentis!!

JOSEPHINE BORG

Oct 6th 2011, 12:57

Nicole I admire you for speaking your mind - even if your words might fall on conveniently deaf ears. I also admire you for apologising - it takes a strong person to do so anyway. Hurling insults at someone who never admits mistakes should not be considered arrogant at all.....so go have a good sleep as other people do without batting an eyelid, forgetting that more than three quarters of Malta's commuters have been enduring frustration and disgust since 3rd July when ARRIVA arrived (sic !!!)......and threw us non-car owners into complete shambles. Good luck

R. Gauci

Oct 6th 2011, 12:47

After these apologies he'll surely sleep better tonight.

A Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 12:39

Nicole - you spoke the minds of thousands - I admire your guts - (though not the language)..hopefully you are left in peace and not harassed and maybe Dr Gatt will truly listen to the frustration people have to live with daily...

M Muscat

Oct 6th 2011, 12:34

PROSIT... Ms Nicola Abela Garrett.

jesmond zammit

Oct 6th 2011, 12:34

l atitudni li l ministru wera , huwa iktar gravi mill lingwagg li ntuza min dit tfajla

Mr JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Oct 6th 2011, 12:34

We need more like you Nicola....

Robert Caruana

Oct 6th 2011, 12:33

"I'm not looking for attention, even if I am reading an Honours degree in Theatre Studies


VERY VERY CLEAR...... SHE IS JUST LOOKING FOR EXPOSURE TO GET HOLD OF SOME JOB.

She is so vulgar.

Mr Tony Gatt

Oct 6th 2011, 12:32

Swearing is usually a sign of a limited vocabulary. I hope Ms. Garrett takes that on board, whatever the provocation.

Mr Michael Buhagiar

Oct 6th 2011, 12:30

I commend this student for apologising for her bad and foul language. She has a right to take up the issue with the Transport Minister regarding the transport problem. It is a problem even for the Minister. And I am sure that the Minister will take this in his stride and invite this student to discuss her complaints with him. Minister Gatt is a gentleman with a heart of gold. People especially students must never stoop so low with foul language when their complaints are just and truthful. May it be a lesson to one and all and to all those who made a hero out of her. She is no hero. Just a normal person who feels and speaks her mind. Where it another party in government she would have been savagely beaten and sent to prison. But this government is not insensitive and wihtout a heart, like the GWU wants us to believe.

Charles Sammut

Oct 6th 2011, 12:30

next time do not use foul language Nicola...you should have taken a basket full of rotten eggs and over ripe tomatoes!!
Good on you girl, at least you had the guts which most of the islanders lack !!!

..and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on.....

michelle agius

Oct 6th 2011, 12:27

very well said and hope for all our sakes there would be some improvement.

Ms pamela hansen

Oct 6th 2011, 12:26

Brava Nicola

Ms Maria Mizzi

Oct 6th 2011, 12:24

Your message was loud and clear all right Ms. Abela Garrett. Pity that the person it's addressed to is too arrogant to take it. I wish more university students were like you. Go girl - and watch your back from now on.

Francis Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 12:23

Li kien l-Arroganti Ministru Gatt jiehu ezempju minnek Ms Abela Garrett ! Ibqa certa li xi darba jew ohra rasu kulhadd jitlifa. L-importanti fil-hajja hi li tkun kapaci tghid li zbaljajt. Is-suppervja m'hawnx ghar minnha.

Elena Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 12:23

I am sorry but if a person can't understand simple English then some thign stronger is definitely called for. What I can't understand is why no one holding an official protest re him still being in office after this fiasco. We are just lambs following what the wolves tell us, how can we expect anything to change.

Mr Andrew Scicluna

Oct 6th 2011, 12:22

The bus system seems that it will not recover quickly from this bad situation, the management for the coordination of the new transport lack feedback and have no idea on the transport system.
They need to travel themselves on the new routes and experience the extra suffering situations encountered by those using the transport.
The message is very clear you have to have your own transport to travel in Malta.
More private vehicles will keep being purchased until we will have some form of reliable efficient transport system.
The busses and drivers are very good and well done for their effort but Shame for all those who were involved in the new bus routes system.
I sympathise with the student she must have been very frustrated , hope something will be done to improve the public transport routes.

Christian Sciberras

Oct 6th 2011, 12:12

My thought, you won't receive neither an apology, nor any kind of action.

I think at your age, you should know how things go around in Malta:- someone has to die before terribly built roads are rebuilt.

