Transport Minister Joe Mizzi has rejected a proposal for Mercedes to certify the Arriva bendy buses this was the manufacturer which supplied the buses. 

In comments to the Press, Mr Mizzi said it had been agreed with Arriva that the buses would be inspected and certified by an independent, internationally certified institution. However Mercedes was unacceptable because it was the manufacturer of the buses.

He said plans would continue for the bus routes to be revamped in November.

The bendy buses, he said, would remain off the roads until the government and Transport Malta were assured of their safety. Measures were being taken to ensure that the use of private coaches on the bus routes would not affect service to schools once the scholastic year opens.

Talks between the government, Transport Malta and Arriva are expected to continue next week when a senior official from the bus company's Germany parent company comes to Malta.