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Monday, February 6, 2012, 15:09

Update 2: Bus incident - Driver loses his job and ends up in court

LGBT Labour calls for modern law against hate crime

Last updated at 4.52 p.m.

An off duty bus driver who was involved in an incident with a passenger on a bus last Friday is now no longer employed by the company, Arriva said this afternoon.

The bus driver, who was in uniform, was returning home when he was involved in the incident in Floriana.

A video of the incident was shown on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3WnUmphHrI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Arriva said the incident was immediately investigated by its officials and the police.

The video shows how an argument started on a bus and continued outside. The young woman ended up on the ground.

Arriva condemned what had taken place.

"We have a zero tolerance policy for violence and a very clear diversity policy," a spokesman for the company said.

People who commented on the incident said this may have been a case of homophobia.

DRIVER TAKEN TO COURT

Meanwhile the driver has been taken to court and accused of having tried to cause serious injury on two young women, aged 21 and 17.

He was also accused of having caused slight injury, disrupted public order and broken the conditions of a previous release and probation.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000. Inspector Kylie Borg prosecuted.

LABOUR CALLS FOR LAW CHANGE

LGBT Labour said this appeared to have been another attack on a gay couple, following closely on a similar incident in Hamrun. It said legislation was urgently needed to deter such hate crime. Such legislation would then lead to a change of mentality, spokesman Cyrus Engerer said in a statement.

He also called for legislation that recognises gay couples.

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276 Comments

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C Muscat

Feb 8th, 10:29

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti x ghandha x taqsam il-knisja. Id-dicenza hi tajba anke civilment u ma min ma jemmen b xejn. Ergajt smajt il-video u ma tantx deher kollox sew...iz zewg nahat attakkaw lil xulxin u kif beda kull ma smajt jghidilhom biex igibu ruhhom sew...x hemm hazin li wiehed igib ruhu sew...il-vjolenza kienet miz-zewg nahat u kont inressaqhom lil kulhadd u tiddeciedi l-qorti ghax ta l-inqas dehru jiksru l-paci pubblika u dehru jattakkaw lil xulxin..naghlaq billi nghid li l-vjolenza ma hi tajba qatt.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 8th, 16:46

@ C Muscat.

In such incidents it has been the common practice of the local police to charge all involved litigants indiscriminately and to leave the matter in the hands of the law courts to decide. I am mystified by the different procedure adopted in this case and can only suppose that the homosexual fraternity is being accorded special privileged treatment so as not to ruffle the feathers of their pressure group.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 8th, 08:35

Welcome to the Middle Ages. Brought to you courtesy the one holy roman catholic church. No wonder sociologists find some Maltese interesting.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 8th, 09:37

If you had any knowledge of history you would know the difference between the Dark Age and the Middle Ages, you would appreciate the fact that the situation in Malta today is nowhere near that of the Middle Ages and that the Roman Catholic Church survived through the Middle Ages but it did not create it.

Mike Hunt

Feb 8th, 12:07

But hardly has it moved on since ...

Lena Hahn

Feb 8th, 15:24

Yes, I'm sure it is very Catholic to blaspheme and invite people (women, no less) to a fight...

Think before you type.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 8th, 16:39

@ Mike Hunt.

If you insist that the Catholic Church administration of its affairs today is the same as that of the Middle Ages then you too are are showing an ignorance of ecclesiastical hisotry - and don't ask me to teach that to any anticlerical commenter who does not want to remove his blinkers.

@ Lena Hahn.

It is YOUR howler, not mine, to attribute to official Catholicism any blasphemy or violence whether committed by males or by females. It is you who should make the effort to think before you type.

Carmel Vella

Mar 30th, 00:51

Count yourself lucky not to have been around in the middle ages. The Inquisitor had the powers of the Pope
To confiscate property and stretch you on a rack, and have you tied to a pole in public and have you burned.
Look at the wealth of the then popes, not mention their boyfriends, mistresses etc.
I'll take today any day.

Erika Azzopardi

Feb 7th, 23:14

@ david caruana: you are not living in a world where there is one race. as everyone knows, malta is full of other different cultures - some people might like it some people might not. there is nothing wrong in hugging and showing the person you love him/her, but there's a limit of what can be done in public! allahares kulhadd jaghmel hekk fil pubbliku! and another thing, im not pointing my finger at certain sexes, im generalizing so for you to understand better im talking about normal people (man and women) and gays :)

@Jo Grima: Personally i think that its stupid to do it in public when i know that other people feel uncomfortable about it, and i say again any kind of sexual orientation. if u dont respect your surroundings, then im sorry to say you are selfish and know nothing about respecting others :) plus u just said everyone has the right to say do whatever they want, so in this case, take back the last part of your comment and stop judging my comment :) thank you

Mr C Busuttil

Feb 7th, 21:23

So we judge through a video that has been edited purposely. The person who took this video certainly did not record all the scene otherwise he or she would have known before hand what was about to happen ? Which I don't think is the case. Therefore the story must have begun a little earlier.

Besides lesbian girls should stop challenging men to fights, I already have twice witnessed with my own eyes such kind of attitude with the end results being quite painful for these girls. They could neither claim they happened to be the victims as they got what they deserved and invited on themselves. Probably they did so to show off with their girlfriends, look what a man I am and so on ......when in reality they are not and will never stand a chance with a male.

J Debrincat

Feb 7th, 19:46

@mr stanley no I am not saying they were right to jump the queue and am not commenting on that. What I am saying is it is wrong to act with force. Do you condone that behaviour?

Pauline Abela

Feb 8th, 07:32

Sometimes, force is the only option - otherwise one will forever be a sitting duck.

Had Mr Cuschiri grabbed the other man because he was having a bad day and wanted to take it out on someone then, that would have been wrong, however, if he's waiting for a bus at 9pm and someone else jumps the queue with the consequence that Mr Cuschieri (who was there first) was going to miss the bus, then I see nothing wrong with it.

If the bus was empty and the other guy got on first and got a 'better' seat (even though I think that's wrong) then I don't see any need for any grabbing but if the story is correct - I don't see anything wrong with what Mr C did.

Jessica Camilleri

Feb 7th, 17:49

zgur li l intenzjoni tieghu ma kinitx dik li jaqla' l-glied, hu ried biss jigbed l attenzjoni taghhom, imbaghad spiccat kif spiccat. ghalkemm ma niggustifikax l azzjoni tad-driver, ma nahsibx li ghandna nitfghu daqshekk htija fuqu, ghaliex wara kollox certu attitudnijiet ma ghandhomx issiru fil pubbliku, la minn koppja straight u lanqas minn koppja gay. ghalkemm ghandi dubju kbir jekk kienx jigbed l attenzjoni ta xi koppja 'normali'.

Anthony Girard

Feb 7th, 17:27

@Alfred Grech

So you think that showing "affection" un public should be discouraged by throwing punches.

Let's have that Law before this country really goes to the dogs

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 8th, 09:07

This country HAS gone to the dogs if there are many people who agree that public transport users should not object politely to provokative sex behaviour on public buses and if they dare to complain civilly they should accept to be insulted and assaulted by a foul mouthed Lesbian harriodan and that they should lose their job and be prosecuted for failing to resist the temptation of reacting in kind.

ivan sciberras

Feb 7th, 16:43

Can someone enlighten me as to what is the "age of consent" in Malta? I understand that one of the women is 21, while the other is 17. Here in the U.S., anyone caught doing anything inappropriate with a minor would end up behind the slammer, even if the act were considered "consensual."

Alfred Grech

Feb 7th, 16:32

Gay or straight, no one should over do it with showing "affection" in public. They should go to their homes and do what they want to do. Smooching and fondling in public is not acceptable behavior and perhaps the bus driver was more interested in saveguading the decency that should be displayed on buses than his own personal feelings.

He should not lose his job but instead thanked for standing up to the behaviour of two irresponsible adults.

Jo Grima

Feb 7th, 17:50

Alfred, Can you tell me of one instance that a heterosexual couple got bashed for showing their affection in public ??

Alfred Grech

Feb 8th, 13:01

Jo I can't tell you of any that were published on Times but I've heard of complaints when they over do it. Some like to show off and there is no room for such a behaviour in public especially if there are children around.

M. Cuschieri

Feb 7th, 13:37

I would like to share a story with you about a personal experience which happened about 3 years ago! I was waiting for the bus at sliema round 9 pm and on the same stage there was a maltese man and two men with African origins (i couldnt tell their nationalities) which joined the cue after me and the other man. As soon the bus arrived (and it was obvious that there wasn t place for us 4) they ran towards it, at the same time the bus driver called out ''Only Two!!!''. I was so pissed off, so i pulled one of them from his shirt and got up on the bus (cause i was there BEFORE). This caused like a ''CHEMICAL REACTION'' on the bus as people started shouting at me cause i was agressive, also a lady started shouting at me that they have rights too altough they are black and even called me a RACCIST. I too have some rights ....I think!! So I tried to explain myself but none gave a hack about me until the other man which was waiting on the same stage started shouting at the lady that we were before so we had the right to go on the bus!!

I dont want to judge the off duty busdriver or the two ladies but in my opinion he should have been only suspended by Arriva and wait for the court to give the sentence!! Also the video picks up somewhere in the middle of the fight so i think it is not right to judge on it. Also we have to take in consideration that when people are talking it is normal and we dont take notice!! We only tend to pick up a story when voices are getting louder but the begining is also essential!!

J Debrincat

Feb 7th, 15:10

Well done to the people on that bus! it sounds like you behaved aggressively and I wonder how you would have reacted had they been Maltese. Civilised people do not have the right to start pulling people by their clothes off the bus so I am glad and proud that people on that bus stood up against you and gave you a public dressing down.

Colin Stanley

Feb 7th, 17:38

@ J. Debrincat. So are you saying that they had a right to jump the queue. What would you have done? please reply.

Fleur Spiteri

Feb 7th, 20:00

It is very true that this is a newspaper in English and most comments, if not all are in English.....but please, if you cannot write or speak proper English then please write in Maltese. Or at least spell check before you send !

M. Cuschieri

Feb 7th, 20:33

@J Debricat. I wonder what civilised people do in your opinion! I was civil, I waited and they rudely enough tried to jump the queue. If I would have acted differently, calmly stating that I was there before they would have paid the fair and i would have been called off the bus. I wonder what you do in such situations!?

If they would have been Maltese i would have acted the same and most probably I would have ended on youtube with a video titled ''ONLY IN MALTA'' or ''MALTESE PEOPLE A BIG LOL'' with many comments about Maltese people! When in a story there is people of diffrenet cultures, sexual orientations or religious opinions, people always try to find an excuse for their actions and accuse others. For example in your comment you said nothing about them cutting the queue

Pauline Abela

Feb 8th, 06:24

@ J Debrincat. So M Cuschieri should just grin and bear it? I don't think so. I do not try to take advantage of others. Therefore, if I happen to be waiting in a queue, and someone else jumps me, I don't care whether whoever it is, is white, brown, black or purple, (Mike Tyson and a few others excepted for obvious reasons!), I'd certainly be speaking up and if that doesn't work, I'll be doing my best to get to the spot that is rightfully mine.