With the same reasoning, I'd say Malta needs to end up in a good economic depression before inefficiencies get tackled.

Deo Catania

Oct 6th 2011, 12:10

"Ms Abela Garrett said she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister." Would like to know who this bully is. Most probably he wants to be on top of the list in Gonzipn's good books. Knowing how things work under Gonzipn nothing will change. Can the KSU members who appoached Ms Abela explain why they didn't like their behaviour? I think what they did not like was not her behaviour but rather the fact that they think Gonzipn & Co are untouchable and no one should dare speak the truth. Hopefully Gonzipn's time will soon run out sooner than later, we're fed up of you all.

Mr Kevin Zammit

Oct 6th 2011, 12:01

This lady speaks for the majority of bus commuters! The arrogance of this minister thats supposed to be there to serve the people is just too much for any sane person!

Karl Abela

Oct 6th 2011, 11:59

One thing is for sure Nicola, you just ruined your chances for a career because no one wants to employ some one as bad tempered as you.

Oh, and what’s your complaint about giving your identity? If you are going to insult someone then you have to own not hide like a coward.

Don’t get me wrong, your complaints are justified, but you can rest assured that as you grow up you will find out that this complaint is just a drop in the ocean. You will learn how to deal with them in a civilized manner.

PS: Austin Gatt might not look handsome for you, but I can assure you that he has moved the country miles ahead were Information Technology infrastructures and communications systems are concerned. Before him, while you were still in you baby nappies, Malta was a third world country in this respect. The arriva project is a private venture so you might want to insult its CEO. Austin Gatt cannot do much now other than making sure that the penalties in the Arriva contract are imposed.

Wayne Dimech

Oct 6th 2011, 11:55

Well Done!! We need more people like Ms. Abela Garrett. Where is the freedom of speech in Malta? How come you cannot even do your complaint to the concerned minister! Last July, when Arriva had just begun, they were receiving thousands of complaints a day. After 3 weeks they told us that on 11th Sept 2011 the service will be as it should be. It’s 6th Oct 2011 and the service is the same as it was last July or slightly …slightly better. But as Ms. Abela said, it’s a SHAME that you have to wait for 2 Hrs on the Bus Stop when it should pass every 40 min.

Paul Micallef

Oct 6th 2011, 11:55

Imbasta niftahru li qeghdin f demokrazija! Kollu dahq fil wicc! Heddewha ghax ghandha l istipendju!

Mr Edward Mallia

Oct 6th 2011, 11:55

A slightly odd character is our Ms. Garrett. After having enough backbone -- a material not much in evidence at UoM -- to tell off Minister Augustine Gatt in language he richly deserves, she then complains that 'she was forced to give her name to a stranger...' How was she 'forced', particularly as this 'stranger' did not first give his name, rank and serial number? Is there a CID presence on campus? Was the presence of this 'stranger' on campus known to the Rector, or to the KSU and the writers of its 90-page report? Is this'stranger' involved in providing stipends for students? And are stipends meant to get students to think ten times before saying anything non-complementary to any minister, most particularly to one who wears his brash manner on his sleave?

G. Ellul

Oct 6th 2011, 11:55

Let's hope that when she comes to her finals, she'll make it to the University in time. Apart for the foul language for which she has now apologised, the man in the street knows pretty well that she's right.
This is not exactly Libya or Yemen, but I wouldn't like to see this incident having even any influence on her examiners, as has been implied by some comments in The Times yesterday and by the fact that her particulars have been noted. Who was this "stranger" who took her particulars, may we ask?
One may recall similar incidents in the past involving insults hurled at politicians addressing University students. What action had been taken by the University bigwigs then?

Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior

Oct 6th 2011, 11:53

For Goodness sake, can’t Arriva just stick to its own time-table?

If Arriva cannot just stick to its time-table, then there must be something wrong with its logistics!

Common sense tells me that Arriva has to put more buses on the road.

One does not need to be a rocket-scientist or an Einstein to solve this so-called problem!

MORE BUSES ON THE ROAD!

JC.

Anthony Mifsud Bonnici Giordani

Oct 6th 2011, 11:52

You do not have to excuse yourself because you were instigated to talk like that. Everyone should speak out when things bad happens. The minister should excuse himself for letting down the maltese commuters. Forbid me ever to use the ARRIVA because it is a failure all the way. Maltese are with you for you were absolutely right to react like you did.

