As a frequent visitor to Malta, I have noticed a rapid deterioration in the bus service since the takeover by the Spanish company.

Timetables seem to be complete fiction. There is an absence of inspectors.

Passengers are allowed to stand by the exit. Some buses now have no indication of where you are, or where the next stop is.

One could say this is the result of letting a country with little or no experience run the busy public transport service.

It is quite obvious that in Spain,they are not used to running a high-volume service in conditions of heavy traffic.

It should be realised that the bus service is critical for tourists in Malta. You do not expect to have two buses of the same number arrive together and then have a half hour wait for the next one.

The government needs to involve some penalty clauses in the running of the system.