@ Fluer Spiteri - So if you cannot come up with a good argument against M Cuschiri's reasoning, you think you should attack his English??

Zagroma Savrene

Feb 7th, 13:25

I'd never hit a woman first, but If a woman uses violence on me for no reason i won't hesitate to retaliate and remind her she has the strength of a female.

Robert Camilleri

Feb 7th, 12:12

ara vera pajjiz tal mickey mouse jien lid driver ma nafux u l anqas it tfajliet!! imma vera qieghdin sew eh ghax id driver kien dicenti u waqqafom wehel kollox hu!! allura ghax tkun ragel u b l uniformi jistghu jigu fuqek u jtuk bil ponn, jigirfuk, joffenduk u int ma tista taghmel xejn u dan kollu ghax tfajliet!! le qeghdin sew eh

I Bugeja

Feb 7th, 13:41

il video u l artiklu rajtu?

Driver isuq kien u isuq baqa izda kien hemm driver iehor ta l arriva fuq dik il bus li kien sejjer id dar. Dan ta l ahhar li qala l inkwiet.

Fimta issa jew trid inpengilek stampa?

A Caruana

Feb 7th, 14:09

I agree with you 100 percent Mr Camilleri. Indecent acts in public should not be done by no one even a straight couple. I pity the driver because I don't think he acted stupidly, he saw something that was against public morals and stopped them. And what if there were children in this bus, i would not be happy to let them watch indecent acts. Once i witnessed myself while waiting in a queue and the children stared at this gay couple. What shall i tell my children that this is ok now? We are becoming a country where everything is allowed - drugs, guns, knives etc. We have become too lenient, everyone wants to rule the world.

Christina Pace

Feb 7th, 14:43

u tista tghidli xkienu qieghdin jaghmlu tant hazin li b'din id-decenza kollha kellu iwaqqafhom anke jekk bil-vjolenza? Tini risposta decenti u sura ta nies jekk ghandek il-hila!

Colin Stanley

Feb 7th, 17:46

We heard voices on the recording .one male voice was saying Behave yourselves on the bus, and he was right, what happened after we don't know,you have to be crazy to hit someone ,for nothing. we also heard a woman's voice calling him names, is that right or can he sue her.

C Muscat

Feb 7th, 11:50

Kulhadd jidher gej bhal wardens ....xoghol biss meta u ghalxiex huma off duty..... pulizija waqt l-off ipprova jzomm l-ordni ; jaqla xebgha u jitkecca..... dan ix-xufier ipprova jzomm id-dicenza; jispicca bla xoghol.
Jien kontra kull vjolenza anke jekk ipprovokat pero f'kull kaz inressaq il-qorti kull naha u tiddeciedi l-qorti biex kulhadd ikollu cans jiddefendi lilu nnifsu u mhux tkun hati qabel is-sentenza.

K Cauchi

Feb 7th, 12:05

C. Muscat why are you commenting when you dont know the actual facts? My girlfriend was on this bus in the time of this incident and he was the one being rude in the first place , the girls were just trying to protect themselves. kullhadd bravu biex jigudika hux hekk

Joe Xuereb

Feb 7th, 11:45

When something/anything is prohibited (especially something as instinctive and uncontrollable as sexual manifestations) the end result is that people react 'and do it more' to spite their oppressors.* This applies to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. So to people whose behaviour could be a symptom of this rebellion, I say, think again. You do not need to cut your nose to spite your face. Which is not the same as saying, you must not fight for your rights. Far from it. Bigotry and ignorance has to be fought all the way. Because nobody has the right to oppress another, and especially not by some perceived divine right.

*Hence the high incidence of rampant sexual promiscuity generally. To the extent that too many have died because of their excess; all because they were misguided and oppressed. This is very sad and the gay community has to take this on board. It is called, maturity. A real maturity with insights, strengths and no bigotry. This applies to heterosexuals too but they can take care of themselves it seems. Yeah! scapegoating is alive and kicking. And missing the wood for the trees. It-traba fil-għajn u mhux it-travu...... This does not apply to the anally-retentive religious bigots, who think they are above reproach, and absolutely so.

@Ciantar, if you are worried about your child being exposed to adults of the same sex showing affection, may I say a) your child will turn out what it is meant to turn out to be and there is sweet f. all that you can do about it. And b) are you sure you are not using your child to hide behind your disgust towards homosexual people? I know you are indoctrinated to believe it is aberrant, abnormal, disgusting, and so on and so forth. But have you ever stopped to think that homosexuality is not the bogey man it is depicted as. It is very common. And so is bisexuality, a very common natural phenomenon. Just because you do not see it does not mean it is not there, Ciantar (and all the rest).

John Spiteri

Feb 7th, 11:42

Being gay dosent give you the right to do whatever you like. Insulting people is wrong! These girls provoked, but the bus driver shouldn't have been aggressive. He should have called the police.

Kenneth Muscat

Feb 7th, 11:27

Jekk tkun fil karozza tieghek titbewwes jista jigi l pulizija jwaqqfek ghax qed taghmel hekk fil pubbliku,ghax tkun qieghed fejn jista jarak il pubbliku.Issa jekk tkun fuq tal linja , mhux nies ikunu qed jarawk.Naqbel ma Joseph Sammut lI l metodu ta kif prova jwaqqafhom kien hazin.Nahseb li vera li kulhadd ghandu dritt jesprimi sesswalita tieghu ,pero ftit zmien iehor ha nigu li jekk tkun Gay tista taghmel li trid ghax ha noqghodu ngibu l iskuzi "ghax ta orjentazzjoni sesswali differenti".Jien nemmen li kulhadd hu bniedem u kulhadd responsabbli ta l agir tieghu .Nahseb min kien qed jidghi ghandu jehel xi haga ukoll inkella nkunu qed nitmejjlu bina nfusna.

I Bugeja

Feb 7th, 13:47

jista jigi il pulizija jwaqqfek > jekk tkun gay biss jew anke straight?

let's face it. Police do not stop anyone be it gay or straight. The questions i pose myself are
1. Would the driver have done the same if the couple were straight?
2. The driver is not instructed to call police if something indecent was done which i doubt from the few comments of people who were on the bus and said that he provoked them.

Dorielle Soler

Feb 7th, 14:12

Whether gay or hetero, I simply wish couples would refrain from behaviour more suited to privacythan on buses and public places. I can't help feeling that when demonstrations of affection go over the top, provocation IS intended because is such lack of self control natural ? Of course, the despatcher erred when losing his head and pushing the girls but .... yes, most of us DO feel uncomfortable when exposed to OTT passion in public !

Joe Xuereb

Feb 7th, 11:15

@Simon Ciantar(08:03). Ciantar, re: the protection of your children from 'aberrant' behaviour. As I child I must have seen men being obnoxious towards each other, sometimes even fighting. I do not recall ever having seen two men holding hands, or shock! horror! kissing. Still, this not stop me turning out homosexual(with pedigree). Maybe it was all that male aggression - football, boxing-matches - that my father, in his foolishness, thought should be part of my education for me to turn out to be a man, in his own image. Poor dad! how wrong he was. How wrong they are, the dads(who are all about control, not realising that some things are meant to be. And that includes a much more common incidence of bisexuality, especially rampant in Catholic guilt ridden Malta. Even if hidden or indeed not acknowledged. Such are sexual issues not discussed and indeed prohibited amongst the many. Welcome to the land of ignorance and therefore, bigotry.*
A Dr. Francis Saliba - please note. Please note too that aberrant sexual behaviour also includes heterosexual liaisons that are purely for pleasure. Hets are more numerous and therefore have a greater impact on Malta's population non-growth and its ever-increasing aberrant attitude towards Malta's spiritual heritage, ie RCism. At least queers don't have much choice (other than when they get married and sire children to appease people like the pseudo-religious). So I would suggest that the doctor with so much goodwill to spare start to fret about the aberrant majority. Hurry along now and think about this food for thought.

*Thank you Ciantar for inspiring me. I was thinking, if children, boys in particular, are exposed to men being genuinely friendly towards each other, they will still turn out to be decent heterosexual men if that is what they are meant to be. With the added bonus that they also grow up to know that men are not for hitting. Maybe this is Nature's trick, ie homosexuality - like falling in love is - to make decent people who can live in blessed peace. The current model is not working and when it seems to be, it is questionable at least. Just look at the shambles!

Fran Abela

Feb 7th, 09:59

J. Brincat - all you need is love you say and I totally agree with you - we do need more love in this beloved country of ours. However, I have never read a 'loving' comment from you so far. Whilst I agree that there is absolutely no harm in kissing in public one has to always bear in mind that there may be people on a bus who are embarrassed by such exhibitions of love. It is just a matter of having respect for others after all.

Mario Scicluna

Feb 7th, 09:58

Ghal dawk kollha li qed jitkazaw...min jaf kieku din bintkhom eh? U jigi dan u jerfa idejh fuqha? Inpoggih f'postu jien u nurih minn irid igib ruhu ta' nies!! Dak li ghandhu bzonn dan il pajjiz, izjed tolleranza u edukazzjoni, nahseb kulhadd jaqbel li tant dahlet hdura, pika,inkejja u mibgheda f'dan il-pajjiz li m'ahniex kapaci nirragunaw ftit b'mohhna u nkunu aktar pacenzjuzi, tolleranti u maturi. jekk naqbad naghmel lista ma niqafx! Fil-politika, fil-festa tar-rahal, fil-football...insomma, nsibu kull skuza biex naqalaw argument u nuru kemm ahna 'cowboys'. Lanqas issuq bil-karozza ma tista ghax issib xi proxxmu lest ghalik biex joffendik, jghajjrek, ma jikkalkulakx ghax jippretendu li hallilhom it-triq in-nannu etc. mbasta rridu nuru li ahna Ewropej u nippretendu li nigu stmati meta lanqas bicca gzira ma ahna kapaci ngibu ruhna sew!

Christine Vella

Feb 7th, 10:42

Naqbel perfettament

I Bugeja

Feb 7th, 13:48

Well said

Joseph Sammut

Feb 7th, 09:46

Let's not take this "gay" thing out of proportion. If a hetereosexual couple were hugging and kissing, should this be allowed? Certainly not. This could put others in an uncomfortable position. Arriva should have a policy on everybody, no matter what one's orientation is. What this man did was wrong, but on the other hand he was right to try and control it - his method was definitely wrong.

Cornelius Murphy

Feb 7th, 12:08

Joseph, look at what you wrote. You sound like you would feel very at home in a country like Iran.