E Falzon

Oct 6th 2011, 11:50

well done Ms Abela Garett !! and good luck with ur studies

Catherine Mifsud

Oct 6th 2011, 11:50

Hats off to you Nicola, for speaking your mind. Lets face facts here, you have only said what hundreds of people are thinking and I am sure quite a few of those , would use your same words if thay had the opportunity to speak to Austin Gatt face to face !!!! You have made a public apology and fair play to you for doing so but please do not hold your breath for Mr Gatt's apology " to the Maltese bus commuters for his disastrous attempt to reform the bus system and his selfish attitude towards the 130 complaints Arriva and TM have been receiving daily."...you will not get one....as he himself said he is not losing any sleep over this.

Victor Vella

Oct 6th 2011, 11:48

Now you are talking my dear, yes speak out your mind by all means , and keep on complaining till the system(if ever ) is as required.

Michael Seychell

Oct 6th 2011, 11:46

Ms. Abela Garret should thank her stars that her stunt did not happen under a Labour Government, as otherwise she would not live her full day yesterday.

Having said this I admire her for realising the mistake she did when she used foul language and for apologising for her mistake.

Regarding her comments on the public transport service, albeit I do not use it myself very often, I feel that she did well to air her views as she did, and I want to add that despite recent positive changes made, there is much more pruning to be done by Transport Malta in order that Arriva will reach the expected service the people deserve.

Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta

FRANS H SAID

Oct 6th 2011, 11:46

You might have overdone it, but you did well to vent your frustration. The bulk of commurters are suffering due to the pig-headedness and arrogance of one single person - and of the PM, his cabinet and the PN members of parliament who are TERRIFIED to go against il supremo and his hidden backers.

Mr ALBERT FENECH

Oct 6th 2011, 11:44

Dear Ms Abela Garrett, please rest assured that you accurately voiced the irate sentiments of many, many thousands of frustrated people throughout Malta and Gozo. The very few who are expressing shock and outrage are merely doing so to try and gain come political mileage from the incident. There is a limit to everybody's patience and when that limit is exceeded, the boiler explodes. A person would not be human if it were otherwise. I have read your comments carefully and I am sure you have a magnificent career ahead of you as a studious and cultured member of society. Very best wishes for your future.

ALBERT FENECH
Qawra

Francis Saliba M.D.

Oct 6th 2011, 11:43

A most lady-like and mature apology as is to be expected from any worthy student in our Alma Mater - not the flood of disgusting politically motivated incitement from so many commenters to use vulgarity instead of a dignified protest.

Mr mario scerri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:40

Nicola ma kellekx ghalfejn tiskuza ruhek int m ghett xejn hazin iktar w iktar meta tqis kemm hu arroganti Austin Gatt.

Ms C. Dimech

Oct 6th 2011, 11:37

Darling wake up earlier and make up for the travelling time. That is what we drivers do to make up for traffic, we don't wait outside ministries to shout obscenities at a minister. Your choice of action does not prove that you are not a gutter girl, on the contrary, someone who choses to relate that way to someone in authority no matter what her justification may be, must be a gutter girl

Mr John Azzopoardi

Oct 6th 2011, 11:36

Ingrateful student of course for getting everything on the cheap..........stipend, allowances, etc etc. Those are today's youths. Did anyone take her breathylizer.

Mr Joseph N. Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 11:34

I commend this girl for her honesty. Where I still employing people, she would be around the top of the list.

Gordon Swain

Oct 6th 2011, 11:34

Hemm bzonn li titlob apologija???? Jien manafx kif ma jisthux jitmejjlu bin-nies f'wicchom. Mr Gatt ma nahsibx li hija 'NO PROBLEM' naraw lil gheziez ANZJANI taghna fix-xita, f'xemx tikwi u fl-elementi kollha tan-natura jaghmlu saghtejn jistennew fuq stage. Ma nahsibx li hija No Problem u ghalfejn hadulha isimha ghax tat l-opinjoni taghha, mela spicca zmien id-djalogu u xoghol, gustizzja u liberta.

Paul Giordimaina

Oct 6th 2011, 11:33

To talk like that you must be a gutter girl youy know the dirty word so isw not making you a saint.t

Malcolm Mifsud

Oct 6th 2011, 11:32

You have nothing to apologise for, everyone's being pushed too far. I've been 35 minutes late for work these last three days because of overcrowded buses and traffic congestions. I would have done worse than that if it had been me.

Brian Gatt

Oct 6th 2011, 11:32

Well Done .......you are a girl with a lot more cohones then most of your male counterparts !!!!!