Dorielle Soler

Feb 7th, 14:18

Oh Pleeeeeze Mr Murphy ! How bored I am of hearing Iran, Saudi et al mentioned everytime somebody advocates mild, reasonable decency ! Mr Sammut is saying something perfectly sensible ! I don't want to see ANYBODY making out passionately on a bus - I'm there simply in order to get from point A to point B and passion is not, at that point, on my agenda. Whether gay or straight, keep your cool lol ! I know Arriva takes its time, but bide your time till you get home !

Eric Borg

Feb 7th, 09:44

I have seen the video 3 times. One of the girls, was swearing badly, is this also normal with gays?
Does this not offend religion? The driver was only heard telling them to behave.

What exactly were they doing? Just kissing, or doing it like they do it on the Discovery Channel?

It seems that being gays gives some kind of Power nowadays, no?

S. Zammit

Feb 7th, 09:23

Arriva should have security cameras on board each bus, no? I wonder if they were working and if so what was the footage like?

Joseph Aquilina

Feb 7th, 09:23

"LABOUR CALLS FOR LAW CHANGE"

If the law has to be changed then it has to be changed in such a way that we REALLY have a non-discriminating law. Such a law should not favor a group of people more then another just because one thing or another will mean having a law which is still discriminating, having a law which still categories people as different!! The law should be simple; any aggression against anyone is to be condemned!

J Vella

Feb 7th, 09:10

Spokesman??? Its seems that very soon we are going to have a minister for Gays

Pauline Abela

Feb 7th, 09:08

I wasn't there either....but

While it doesn't bother me personally whether two people or, what the heck, even a whole bunch are all over each other doing whatever takes their fancy, one must keep in mind that many people are offended by public displays of affection (especially if their young children are present). Is kissing ok? is having sex ok? Homsexual sex? Heterosexual sex? Going solo, even!!!? Where should one draw the line?

Surely, a bit of restraint till they get home does not require an overwhelming amount of self-discipline.

Whether homosexual or heterosexual, holding each other's hand is one thing and no bid deal but for example, sticking one's tongue down someone else's throat and going for a wander all over someone else body is probably something best done in private.

It shows respect towards others.

I Bugeja

Feb 7th, 09:42

You assume!!!!

Joseph Borg

Feb 7th, 09:50

Naqbel ma li ghidt 100%. Jiena favur kull tip ta orjentazzjoni sesswali kulhadd ghandu dritt sagrosant li jaghmel li jrid pero ta min wiehed jarha x kien qed jigri, ghax hawn hafna bravi kulhadd tejoriji.

Jiena sincerament ma nafx x gara ghax ma kontx hemm. Nistenna li L arriva ghanda footage ahjar ta xgara la hadet deccizjoni daqshekk malajr.

Still Nahseb li huwa unfair li mil ewwel iggudikajna lill dan l individwu.

Jiena ghandi ftit mistoqsijiet u nispera li forsi xi hadd jirrispondijhom.

1) ghaliex qed nassumu li dan waqqafhom ghax kienu gays? Ghandna garanzija li ma kienx ser iwaqqaf koppja hetero li forsi kienu qed jaghmlu l istess?

2) X kienu qed jaghmlu ezatt? Bewsa u zzomm idejn mod, tahdem soft porn fuq tal linja mod iehor? (so nistenna il footage tal Arriva biex jikkonkludu din) Jiena jidhirli li attivita "oxxena" f postijiet pubblici tmur kontra l ligi....jekk ma nbedlitx il ligi u ma nafx...pero niftakar car il pulizija jduru il karozzi li jkun hemm ghal kwiet fid dlam fejn ma jarhom hadd u sahansitra kien hemm kazi fejn koppji wehlu multi!

3) Ghaliex l ugwaljanza in nisa juzawha meta jaqbillhom biss? Minghajr ma nidhol fil mertu ta min ghandu ragun jew le jew min tkellem hazin jew le jew min provoka lill min jew le.....i.e apart from this accident....jekk Mara taghtijili fuq wicci nghidilha thank you ghax mara?

Li tghix f pajjiz demokratiku ma jfissirx li taghnel li trid , kif trid, meta trid u xhin trid. Hemm ir rispett lejn haddiehor.

AGAIN qed nitkellem ingenerali mhux fuq dan il kaz partikolari ghax jiena ma kontx hemm u kull ma rajt video hafna dagha, wahda mal art, ragel izomm wiccu, wiehed kummentatur ta li qed jigri u seat ta karozza tal linja! Ma nafx kif min dawn l affarijiet tistaw taslu ghal konkluzjoni ta x gara u ma garax!

Fran Abela

Feb 7th, 09:53

Totally agree with you Pauline. Now that Malta is in the 21st century and is accepting gays (as it should always have been) from their side they should try and restrain their sexual urges in public places especially on buses.
A question I would like to ask is this: The driver (who was not on duty) was not duty bound to pass any comments regarding passengers misbehaving unless they were vandilising the bus. He made a huge mistake when losing control and this cost him his job. Now what about the young lady who was using such foul language - is it OK for her to do this ? Should she not also have been admonished for also disturbing the public peace ?

Albert Farrugia

Feb 7th, 08:53

Seems like there is some consensus that this has been an incident linked to some form of public display of homosexuality. Now we talk a lot about how the majority should not impose itself on the minority, etc. But doesn't also the opposite hold true? If the majority of the people in a community do not like a certain type of behaviour, members of a minority should also respect this, and adjust their behaviour accordingly. A tolerant society does not mean that everyone is free to follow his or her whims anywhere at all times. Being a member of society implies taking care of other's feelings, especially when you are in a minority. This in no way justifies any violence against anyone, but one must look at the deep feelings which certain behaviour unleashes. Having said that, this was clearly a case in which the police should have been called at once by the driver of the bus (not the one involved in the incident).

Joseph Brincat

Feb 7th, 09:26

ALL YOU NEED LOVE
.
We are not living in a taboo world , so what's wrong

for two people KISSING each other ?????????

I Bugeja

Feb 7th, 09:36

Your reasoning is flawed because:
1) the minority cannot take care of the majority's feelings as it has NO POWER to do so
2) a tolerant society means that everyone is treated the same irrispective of who he/she decides to be with. If you feel that straight couples arellowed to kiss and gay couples are not then you are definitely NOT TOLERANT.

The part which makes sense:
1)If no indecent public display is to be allowed then it should be for everyone otherwise you would be trating people with DIFFERENT MEASURES. However I see 14, 15 and 21yo snogging in public but it would never cross my mind to call them names or report them for indecency! It does not make sense and I do expect that if a 17yo lesbian was snogging people would act mature.
2) Violence is never justified - thanks for acknowledging that

Cornelius Murphy

Feb 7th, 10:49

@Albert Farrugia

"Being a member of society implies taking care of other's feelings, especially when you are in a minority."

Well, take a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cycXuYzmzNg

Albert Farrugia

Feb 7th, 11:12

@Cornelius Murphy
The real world is not like Steve Hughes would have it. Would you accept, for example, that I take a picture of your mother and tear it up in public? What if i called you stupid and silly if i had to meet you in public? I wouldnt allow you to do that to me, so i dont do it to you. See what hapened when a religous leader, in Malta, WITHIN his premises, conducted a service critical of homosexuality. He was hounded and chased and what not. Where is, therefore, freedom of expression?

Cornelius Murphy

Feb 7th, 13:14

@Albert Farrugia

How would tearing a picture of my Mother affect me really? Think about it. It's a picture. Yes, I might not like it, but I'd probably just think the person doing it was a childish idiot.

And you would be welcome to call me stupid and silly all you like, in public or not. If you had facts or sound reasoning to back up your claim that I am stupid and silly, I would do well to look at those facts and maybe learn something new. Otherwise you would be just an idiot and me a bigger one if I let your outburst get to me. That's what I tell my little daugher when someone calls her something at school: are you really like they are saying? If not, just ignore them and their ignorant opinion. I know it is in our nature to get offended, but have you thought about what a huge waste of time and energy that is? What anyone might say about me (good or bad) actually says more upon them than it does on me. Food for thought.

And what happened to the religious leader you mention? Was he attacked or threatened? If so, that's obvioulsy wrong. I don't know the facts of that case, but the best defence against ignorance is education and a lot of patience.

david debattista

Feb 7th, 08:51

Francis Saliba MD Your statements never fail to surprise me !

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 7th, 10:37

@ David Debattista & Carmel Garcia.

I am just intimating that not everyone is a gullible fool who swallows any subliminal propaganda, thinly disguised as shocking news!

Cornelius Murphy

Feb 7th, 10:54

@ Francis Saliba M.D.

You may not be a "gullible fool" but, looking at your comments, you definitely come across as a bigot. Do you also speak out against heterosexual couples displaying affection in public?

Mike Hunt

Feb 7th, 12:24

@ Francis Saliba M.D.

Are you for real????

david debattista

Feb 7th, 16:35

Francis Saliba MD Problem is, that every time you post something IT IS SHOCKING NEWS !
Your attitude is wrong , condemning violence against woman does not make one a gullible fool. As for the two ladies, whats all this drama. Its not that they were licking each others cloths off. You got it wrong The issue here is that some individual decided to get violent with two women . Having sad that its not the first time I have seem women french kissing or holding each other. No one makes such a drama about it over here . It a lot safer then crossing the roads or driving in Malta !!!!

Carmel Garcia

Feb 7th, 08:04

Int bis-serjeta Francis Saliba MD?

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 7th, 06:44

Are these two recent deprecated violent incidents against Lesbians unhappy coincidences or are they the start of an "in your face" campaign by the homosexuals fraternity to attract attention by provokative public exhibitions of their aberrant sex?

Simon Ciantar

Feb 7th, 08:03

I fully agree with you. While all violence is to be condemmed it is very obvious that the gay community are milking this scenario to the full. It seems we will now have to endure gay people kissing and hugging in public... which in my opinion is a disrespect to the rest of us ... especially to our children....

Cornelius Murphy

Feb 7th, 08:23

These incidents are quite obviously an unfortunate case of an overload of Thetans (ancient alien souls that invade our bodies and cause all kinds of trouble). Luckily, I hear the Scientologists are planning to step up their presence in Malta and help free us from these harmful spirits that are the cause of all this "aberrant sexuality" that we are seeing, so you can sleep easy, Dr. Saliba.

LOUIS JOSEPH BORG

Feb 7th, 08:42

still it does not give any one a right to hit or punch someone for any act as long it is in self defence!

Mario Pace

Feb 7th, 08:59

Now that I think of it, first we had the gays movement presenting their request for special rights to PN/PL as soon as it appeared we're going for an early election and soon after we had these two incidents. Coincidences or it's the so called "Gay Agenda"? I say, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Mike Hunt

Feb 7th, 12:35

@Cornelius Murphy
+1

@Francis Saliba M.D.
aberrant (adj) - straying from the right or normal way

Are you really an M.D.? Did it ever cross your mind that maybe, homosexuals, do not choose to feel attracted to the same sex? That maybe for some anatomically male people, it may be their nature to be drawn to other anatomically male specimens? History was (and is) full of people like yourself. Sadly, some of them reach positions of power where they can do more harm than just getting themselves struck off party invitation lists.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Feb 7th, 19:55

@ Mike Hunt.

Take my word as a genuine and "for real doctor" (and that would also be the word of every other medical doctor worthy of the name, that the sciences of both anatomy and physiology prove conclusively and without any shadw of doubt that the "normal" way that nature intended procreation and the perpetuation of the species was by sexual acts between persons of opposite sex and that is why the practice of homosexual acts is an aberrant and a deviant form of sexual activity.

It is immaterial that " ... homosexuals, do not choose to feel attracted to the same sex ...". Actually carrying out homosexual acts does not become a normal sexual activity - it remains aberrant, not normal, sex. Kleptomaniacs do not choose to steal as matter of choice, they are born so inclined - but no one argues that shoplifting is not an abnormal illegal acivity.

Mike Hunt

Feb 8th, 00:32

@ Francis Saliba M.D.

Kleptomania is a personality disorder but that's besides the point.

A kleptomaniac takes things from others. Gay people ... let's see ... have relationships with other gay people. How does that affect you? Does it make you feel uncomfortable?

What constitutes normal sexual activity anyway?

Jason Falzon

Feb 7th, 06:26

imma kif kollox indawru fuq il-politika? marradtuni! Ikbru man, u ifthu ghajnejkom. Il-politika u l-politikant qed hemm biex jaqdina u mhux biex niggieldu fuqhom.

Joe Xuereb

Feb 7th, 01:05

If heterosexual people, men in particular, have issue with their own orientation, why do they feel the need to take out their frustrations on homosexual people. And if someone tells me that he has no problem managing his rampant, red-neck heterosexuality, I will, to his face, call him - well, let's say I'd tell him he was misinformed. He would be deaf to the details as I expose them because he would much rather reduce my face to pulp than having to listen to my dulcet tones. So I have to be careful and laugh all the way to wherever it is I am heading. And I know where I am coming from, I know where I am and I certainly know where I am going. It is called being sorted out. Thanks to me and thanks to Johnny Aggro and one Helwani, types who forced me to examine human sexual expression in its widest perspective and I found out things that would make them soil their Y-Fronts.

Joe Xuereb

Feb 7th, 00:41

@Hossam Helwani (yesterday, 17:25). You spout about women having gained equality yet you disapprove of women defending themselves. Oh dear! I think you are one of those who was made to believe to wait until you met the right woman, married her and stayed with her for life. Provided of course that she did your every bidding, or else....... Why are men like you so transparent Helwani? Easy......
Helwani, you say women think they are untouchable. And I say to you, it is men who are untouchable. Most men I would not touch with a barge-pole Sweet Helwani. And none of this sigh sigh sigh at free woman - even you would not mind access to the odd one every now and then if you thought your conscience would let you get away with it. I think I am unknown to men Helwani?

Joe Xuereb

Feb 7th, 00:24

I wasn't there, but........

I twice watched the video-clip just to make sure. The dispatcher was repeatedly telling her to behave like decent people do. Men are physically aggressive and women, in these circumstances, do the only thing they can do i.e. defend themselves verbally. Now, a man usually invites an opponent to come outside in some drinking den in some god-forsaken village. Or in the Wild West. It is bad enough. If he challenges a WOMAN to come outside - that is bizarre and totally unacceptable. The guy obviously lost it completely. One can be trained to deal with situations like these but things escalate and get out of control.
He kept telling the female passenger to behave like decent people do. I wonder what he meant? In a rage it is possible that these are the only words he could think of especially if he is not normally a very articulate person (few men are whatever their background, never mind a bus-driver or a dispatcher). Did he find the woman's behaviour out of order because it was (out of order) or was he applying his judgement/his standards onto her when in fact she was behaving appropriately? If, as it is suggested, the woman/women is gay and maybe, was not making a secret of the fact - nothing wrong with that - but unfortunately, raised the hackles of a man who- surprise! surprise! - does not approve of homosexuality, of any type. And he resented having to breathe in the same air that she was breathing. Oh dear!
This is my twopenny's worth for as I said, I was not there. The case could be cleared up in Court and IF the woman was out or order, then she should be made to acknowledge the fact. Except that if she made it obvious that her sexual orientation was homosexual, that should be nobody's business. Some gay people could not hide their orientation even if they wanted to. As in, a young effeminate man being obviously gay - is he for hitting for that? Apart from anything else, what if he is effeminate AND straight. You think all hetero men are Rambos? I've got news for you.

Erika Azzopardi

Feb 6th, 23:54

do this in the middle east and you will find yourself arrested hehe there's nothing wrong in being gay, but please respect your surroundings and other people. Wanna enjoy the company of your partner, theres no need to do it publicly :)

David Caruana

Feb 7th, 08:55

What do you mean "respect your surroundings and other people"? Even if these two girls were kissing, there's nothing wrong with that. You see young men and women kissing in public so there's nothing wrong if instead it is two women or two men.

Jo Grima

Feb 7th, 10:08

BUT we are NOT in the middle east, and people of all different sexual orientations have as much right as you and i do to show their affection towards each other wherever and whenever they please. who are you to say they should respect their surroundings, with the same argument i can say that you are disrespectful to others by posting your comment !!

Mr C Galea

Feb 6th, 23:25

Having watched the attached YouTube video one can only say that this situation was dealt with such "huge emotions" and possibly hate and maybe even jealousy from the drivers side, that it left no room but for a messy ending and of course it did just that. How sad very sad.

Does Arriva question their drivers about acceptance of all walks of life when they apply for their job?????
If yes I would love to know how they test this in Dear Malta????????

D.Stallion stewart

Feb 6th, 23:21

The poor bus driver thats all i can say.

Mr Peter Korsten

Feb 6th, 23:19

"Such legislation would then lead to a change of mentality, spokesman Cyrus Engerer said in a statement."

Idle hope, that. You can't change people's minds by legislation. This is really a very silly comment.

What you need is proper education, starting at schools. But with a large part of the school system being run by the Church, and Roman Catholicism being the state religion, that is not going to happen any time soon.

Mind, I'm not in any way insinuating that the Church would ever condone this kind of violence, let alone encourage it. But if your teachings are that it is sinful, this is the sort of reaction that you'll get.

I Bugeja

Feb 6th, 23:16

Obviously this piece of news is being used politically and not treated at face value!

That is your typical bigotry!!!

Mr C Galea

Feb 6th, 23:07

One is left dumb about the fact of how many hate incidents/crimes does one have to hear about and or see before any party gets a bill in parliament so that this island of Malta can GROW UP and allow its citizens to live harmoniously together at least "in law"? As the P N is a loser party dear Labour Party get going now, immediately, I am sure you will get the votes you need???????????????

Peter Shaw

Feb 6th, 22:58

Smile, you are on candid camera !!

david vella

Feb 6th, 22:40

Hasra spicca fuq yuotube , driver ghagel u qatt ma kellhu jerfa idejh , kullhadd jizbalja u kullhadd jista jitlef rasu izda mar over hafna.. Tfajla ma tantx halitilek lixa ghax agressiva ukoll , xhatu storja ohra fuq yuotube

Mela tried toghod attent quddiem minn taghnaq f'trieq jew go xi bar ghax malajr jinterpretawk gay ma murx insieb xahat taqbizlu u jaghmel ghalija , gieli nara hafna nies janqu l'xulxien u mhux gay ma fija xejn hazin ghax taghnaq il xahadt, jekk tkun ilek ma tara il-persuna x'ikun gara , mhux sinjal ta rispet u ta hbieberija .

Ahjar kelma nieqsa milli kelma zejda ghax kullhadd tista taqbizlu u fuq xiex vera bla sens.

carmel debattista

Feb 6th, 22:39

jekk titfghu naqra headphones tajbin tisimaw lid driver jghidila " qed tarani nitpastas ma ta quddiemi lili?? "

Ok veru , hazin li toghqod taghmel certa kummiedji f post pubbliku , demokratiku jew le ... imma kieku kienu koppja straight mhux xorta kien iwaqqafom ???

ghaqtuha di li bilfors kull haga li jigri ghax gays irridu ngibu id dinja fit tarf .

Id driver kien haqqu jitkecca , imma mhux ghax it tfajliet kienu gay .

Hossam Helwani

Feb 6th, 21:54

I have nothing against lesbians and gay men, they are humans and they have the full rights to live in peace.

BUT BUT BUT , they have responsibilities as well. It seems that this case raises a lot of questions. Lesbians need to remember that whatever they do they remain girls women ladies and should behave like ladies. They sometimes believe that they are MEN. They do look upon men as intruders in their sexual territories.

Besides lesbians need to respect others if others are to respect them. This applies to all.

Malta is a community which is still being reborn in human science. We are still backwards where it comes to human rights and dignity.

I experienced myself a lesbian who thought she owned the place . They act like bullies and no wonder if clashes occur.
This is in direct opposite to gay men behaviour who in a lot of cases act like women and try to grab the attention of the straight man.
It is unfortunate when these accidents happen and education is the answer , but in any case no one has the right to use violence to prove a point , and I think in this case there is a lot that needs to be verified.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 21:46

Denying homosexuals the right to show public affection means that homosexuals in Malta are being denied the right to 'come out'.

Joe Fenech

Feb 6th, 21:27

"He was also accused of having caused slight injury, disrupted public order and broken the conditions of a previous release and probation"

They should be held responsible for what happened as no criminal should be working in customer care. Another case of how irresponsible Maltese employers are.

Joseph Brincat

Feb 6th, 21:16

IT IS A SHAME FOR US , THAT WE DON'T

ACCEPT PEOPLE AS THEY ARE ! ! !

AND WE CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIANS ?????

Christopher Ellul

Feb 6th, 21:09

I'm glad someone found the time to film the incident....too bad no one found the time to try and help calm the situation down.

Mr Ernest Vella

Feb 6th, 20:54

Mr Joseph Camilleri Cauchi ma jisthiex jghid kontra l-homophobia u fl-istess hin ikun razzist u diskriminatorju kontra l-insara Kattolici. Imissek tisthi. Kif ga ghidt darba ohra, il-Knisja Kattolika tikkundana kull agir razzist, homofobiku etc kontra bnedmin ohra. Ghax nghiduha kif inhi vera li l-Knisja tghallem li l-att sesswali bejn zewg persuni ta l-istess sess huwa dnub kontra is-6 Kmandament imma tghallem ukoll li d-dagha imur kontra it-tieni kmandament...cioe direttament kontra Alla...safrattant qatt ma rajt wiehed jidghi imsawwat min Kattolici...ghax min jaf it-taghlim Kattoliku jaf li l-vjolenza huwa kontra t-taghlim kattoliku...bid-dagha li dagha bil-Madonna zgur ma sejjahlux kattoliku.

Disprezz kontra religjon huwa wkoll razzizmu.