I sincerely hope that you will be left to study in peace

Tonio Farrugia

Oct 6th 2011, 11:31

Ms. Abela Garrett, i am moved by your passion for 'school'!.... for sure your stunt has managed to give you exposure!

having said that... i do agree in principle with the message being passed on. Now we are dealing with a business enterprise (Arriva) and they should act commercially and responsibly. We should get value for what we are paying...

Vincent Bezzina

Oct 6th 2011, 11:31

They should apologies to the student for bringing her and the rest of us to this point.

Darren Muscat

Oct 6th 2011, 11:24

There was no need for an apology. They seem to be playing around with our standard of living, freedom and now our own time. So those 2 rude words she said were VERY WELL DESERVED!!! Well done!!!

Ms B Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 11:24

Nispera li ma kinitx irrikattata bxi mod biex ghamlet din l-apologija. Ghandha hafna ragun u is-servizz ta l-arriva huwa veru moqziez. Jigi jghid li kien eccellenti fin-notte bianca. Jekk platt tajn u hmieg ta l-art tqisu ikel eccellenti mela is-servizz ta l-arriva eccellenti ukoll.

Ma qaltlu xejn hazin. Veru imissu jisthi, anzi il-vera qazzez id-dinja bl-attitudni pastaza tieghu u kiesha. Ma nafx min huma in-nies li ghandhom simpatija lejh u li jivvutawlu. Bniedem arroganti bhal dak. Kemm imissu jitlob apologija hu mela telli flok samahha u sema l-ilmenti twal ghal xhur shah tan-nies jigi jirrispondi no problem. No problem taf meta, meta titlaq lhemm u malta tehles minnu ghax hlief hsara ma ghamilx wistin gatt. Imissu jisthi. Poplu imdejjaq u maghffeg u hu u shabu fuq il-pultruni jieklu minn fuq darna. Taf ghalfejn taghmlu hekk imma ghax il-poplu igerger biss jaf.

Mr Maria Camilleri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:23

KSU what on earth are you doing?

Vince Tonna

Oct 6th 2011, 11:22

Ghaziza Nicole

Kemm ghandna bzonn nies bhalek li ma jibzghux jitkellmu. Il-pajjiz ghandu bzonn hafna li jisma' s-suggerimenti u l-kritika taghna c-cittadini.

David Spiteri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:20

Agree weit her 100 % - Mr austin you should be ashamed - to drive from home to St Julian's today which usually atke around 30 minutes i spent 1 hour 15 minutes!!!! and why because people are not using arriva!!!!

Tal misthija!

Mr W Cassar

Oct 6th 2011, 11:18

A big thumbs up.... Well Said!

David Camilleri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:17

Well done for Ms. Garrett to speak her mind to Minister Gatt who is the main reason for all the suffering and pain he is causing to Maltese commuters. AS she has apologized to this Minister, it is now to the Minister to apologize as well - I concur with Ms. Garrett. Obviously, he will not - he is too arrogant.

Mark Seychell

Oct 6th 2011, 11:14

Don't let ANYONE ever stop you from speaking your mind. Not the Minister, not the University, not the KSU, nor God himself. Thankfully we live in a world where free speech is not only accepted, but is paramount.

Marilyn Attard

Oct 6th 2011, 11:13

Well Done

Joseph M. Saliba

Oct 6th 2011, 11:11

Dear Nicola,

You are worth your salt I mean monthly stipend. You have been an example of the other students inluding those of KSU who are supposed to represent the students and defend their rights but they serve as smoke-screens to please the man in the jag. Do not take notice if you are threatened by some ministerial nobody. Please let him enjoy his perks for the time being.


Joseph M. Saliba

Lino Busuttil

Oct 6th 2011, 11:10

Well said, way to go girl!

John Borg

Oct 6th 2011, 11:09

Continue studying Theatre studies, thanks to a nationalist government, which includes Austin Gatt. We'd rather have another 20 years of what Labour calls arrogance but have prosperity, freedom and choice. Under labour, you'd have been arrested and taken to court by now.. and returned to hospital under arrest as the ministers thugs would have had a tete a tete with you before you'd be picked up by the police. That was labour and that's how we'll be again.

Mr Tommy Vella

Oct 6th 2011, 11:09

Prosit to Ms Abela Garrett.

All of us make mistakes but it takes great character to apologise, and so publicly, which was right since the offence was very public.

Joe Gatt

Oct 6th 2011, 11:08

My assesments. 100%.

Well Done and keep it up.