Andy Farrugia

Feb 6th, 22:59

Nahseb qed tirreferi ghal Joseph CARMEL Chetcuti u mhux ghal Camilleri Cauchi, miskin. Joseph CARMEL Chetcuti maghruf ghal kummenti tieghu, tafx!

Paolo Bugeja

Feb 6th, 23:31

Not to defend Mr Camilleri Cauchi but all he said was that Gonzi 'wants to impose a Catholic morality on the rest of Malta'. I do not think he is being a racist. But maybe I missed out on a previous comment of his. However the government should start making a distinction between civil rights and religious beliefs. As citizens of Malta, gays have the same rights as straight people do. My God tells me to love everyone irrespective of everything. If one tries to mould people into a prototype human being for approvals, then we might have different religions and Gods altogether. But in any case I wish you peace and love. That's quite a detour from the original theme. Arriva style!!

Matthew Camilleri

Feb 6th, 20:50

Fuq il-fatt li driver kien recediv ma jfisser xejn, kulhadd haqqu cans iehor!!
F'post pubbliku, specjalment f'post maghluq trid izzomm id-dicenza, intix gay, lesbjana jew hetero!! SO jekk hu hekk ix-xufier kien qed jaghmel xoghlu li jwaqqafhom
Il-kliem hazin li nstema ma nahsibx li ghandu jkun injorat. Overspeeding tal-karozzi naqas hafna bil-multi u speeed cameras, ghala ma ghandux ikun hemm multi ghal min ikun qed jidghi u jitkellem baxx fil-pubbliku?

Paolo Bugeja

Feb 6th, 23:12

Jekk qed nifhem sew int qed tikkundanna il-vjolazzjoni tad-dicenza (allavolja jien perswaz li l-koppja kien ghad kellhom il-hwejjeg liebsin) imma qed tghid li ghandek taghti cans iehor lir-recediv? Jekk il-koppja gay kienu indecenti, allura nistenna multa minn ghand pulizzija, imma l-impjegat ta l-Arriva ma kellu l-ebda poter hlief li jnizzilhom mill-bus. Imma hu qabad jaghti lil dik il-mara.

Hmmm naqra koerenza jekk jghogbok!!

C Muscat

Feb 7th, 08:22

I agree 100%

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:43

No person with a past criminal record should be employed by Arriva. Throw out the contract and start anew.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:42

Malta under Gonzi who wants to impose a Catholic morality on the rest of Malta. I hope this video goes all over the world and tourists start boycotting Malta as a place of destination. Il-kriminali jrabbu l-ghaqal taht GonziPN. Ghajtu Viva GonziPN. Daqshekk ihobbhhom id-drittijiet umani.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:55

"jrabbu l-ghaqal" should have read "irabbu l-arja".

Ruben Hili

Feb 6th, 21:01

Kemm int vojt......Gonzi x'ghandu x'jaqsam mal glieda.

Stefan Zammit

Feb 6th, 21:04

Yes let's hope Jospeh Muscat becomes prime minister. I'm quite sure that no more ciminals and close minded people (like yourself after all) will exist in Malta!

This is obviously, sarcastically speaking.

Steve Zammit

Feb 6th, 21:44

xint vojt Joseph >.<

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 21:48

GonziPN missu dahal ligijiet kontra l-omofobja snin ilu. Dan nuqqas serju minn gvern fjak.

anthony bartolo

Feb 6th, 22:29

Riding politicaly on this incident will help LGBT labour,every drop counts.

Paul Felice

Feb 6th, 22:48

I'm pretty sure that the country is drifting away from the so called "Catholic morality", which you seem to be very disappointed of. Gonzi has nothing to do with these persons!?! and if you have proof bring it up!! don't publicly accuse someone without proof!! U issa ahna ma nixghux bit-turisti!!?!?!? tahseb li jekk ma jigux turisti ha mmorru tajjeb jew!?

david vella

Feb 6th, 23:01

Int ok jaghlmek tajjeb il- labour party , gonzi x'ghandu x'jaqsam fuq dil glieda , attent ghax ma taghmillux gid il labour party , vojt kollhok ghamel bhal ma ghamlu nies ohra ahjar kelma nieqsa , ghax hemm nies li forsi ha jivvutaw l'ewwel darba labour u minnhaba diskors tieghak ma jiehdu hadt l vot , Nerga neghidlek vojt kollhok . Ghax drittijiet umani ukoll ma kellux labour party qabel 1987.

I Bugeja

Feb 6th, 23:13

ruben hili - closing an eye over discrimination is equivalent to associating yourself to it. not placing the right regulatory framework is making discrimination more possible

Glenn Barry

Feb 6th, 23:17

Dear Joseph, I believe you are being silly. If tourists boycott Malta all of us will suffer including you. Don't you know that a lot of people's jobs depend on tourism. Or are the PL so one track minded as long as they win the next elections? The driver was fired by Arriva and the police are investigating so why all the fuss against the government?

J Cassar

Feb 7th, 06:22

kumment banali, nahseb nies bhalek irriedu boycott mhux Malta?!

Paul Giordimaina

Feb 7th, 06:24

Kif ma tisthix minek inifsek kull darba li tikteb trid iddahal lil Gonzi fin nofs.

James Wightman

Feb 7th, 07:23

Don't be a twat we'll all be out of a job! Why should innocent people pay for the mistakes of others? Be a bit more creative!

Mr E. Vella

Feb 7th, 08:05

Sur Chetcuti, jekk it turisti jibbojkotjaw lil Malta u ma jigux hawn ikunu qed jaghmlu hsara lil PL tieghek, la darba dalwaqt tkunu fil gvern, u il kwazi prim ministru Joseph Muscat ikollu l-ewwel problema u nibdew nerqirdu minn kmieni li hawn krizi fil pajjiz..u addio tnaqqis fil kontijiet tad dawl u ilma....u hallina jekk il poplu jaseb bhalek li kul ma isir kollox tort tal gvern vera ghad fadliena biex nittallmu inkunu citadini denji ta dan il pajjiz.

P. Ciantar

Feb 7th, 08:11

skuzani kumment bla sens .... politically minded people only think like you X ghandu x jaqsam Gonzi jew haddiehor ma din il glieda

Jo Grima

Feb 7th, 10:09

pathetic !!

Jonaphin Spiteri

Feb 6th, 20:00

The TV news just said that the driver relapsed 'kien ricediv'.
I have a question for Arriva....Do you check the interviewees' police conduct prior to employing or do you check other "credentials"?
So dear Arriva, do you have more drivers/dispatchers on your books with past criminal offences?
We customers would gladly want to know if Austin Gatt has really eradicated the cowboys....

Jean Gove'

Feb 6th, 20:08

Are you saying past criminal offenders should remain unemployed for life?

C Cassar

Feb 6th, 20:11

no but they should be kept well away from dealing with the public in any way.

Jean Gove'

Feb 6th, 20:21

Which is another way of saying that they should be kept unemployed for life. Why do we have to find a scapegoat group of every issue. This was an individual who happened to be a relapsed offenders. Others have attacked homosexuals without the "benefit" of being relapsed offenders. It is not an issue about relapsed offenders but about homophobic bigotry.

Glenn Barry

Feb 6th, 20:25

So do you expect Austin Gatt to check the C.V.s and maybe do the interviews?

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:45

Glenn, you are being silly. At the end of the day the Minister is responsible whether he is personally responsible or not. Is it that difficult to find out whether a person has a criminal record?

Jean Gove'

Feb 6th, 20:48

At least, Glenn is being intentionally silly. The same thing cannot be said for those politicizing the issue, and I'm not talking about LGBT Labour.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 21:04

Jean, it has to be politicised. GonziPN did nothing all these years. It could have taken the lead but failed a proportion of Maltese citizens.

Paolo Bugeja

Feb 6th, 23:05

@ Jean Gove' - Living in a society means having respect towards others within that same society. If one hits another, I do not know why they should expect employment until they prove themselves civil enough! If you are an employer and you did nothing when you know that that person could harm another person, then you are legally responsible. Which brings me to Mr Glen Barry. Why should Hon Gatt be treated differently from any other employer? Do not worry Mr Barry, if Hon Gatt survived Arriva fucking up, he could certainly survive a fuck up of one of their employees!!

Jonaphin Spiteri

Feb 7th, 08:28

i don't expect Austin Gatt to do the interviews but I expect that the drivers and all personnel to be people of integrity because they deal with the public and not headless chickens. I expect the minister to set up a proper human resources system and be accountable for it.

What was wrong with the old bus system? The minister himself said that it was the attitude of the drivers and can you please explain to me what is different from this driver and the old drivers.

My question was honest....did Arriva employ anymore like him? Don't you think that the public has a right to know?

Claudia Muscat

Feb 7th, 09:28

Here in Uk yes, any form of criminal record no matter how banal is enough to keep you unemployed for life, people with criminal records especially to do with assault and body harm should not be in a role where they ave direct contact with the public, and yes Arriva being a British run company should be more careful!

Francis Sammut

Feb 6th, 19:51

We say ix- xufier u s-sewwieq in Maltese and not id-driver!

Nicholas Grech

Feb 6th, 19:47

Join the Arriva family, even those under probation and may cause harm to other passengers are more than welcome.

On febuary 1st I was on an Arriva bus when another arriva bus crashed into the one I was in, glass rained down on everyone and a women hurt her neck. The driver who had crashed into us, fainted at the wheel and came slamming into us, THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME HE CRASHED!!!!

George Lewis

Feb 6th, 19:19

Jidher li fil-bidu d-despatcher kien qed iwissi lit-tfajliet joghqodu sew u dawn irritaljaw.X-jigifieri joghqodu sew? id-despatcher u l-passiggieri jafu. Certu kliem mit-tfajliet instema car kif ukoll deher car id-driver jew id-despatcher jimsah id-demm li jfisser li kien attakkat.Nittama li l-kas ikun investigat u jekk id-driver jew l-iehor kienux qed jiddefendu lilhom infushom.Nahseb li z-zewg nahat ghandhom igorru l-piz

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:47

X'kienu qed jaghmlu? Ibussu 'l xulxin forsi? Dan dritt taghhom u s-sewwieq ma kellu ebda dritt jindahal. Niskanta kif konservattivi bhalek dejjem isibu tort f'kull min hu vittma.

Joe Fenech

Feb 6th, 21:29

MR JS Chetcuti

At the risk of sounding prudish: kissing should be left for more intimate circles not for a bus full of people.

V. Cauchi

Feb 6th, 19:16

It is good to recall that art. 209 of the Criminal Code, which besides punishing offenders also indirectly lays down our country's ethical and moral code, states in the Part dealing with Crimes against the Peace and Honour of Families and against Morals, that -

'Whosoever, except in the cases referred to in the preceding articles of this sub-title or in any other provision of law, shall commit an offence against decency or morals, by any act committed in a public place or in a place exposed to the public, shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months and to a fine (multa).".

I think some magistrate, very soon and according to his or her state of liberalism or moral uprightness, would have to decide whether public manifestations of homosexuality, and to what degree, would constitute an offence against decency or morals. I would rather have public policy being taken by the horns by the current Minister responsible for justice rather than shoving the responsibility for such a serious matter to the courts.

Jean Gove'

Feb 6th, 20:03

Clearly, most passengers, most of the commentators here are far more outraged by the act of violence than by the public manifestations of homosexuality (the extent of which we do not know; it could have been no more than cuddling, in which case, it barely qualifies as any kind of sexual behaviour). And in fact to bring up this kind of issue when homosexuals are attacked, one inevitably suspects that a sort of contrived justification of the violence is on its way.

Whether public morality and decency ought to be decided by a Justice Minister or by the public themselves seems to me to have an obvious answer.

J. Grima

Feb 6th, 20:16

As opposed to having one person (the minister) deciding what exactly constitutes public decency. Of course why should we give responsibility to the courts...it's not like it is part of their jobs. But then bigots would not have a rallying cry.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:50

I can tell you what should be the decision of a magistrate. The expression of homosexual affection is not a crime against morals or public decency. Stop imposing your narrow-minded view of morality on the rest of us. We want equal rights. End of matter. And we will get them despite the Church and GonziPN.

m borg

Feb 6th, 19:16

Zmien il-buzullotti spicca LOL !

Karl Consiglio

Feb 6th, 19:49

Hekk hu, filfatt kecewh.

Paul Giordimaina

Feb 7th, 06:30

Sur Chetcuti milli jider int taf hafna ghax il hin kollu tikteb fuq gazzetta li kontu hraqtu.Issa inhallu fidejk biex tiehu hsieb dawn laffarijiet ghax mid dehra tifem hafnaaaa.

C Cassar

Feb 6th, 19:12

Well done Arriva for firing this nasty piece of work. It's a shame the Maltese have so many problems adapting to a civilised society usiing a modern transport system. It's time that experienced personnel were brought in from other parts of the EU to fully run the transport system in Malta. The locals are totally incapable.

T Gauci

Feb 6th, 20:48

Modern seriously what's so modern about arriva as far as i can tell there's nothing different except a new fleet of buses and disastrous managing. besides, you don't have to call Maltese incapable because others are worse than us.

Andrew Cumbo

Feb 6th, 19:10

Sa fejn naf jien il- ministru Austin Gatt qal li zmien il-buzulotti spicca !!

Karl Consiglio

Feb 6th, 19:47

Yes, in fact they fired him.

Francis Farrugia

Feb 6th, 19:06

BROKEN THE CONDITIONS OF A PREVIOUS RELEASE AND PROBATION. WHO WERE THE INTERVIEWERS WHO EMPLOYED HIM. WITH A PREVIOUS COURT SENTENCE.??????????? ARRIVA....ARRIVA.....ARRIVA. ARA GEJJA....HA HA HA

Paul Felice

Feb 6th, 22:52

It was a horrible accident, and he should pay for assault but especially for "bullying" (intimidating) other people and promoting anti-democratic values.

karl john

Feb 6th, 19:05

proset arriva u lill- austin gatt tal bidla :)

Karl Consiglio

Feb 6th, 19:48

Whats your problem, this guy was fired

Julian Zammit

Feb 6th, 19:50

In this case Arriva is not to blame for the incident. It is the incompetence of certain locals within the system that brought about such violence. A certain level of professionalism is expected in any job; the bus driver may have not been on the job but was still representing the company, even more so, on one of their own buses.

While what happened is rather unclear, words may be slung around but violence in disagreement should never be condoned. Arriva handled the situation well as far as I'm concerned. The foreign company need bear no fault arising from its employees actions. It is the individual who is to blame not the company, get your facts straight.

Austin Gatt on the other hand...another issue altogether.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:50

Karl, he should not have been employed in the first instance. Arriva failed again.

Steve Zammit

Feb 6th, 21:45

Arriva was a succes Joseph !! I think you prefer black fumes and a stone age service do you? Get real

Malcolm Mizzi

Feb 6th, 22:47

Joseph, why shouldn't a person with past criminal record not be given the opportunity to work again? if no one employs people with past criminal records, there would only be an increase in crimes so that they can get the money they need, hence increasing both the danger to the general public and the expenses on the taxpayers when he is put back in prison for another criminal act. if you don't give the ex- convicts the opportunity to change they won't be able to change.

Karl Consiglio

Feb 6th, 23:20

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti,

So you would have predicted the guy doing this and not employed him?

Charles J. Buttigieg

Feb 6th, 18:55

I don’t have all the facts so I’ll pass no comment on the incident per se. I would however remark that it is not very decent for a couple to demonstrate their sexual feelings in public, irrespective of their sexual orientations.

Michele Buttigieg

Feb 6th, 19:04

i imagine you've never kissed your partner in public, or held her/his hand, or told her/him you loved her/him ? what a load of rubbish! it's 2012 not 1512 =/

Jo Grima

Feb 6th, 19:25

Charles are you by any chance 800 years old, Come on get a life !!

Jean Gove'

Feb 6th, 20:07

Completely irrelevant, and dangerous, point to make when someone has been assaulted for "indecency". There is absolutely no justification for violence. Indecency is another topic that can be discussed, but it is disgraceful that it should be raised within the context of this case.

Angus Black

Feb 6th, 20:57

Your comments seem like they are gaining in popularity Charles J.

Keep it up.

Victor Boyde

Feb 6th, 22:53

Mr Charles J Buttigieg, are you for real?? You open your comment with the words "I DON'T HAVE THE FACTS SO I'LL PASS NO COMMENT ON THE INCIDENT". Then, with your next breath you make a remark on the people involved?? Were you on the bus at that time? What a space cadet!!!

John L Galea

Feb 7th, 09:12

I never heard of a hetero couple being bashed. We see a lot of them showing affection in public around us all the time.

Mr Joseph Busuttil

Feb 6th, 18:48

Arriva arriva

Jeffrey Mallia

Feb 6th, 18:46

U hallikom mil politika..........Il poplu taghna injorant kien u injorant jibqa............fullstop.

Francis Sammut

Feb 6th, 19:49

Speak for yourself Mr. Jeffrey Mallia. I detest your insinuation.

Ms Lucia Davies

Feb 6th, 18:41

tuza vjolenza mi tajba ghal hadd,, pero hemm vjolenza verbali wkoll, ghalhekk ma tistax takkuza wiehed u l ohra le,, min ma kienx hemm ma jistax jghid x'gara,,, u din ta only in Malta qazziztu lil kullhadd biha, tidru li qatt ma ghextu barra,, dawn ghaffarijiet li jigru kullimkien qisna ahna biss ikollna problemi,,

Mark Formosa

Feb 6th, 19:14

I agree 100%

Mr B Busuttil

Feb 6th, 19:49

Amen!

hawn hafna nies qiesom qatt ma raw xejn...

R. Gauci

Feb 6th, 18:23

I'm starting to miss the old bus drivers!!

Joscar Camilleri

Feb 6th, 18:18

Imma ma ghandnix inwahhlu fil Ministru ghax mija fil mija li naf 2 deputati tal labour li daqs kemm irrangaw huma biex idahhlu nies minn taht zgur li il Ministru ma jiehux it tort ta dawn ukoll

lilly vella

Feb 6th, 18:41

insibu l jobs mill oppozizzjoni ahseb u ara mill gvern.

mark borg

Feb 6th, 19:40

ghax ma tarax kemm isiru telefonati kuljum min segretarji ta ministri (imhalsin mit taxxi tghana kemm is segretarji u it telephonati) biex idahhlu lil nieshom, f'ghexieren ta kumpanniji privati kuljum !

V. Cauchi

Feb 6th, 18:17

The facts of this and similar cases clearly shows people are disgusted with public manifestations of non conforming sexuality. This is not like divorce, where it is something you can enter into or ignore as a private affair, but it is a matter affecting public morality which has always been, and is still, defended by the laws and the Police.
Let's face it. Public opprobrium is being caused by open homosexuality and no matter what words we import from liberal Europe, the majority of the public do not want it on our streets. The duty of the State is to go by God's laws and its own laws of public morality based on it. Only that violence is to be condemned, but let us not forget that the State, or Minister responsible for justice, should learn from what is going on in this regard. Namely that, the majority of people, young or old, do not like these manifestations in public and the fact that a few minorities speak out does not mean that we are going to have a de facto introduction of European-made laws based on utterly unchristian concepts.
One thing I can say. I have now been put off from voting Labour due to their LGBT group and recognition. In a similar way I do not accept PN stalwarts marching along in gay demonstrations just to show the party is "with it". I also know this disappointment is widespread though few opt to speak out against their party.
And this our silence and blindfolded kow-towing to European/ modernist concepts may ultimately show the real stuff we are made of and loyalty to befuddled foreign idols which drive us away from God of our forefathers. Christians, speak out!

Jo Grima

Feb 6th, 19:30

another ...adam and eve and a talking snake believer !! wake up, we are moving forward not backwards

JP Bajada

Feb 6th, 19:47

tsk tsk...you call yourself a Christian?? ' If you call yourself a Christian then this should be familiar Matt 7:1 Don't judge, lest to be judged'. Kulhadd ghadu xi tibna jew travu x'jara!

Jean Gove'

Feb 6th, 20:09

Shame.

Michael Borg

Feb 6th, 18:07

x ghandu x jaqsam jekk kienu gays !!! violence is violence no matter if you are gay or not !!
fishing for votes nothing more

Simon Polidano

Feb 6th, 18:17

I agree with you, violence is violence... but why is this fishing for votes? because labour sticks up for the person and nationalists are scared to defy the church. Sorry but I'm (or actually WAS) nationalist and since coming out I have seen ZERO support from my political party. Labour (since joseph muscat became top dog) have taken the gay community more seriously than gozni has his whole term. If this is them fishing for votes they have mine!

Jon Fenech

Feb 6th, 18:00

Hlief kliem baxx ma smajtx.

Paul Giordimaina

Feb 7th, 06:42

Mr Polidano dont talk nonsense you were red and still is.Why you want the government to act evertytime that something happens,these things happens all the time and previous governments didnt do anything so why now?.

joseph azzopardi

Feb 6th, 17:41

Tista` l-Arriva tghidilna jekk id-driver kienx wiehed mill-antiki?

Steve Pace

Feb 6th, 18:17

What difference does it make ?

J Craig

Feb 6th, 17:41

these things happen everywhere. The difference is maybe that if it was a Labour government and the driver was a canvasser of xi Lorry Sant jew hekk he would have never been taken to court!! That's the difference.....Thank God!

Giov DeMartino

Feb 6th, 17:55

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROMOTED

Nazzareno Cortis

Feb 6th, 18:29

@ Demartino-----like the promotions that the PN gave to those police after the election-----do you remember???? better close your big mouth and remedy the problems that one of your parlamentarian has said about your leader!!!