Stanley Colombo

Oct 6th 2011, 11:08

It's sad and pretty pathetic that a twenty-year old student gets told off with a thesis-long report for saying two words (which although vulgar are standard practice today) but no-one got blamed for the disastrous mistakes by Arriva!

To this lady I say, I do not know you in any way, but I urge you to hold on to your stakes - and even though I acknowledge, like yourself, that your way was not the best one in voicing your complaint (after all even forwarding it decently will not have got you anywhere in this corrupt, partisan-driven society), I fully sympathize with you. You should not be sorry for giving your name to the anonymous (I wonder why)gentleman who asked for it: you have nothing to be ashamed of or hide, not anymore than Arriva anyway.

As regards the stipend, I cannot see the connection between the lady's lack of appreciation and this incident.

Mr J Xerri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:07

So some one tried to intimidate -"was forced to give her name" - this student for speaking out her mind. What kind of force was used? Is this going to be investigated?

Dominic Sant

Oct 6th 2011, 11:05

Well said and well done Nicola, I am sure that your behaviour (language) can be excused, all those who spend hours every day waiting for the bus will understand it. The fact that you apologized shows that it was indeed an outburst caused by months of frustration and anger.

Joe A. Borg

Oct 6th 2011, 11:05

A truly humble person, wish I would say the same to the Hon. Minister, but then, how many poeple have the luxuary of being driven around and a 500 euro weekly pay increase!!

Good luck Nikola, even though I do not know you personnally.

Mr Ethelbert Schembri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:04

Lady you surely have nothing to apologize to no one ... on the other hand we must thank you for voicing our pain and anger in a very polite manner... That individual deserves much worse !!

Thanks sunshine :-)

Mr A Spiteri

Oct 6th 2011, 11:04

why apologies for the use of 'inappropriate' language?!

as someone pointed out yday, that might be the only language that someone arrogant as Austin Gatt understands!

Fran Abela

Oct 6th 2011, 11:03

If I were worried about missing lectures or appointments - I would get up an hour or two earlier to make sure I get there on time. Delays due to traffic and otherwise occur every day especially during peak hours so whats new. One of the lessons in life should be the ability to cope with a problem and find a solution - not expecting anyone to do it for me or keep on complaining ad nauseum. I know there are problems with the bus service and hopefully sooner than later these will be addressed and finally all commuters will be happy - or will they ??

Kendrick Bondin

Oct 6th 2011, 11:01

I truly admire her. Well spoken & honest. Politicians should learn great lesson from her; they should apologise when need be for their intentional or unintentional mistakes.

Ms Abela taught everyone what respect is all about & what freedom of speech is.

Well done & best of luck for your studies.

Fran Abela

Oct 6th 2011, 11:00

I think Ms. Abela Garrett is protesting too much about her outburst. If she is so sure that her comments are valid she should round up all the students who are going through the same problem and protest in a civilised and orderly manner outside the Ministry for Transport.

Franco Farrugia

Oct 6th 2011, 10:59

'My behaviour was uncalled for and I can assure you, I am in no way a gutter girl.'
Not a 'gutter girl'? Well, that's what came across to us, from the way you behaved yesterday. Nobody is telling you you were wrong in facing the Minister, and most probably you are quite right in being angry, ... but certainly not in that fashion and with that 'gutter' language. At University, the first thing you should have learned is that there is a time and a place for everything.
Just thank your lucky stars you're living in 2011 and not in some other year not very far back!

Mr Victor vella

Oct 6th 2011, 10:56

For your stipend give thanks to Mintoff and the labour party. If these cwiec M altin give another chance to this regime student`s stipends will be ZERO. And the university will again be the monopoly of few wealthy elites as it was during the past nationalists eras.

Wayne Dimech

Oct 6th 2011, 10:56

Well Done!! We need more people like Ms. Abela Garrett. Where is the freedom of speech in Malta? How come you cannot even do your complaint to the concerned minister! Last July, when Arriva had just begun, they were receiving thousands of complaints a day. After 3 weeks they told us that on 11th Sept 2011 the service will be as it should be. It’s 6th Oct 2011 and the service is the same as it was last July or slightly …slightly better. But as Ms. Abela said, it’s a SHAME that you have to wait for 2 Hrs on the Bus Stop when it should pass every 40 min.

Mr marco caruana

Oct 6th 2011, 10:54

''''''she was forced to give her name to a stranger who afterwards approached her and gave her a good telling-off for insulting the minister.''''''''

xieraq aqas jaf jikteb ismu dal puppatur !!