Guido Farrugia

Feb 6th, 18:34

Your comment is so pathetic, in fact Mr. Demartino agreed and followed.

mark borg

Feb 6th, 21:34

tista ma issemix nies li mghadhomx mghana ! u ara l-erbgha helwin li jigru ma il ministrri tal pn fosthom b'mahfra presidentiali !!!!!!

Rudolf Camilleri

Feb 6th, 17:38

The driver should have behaved in a civilised manner in calming down the situation. If unsuccessful, he should have called the police.

Ġ. Agius

Feb 6th, 17:27

the worst thing is the blasphemy

I propose short jail sentences for both of them. Scratches on the face and bruises to the hips come and go, but the tarnish of a blasphemy can only be redeemed by confession and a penance, like 2 or 3 days in jail.

Joseph Borg

Feb 6th, 17:42

Are you serious G. Agius, if that was the case i reckon a good 95% of the Maltese population will be in jail!! Come on, get serious!!!

Luke Lanzon

Feb 6th, 17:58

I can't beleive people like you. If you were to have it your way most of the country would be in prison with life sentences.

M Ellul

Feb 6th, 18:14

Good one Agius! Joke of the year perhaps?

Matthew Camilleri

Feb 6th, 18:25

Kliem baxx fil-pubbliku huwa dejjem projbit, u ghalkemm ma naghqbilx li titfa persuna fi-habs dejjem hu xieraq li tehel multa. Billi hawn hafna Maltin li jidghu u jitkellmu ahzin ma jfissirx li hi xi haga tajba. Minix persuna li niskrupla ruhi, imma mhux l-ewwel darba li tqazzit b'certu kliem li jibda hireg min fomm certu nies!!!

Ronald Cauchi

Feb 6th, 18:25

Is this a joke? You mean words are worse than a bruise and a scratch. If you do, You can swear at me and ill be happy to scratch your face and bruise your hips.

Steve Busuttil

Feb 6th, 19:07

In that case Mr Agius go to ALL festas and fine every person who is heard swearing. Go to the stadium and fine every person who swears, what the hell just stand in the street and you will be busy for a very long time!!!

But i hope this was just a bit of humour!!!!

Lawrence Camilleri

Feb 6th, 19:44

agree 100% except for jailing. Those who uttered blasphemous words in public too should be punished and severely, This vocal misbehaviour in public leads one to guess huw much their behaviour in the bus was becoming..

Jo Grima

Feb 7th, 10:16

how is it we havn't yet heard of this G. Agizus yet ??

Hossam Helwani

Feb 6th, 17:25

sigh sigh sigh

This film shows a lot more than we think. While the behaviour of the driver is not on. The driver should be well trained to control himself and be dignified, on the other hand the behaviour of the girl is also disgusting. She is visibly and could be well heard provoking the driver.

I dont want to sound as sexist, but women think that they are by divine right untouchable and out of bounds.

The equality law is very clear that men and women are equal and women should start behaving well too.

It is common that women say and do what they like , drive how they like because by nature they believe men should be courteous towards them.

Charles Mangion

Feb 6th, 17:24

All i could hear was the girl swearing ad calling the driver dirty names there are 2 side of the story being a women does not entittle you to get away and provoke any one C.Mangion

Fenech MD

Feb 6th, 17:23

If one stops the video at 1:31 one can see the man wiping his face. Maybe the woman scratched his face and he reacted on impulse, like pushing her away. They were both hidden and unless one was present one cannot say for sure even because the video is not so good.

The article says this may be a case of homophobia. It seems that the women were doing something that upset the man something . I have many friends and I do not condemn them for what they do in private; it's their life after all, but even hetero people get on my nerves kissing and almost doing on a bus for all to see. There's a limit for decency.

Again I cannot say what the ladies were doing; maybe the man felt he should stop them from what they were doing because he felt it was his duty as an Arriva official.

Let's not judge. Let's leave that to the law courts.

Joseph Borg

Feb 6th, 17:20

Arriva should sue him also!!! Shame on you!!!!!!

Andrew Cachia

Feb 6th, 17:19

Another case of lots of people commenting and passing judgement on what is now a criminal case, relying on a grainy piece of footage (which clearly doesn't include the whole episode), and of course not knowing the full story.

Let the courts decide.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Feb 6th, 20:52

We all have ears to hear and eyes to see. If the two girls did anything wrong he should have called the police and not take the law into his hands. Comments like yours show what a jungle Malta still is.

m farrugia

Feb 6th, 17:13

ma tantx hemm tiggudika, immaterjali it tort ta min hu, tal mistija, u mhux ghax grat fuq larirva, xeni simili issibu ta kuljum go pajjizna, pajjiz medjokru.

Paul Gauci

Feb 6th, 17:13

"broken the conditions of a previous release and probation."

Now that says it all. Arriva should be more careful on who to employ.

adrian attard

Feb 6th, 17:12

What was the girl doing?

Karl Consiglio

Feb 6th, 23:30

Ye that is what I would like to know.

J. Mifsud

Feb 6th, 17:10

The driver was rightly so taken to court, but was the so called lady booked? She was also guilty of breaking the peace. Although the men should have never used violence, the girl was provoking them. Women should not use their status (as the weaker sex) to provoke men. Had it been a young man who was thrown to the ground the story would have ended differently. Are we equal or not?

VINCENT WILLIAMS

Feb 6th, 17:06

As a regular commuter I agree 100 per cent with the action taken by Arriva and that action was also taken by the police.

Arriva should be very attentive and careful whom the company employ. Such cases do not deserve to happen to any passssenger using the public transport and may also harm the tourist industry like it happened in the past.

No Arriva employee has the right to whip or fight with any passenger for whatever the reason may be. More and more against girls of 17 and 21 years old.

Frans Aguis

Feb 6th, 17:03

Hey maybe now we can see footage from the Arriva cameras!

Silvio Mizzi

Feb 6th, 17:00

only in malta ????

Mark Frankalanza

Feb 6th, 17:21

Clifford Grech

Feb 6th, 17:25

These things happen everywhere. Stop throwing mud at your own country.

Joseph Camilleri

Feb 6th, 17:51

@Mizzi

Your comment shows the lack of intelligence, and your lack of travel in other countries :) Miskin.

Sammy Vella

Feb 6th, 16:59

"We have a zero tolerance policy for violence and a very clear diversity policy," a spokesman for the company said.. can this Company official say what tollerance do they have for drivers smoking or talking on the mobile phone while driving a bus with passengers onboard?

Ryan Agius

Feb 6th, 16:55

Fejnu sur Austin Gatt hali jghidilna kif iz zmien tal buzuluti spicca mhux hekk kien qal li spicca zmien tal buzuluti ghax buzulota iktar min din qatt ma rajt jien fuq ta l vetturi l antiki.... Mbasta kollna kumidji u teatrini lum l gurnata biex sejrin mil hazin ghal ghar mhux nirangaw sitwazjoni ima narquwa

Mark Frankalanza

Feb 6th, 17:23

Id differenza hi li qabel ma kien jigri xejn. Issa id dispatcher tkecca u jrid imur jirregistra.

K. Vella

Feb 6th, 17:27

Ryan, id-differenza hi li issa wiehed jista jitkecca meta wiehed jaghmel eghmil bhal dan.

Ghaliex problema tipprova ddawarha f'wahda politika?

Ikber pls. u kun matur. Grazzi

raymond scicluna

Feb 6th, 17:41

X ghandu x jaqsam issa l ministru!! anzi jekk trid tkun oggettiv ghandek tghid li ghalkemm kien ricediv u taht probation inghatatlu okazzjoni ohra u rega falla. Mela allura kull haddiem tal gvern li jizbalja jehel il prim ministru!!mela jekk tirraguna hekk kulma taghmel hazin responsabbli missierek mhux int. Il verita hija wahda certa nies ma jridu jikbru qatt.

Joseph Camilleri

Feb 6th, 17:55

@ Ryan Aguiu

The difference is that before, on the old bus system, these things use to happen however never reported... Believe me that in 21 years of using the old bus system EVERY DAY to school and to work, I have seen ALOT of buzulloti, and FAR worse then what is being reported in this news item...

Today, thanks to the present government (la darba iddecidejt ddahhal il politika) the driver has been fired, and also taken to court where he has faced the necessary charges against him, unlike before... where NOTHING use to happen.

Moreover, that is why Austin Gatt said 'zmien il buzzulotti spicca' ...qabel kollox kien jaghddi, today... well, this article reflects well what the transport minister who had the balls to change the old bus system meant with 'zmien il buzulotti spicca' ...!

Hope this makes you happy Mr. Aguis, and stop being a typical Maltese gem gem.

Fleur Spiteri

Feb 6th, 16:54

Lots of shouting still does not give him the right to practically throw her off the bus !! Have you seen this video ??

Jesmar Cremona

Feb 6th, 16:47

Pero milli jidher hu ukoll sofra xi daqqa ghax jidher izomm imniehru, forsi ireagixxa u ghalhekk imbuttaha! Hadd m'ghandu jiggudika ghax hadd ma jista' jghid x'reazzjoni jista' jkollok. Nahseb l-Arriva ghaglu li keccewh!

Victor Pulis

Feb 6th, 16:45

There are ways and ways how to deal with irrate clients. Telling them to 'Gibu ruhkom sura ta'nies!" is not exactly a calming measure. Arriva should organise courses in anger management and diplomacy. The wrong choice of words can turn a smouldering ember into an inferno especially with passengers who have been tested since July. At some point the camel's back will break and it only takes a straw.

Joseph Borg

Feb 6th, 16:41

Well done Arriva. A prompt action . That is how it should be with these bullies.
Now I hope the police will continue with her duties on this case and bring him to justice.

Carmel camilleri

Feb 6th, 16:40

So this bus driver lost his job without a proper investigation. Seeing youtube it was the woman who provoked him and made most of shouting.

Roxanne Palla

Feb 6th, 16:55

It's irrelevant who provoked whom in the first place... You can't justify his action!!!! Shame on him!!!

Liam Caruana

Feb 6th, 17:01

Carmel: Jekk xi hadd jigi jipprovokak, taqbad u tiehu l-ligi b'idejk?

Joseph Calleja

Feb 6th, 17:09

You might have a point there? Provoking is just as violent.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 6th, 17:12

A person, a human being has a braking point and this could have been it. Sometimes people can do more damage with their tongue than with their fists. Been there done that. I think both parties should be investigated and let the courts decide the outcome.

Joseph Borg

Feb 6th, 17:13

Before coming to a conclusion you should have known the real fact first.
No one can conclude from a clip which was not clear to see.

Victor Pulis

Feb 6th, 16:40

Minghajr ma niggudika ghax ma kontx hemm nikkonkludi li zmien il buzullotti spicca!

albert galea

Feb 6th, 16:26

Dawn huma lipjegati edukati u gentili tal ARRIVA ? Qable konna nghdu li kenna nies psatas u ta qattani fit transport publiku

Amante Reale

Feb 6th, 16:52

Kieku dan il-kas gara fis-sitwazzjoni li kellna qabel xejn ma kien jigri . Issa il-persuna tkeccit. Nahseb anke int tista tara kif is-sitwazzjoni avvanzat ghall-ahjar.

Francis Coquelin

Feb 6th, 16:56

Tkunx vojt!

Mr Joe Micallef

Feb 6th, 16:57

Le Galea, kontra qabel dawn huma l'impjegati li jitkecew minhabba l'imgieba tahhom.

Alan Xuereb

Feb 6th, 17:05

Minghajr ma niggudika lill hadt, nemmen li hadt ma jghamel xejn ghal xejn. U tnejn hziena mhux ha jaghmlu wahda tajba. Mill kliem li stajt nisma, fuq il video,l-imjegat kien qed jigi provokat, ukoll beda jighd 'biex toqghod bhal nies'. Forsi qabel hadt ma kien jaghmel arja ghax kif ghidt inti stess, taf x'tip ta nies kelna.

Sammy Vella

Feb 6th, 17:23

Sur Reale, ma nahsibx li qed tghid ir realta.. Iccekkja naqra ir records u tara kemm xufiera minn ta meta (skond xihadd) konna zmien il kummiedji u tara kemm xufiera ittellghu il qorti u gew immultati u dahansitra tilfu il licenzja

Fran Abela

Feb 6th, 16:24

The Dispatcher should have kept calm all the time - despite any provocation. He should have been well trained to deal with difficult passengers and believe me there are many. I know what I am saying because several times I have seen passengers really being spiteful and passing on comments about the bus, and its employees. I repeat the Dispatcher should have not lost control. I think it would have been very civic minded if the person who took the pictures - probably on a mobile - would have had the foresight to call Arriva and report the incident there and then and maybe it would degenerated in that way. The girl/s also seem to have lost control judging by the foul language they were using.

Alan Xuereb

Feb 6th, 17:07

Was he a trained ninja? We don't know all the story, maybe he was defending himself.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 6th, 17:15

It looks to me from the video that the driver got hit in the mouth? By whom and why? To me it all depends on who stated getting physical first, after all a person has a right to defend himself or herself if physically attacked.

Albert Farrugia

Feb 6th, 16:17

As far as I know there is still a Police Force in Malta. They should have been contacted immediately, especially considering the fact that this apparently happened like 300m from Police HQ! And wasn't there supposed to be I don't what super-high tech mambo-jumbo cameras and hardware on board the bus, precisely to pin down passengers who are a nuisance to others? The Arriva service is now slowly settling down to a "normal" transport service of the type we are used to in Malta: shabby buses, rude staff, terrible driving...a very through reform it has been.

Alan Xuereb

Feb 6th, 17:07

LIKE.

Victor Vella

Feb 6th, 16:10

Whatever the case the customer is always right. The bus dispatcher is always at fault . If this happened abroad that dispatcher is already unemployed.

Mr John Borg

Feb 6th, 16:10

Wearing a uniform makes people think they are cowboys and above the law

The dispatcher should have calmed the situation down politely and with manners irrespective of how rude or not the other person was. If not he should have called the police.

Mandy Schembri

Feb 6th, 16:10

Whatever happened on that bus he should have been sensible enough to talk it out with her one to one and not make a whole scene in front of everyone. Apart from this, it is shameful and ridiculous that he even had the guts to hit a girl. I think Arriva should start giving their employees some manner lessons...we used to complain about the previous bus drivers but these are none better (speaking about the majority that is).

Andrew Cachia

Feb 6th, 17:06

Isn't it shameful to hit anyone Mandy, regardless of whether its a man or a woman?

A Bezzina

Feb 6th, 16:08

X'misthija ...

Antoniette Schembri

Feb 6th, 16:07

@B.Attard: Skond il-video jien hafna mil-hin is-seat kont qed nara.

Jeff Mead

Feb 6th, 16:07

This is better then the London Palladium - its live and KICKING.

cheryl attard

Feb 6th, 15:58

Jiena kont hemm meta grat il-glieda u nista nghid li it-tfajla ma ghamlet xejn hlief wigbet lil-haddiem tal-arriva li kien ilu jghajjat maghha mill-imsida. Lanqas li kieku ghamlet x'ghamlet ma kellu dritt jghidilha biex "nohorgu barra" (qed jistedina ghal glied) u jghamel li ghamel. Qabel ma tikkummentaw u tghatu tort lit-tfajla araw ftit x'gara please u biex inkun cara jin lill-ebda mill-partijiet ma naf jew qatt rajtom. Li rrid nghid hu li araw ftit x'gara qabel titkellmu u takkuzaw.

J. Camilleri

Feb 6th, 15:56

Ghamlet x'ghamelt Qatt ma ghandu jerfa idu fuqha jew jistidina ghal glied...... Wara kollox ghandu jkun hemm rispett lejn id -dinjita tal-persuni ikoncernati.... u haga ohra dawn qedghin biex jaghtu servizz, vera xi kultant il-kliejenti f'dan il kaz passigieri, jistghu ma jkunu the best passengers..... Imma still qatt ma kellu jkaxkara !!!!!!!! Nuqqas ta' Inteligenza u edukazzjoni....

W Cassar

Feb 6th, 15:54

That's why I don't take the bus!

karl valletta

Feb 6th, 15:52

La Suppost Hemm il cameras fuq l-arriva ghandom jiccekjaw u jaraw xkien qed jigri .

John Bonnici

Feb 6th, 15:50

the most that should be done by the dispatcher is to have her get down from the bus and leave her stranded. but not pick up a fight with her, although she provoked him with her words.

Adrian Said

Feb 6th, 15:50

In my opinion he acted very badly and in an unprofessional way. But she provoked him very well, with the excuse of 'democracy'. maybe it's better if she goes and look up what democracy is all about!!

Joseph Vassallo

Feb 6th, 15:49

Whatever the cause it should have never escalated to such level. Moreover as someone employed and trusted to work with people he should have dealt with the situation better. There are firms and organisations here in Malta which as part of their employee training they prepare them to deal with these situations.

I could not understand if the two knew each other or not. Maybe there is more than customer service here +/- the two were in some relationship trouble. Whatever the cause he did wrong to handle the situation in that manner.

Mr Joseph Azzopardi

Feb 6th, 15:46

I really hope that dispatcher is fired for such behaviour. And yes, the case should be investigated because the argument may not have been his fault, but a man should never hit a woman. That's a big no no in my books.

Michele Buttigieg

Feb 6th, 15:45

what a disgrace! shameful whether they were being rude or not, you do not lift your hands up, at another human being!

Adrian Attard Trevisan

Feb 6th, 15:41

@B.Attard . I agree that the woman was not the most polite of clients .. but Arriva will need ot issue an apology for that incident . Arriva is there to offer a service ( a service that is being granted by the maltese people that allowed it to offer its services in a monopolistic way on the maltese road!) . If such an apology is not issued by Arriva , it would just mean that the company approves the behaviour of its employee and is supporting such abuses on its service . Transport Malta ( the regulatory body ) should also issue a statement on the issue.

R Cauchi

Feb 6th, 15:34

The girl should be ashamed, using foul language and attacking the dispatcher! Hopefully she will be found and charged!!

Andrew Farrugia

Feb 6th, 15:54

lol are you living in a parallel dimension ? you should be ashamed for writing such comment.

cheryl attard

Feb 6th, 16:02

Are you even serious? How can you talk in such a way if you don't even know what happened? I was there and I am in a position to say that the girl did absolutely nothing except reply back to the dispatcher who kept telling her to 'behave' when clearly she wasn't doing anything wrong. Would you want to be charged for defending yourself? After all he was the one who asked her to fight. Some people seriously need to think before they talk.

Rachel Seychell

Feb 6th, 16:33

kif tista tghid hekk jekk lanqas taf kif gara l-kaz. Jien naf lit-tfajliet u huma tfajliet tal-affari taghhom. Nahseb li jigi bniedem u jaqbad joffendi u jaghti daqqiet ma nahsibx li ha tibqa lura. Kun af il-fatti qabel ma titkellem ghax minghajr ma taf weggajt hafna l-vittimi.

Ms Mari Bor

Feb 6th, 16:36

are you serious?!

he should never challenged her for a fight!

I hope HE will be found and CHARGED!

shame on people like you, who argue in such a manner!

Jes Farrugia

Feb 6th, 17:15

Ms Bor in my opinion the three of them should be charged.The driver for attacking the lady, the lady for foul language and the other passenger for swearing besides that the 3 of them disrupted public order.

Michele Buttigieg

Feb 6th, 19:09

lol you should be ashamed, here's a tip go to your internet router and burn it and never replace it! :)

Bernard Pollacco

Feb 6th, 15:33

tikkumentawx bit-teoriji jekk ma kontux emm...

B Attard

Feb 6th, 15:25

Skond il-video t-tfajla ma tantx dehret li qed iggib ruhha sew.

Jo debono

Feb 6th, 15:32

Ghamlet x'ghamlet it tfajla, id dispatcher, Qatt ma kellu jerfa idu fuqha (jekk hemm fil fatt ghamel)!! Barra dan jekk tara l kummenti jista jkunli dan hu kaz ta Omofobija (li minnha hawn hafna f'dan il-pajjiz). Anke li kieku, qatt u qatt ma kellu jaghmel hekk u jistieden il-glied, allura qis sew qabel ma tiddeciedi li tparla!

Mr r ebejer

Feb 6th, 15:42

gifiri int qed tghid li kellhu dritt jerfa' jdejh fuqha ghax ma gabitx ruhha sew? apparti li tfajla, meta tkun xoghol dawn il- kummiedji MA TISTAX taghmilhom (lanqas jekk ma tkunx xoghol ahseb u ara) filkas stenna l- konsegwenzi.

Mr James Caruana

Feb 6th, 15:42

that is hard to tell - the quality of the video itself is grainy. and if you read the top comments, you'll realize that the argument may have been going on for quite a while (from Msida until Scout's HQ apparently), and it was actually started by the dispatcher, if what people are saying is true...

Andrew Farrugia

Feb 6th, 15:52

kieku ma gabitx ruha sew jejdila li qed tikser il policies u jekk kisret il ligijiet jaghvza lil pulizija. dan dispatcher ta mhux detective.

Ms Mari Bor

Feb 6th, 16:34

B.ATTARD

SHAME ON YOU! SHAME!

Simon Polidano

Feb 6th, 18:19

Missek tisthi titkellem hekk....

Mr A Bonello

Feb 6th, 15:23

looks like someones lost his job!

Jonathan Scerri

Feb 6th, 15:34

Don't count on it. In this country nobody ever assumes responsibility.
SOME Arriva staff are simply arrogant. Most others are helpful.

Mr A Bonello

Feb 6th, 17:11

@J Scerri (Mr Angry Doom and Gloom) ..........well well so he did loose his job after all

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Update 2: Bus incident - Driver loses his job and ends up in court

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