Update 2: New ministry reaction - The Transport Ministry this morning hit out at comments on the bus service made yesterday by shadow minister Marthese Portelli, but did not answer her question about whether the current bus operator has special rates on diesel used in the buses.
The ministry later explained that this is not a contractual aspect between the ministry, Transport Malta and the operator.
"This is a commercial aspect and any questions about the matter, need to be asked to Malta Public Transport," the ministry said.
Dr Portelli in her comments in Parliament asked whether Spanish-owned Malta Public Transport is getting special rates on the diesel used by the buses.
She said such an arrangement, if confirmed, would be scandalous for two reasons - the first because the Maltese were continuing to pay high rates for their fuel, and the second because MPT was already being given a subsidy of €30 million, three times as much as used to be given to Arriva.
Dr Portelli recalled that before the general election, Labour used to say that the people deserved more from the bus service.
One, therefore, was left to wonder how much more the people expected now, that the subsidy had trebled.
But the sorry fact was that the service had deteriorated. Buses were infrequent, routes and trips had become longer, and timetables were not observed.
It was a disgrace, she said, that the minister had said that the bus operating company was not being fined for shortcomings, because the important thing was that the service improved.
It was true that the service needed to be improved. One could also accept a grace period before fines started to be imposed, but MPT, owned by Autobuses de Leon, had been operating the service for two years now - and they were quick to fine their own drivers when they felt they needed to.
Dr Portelli also hit out at Transport Minister Joe Mizzi for not having tabled the government's agreement with Autobuses de Leon. He had promised to publish it in the House after the Christmas recess 14 months ago, but another Christmas had come and gone and the agreement had still not been made public.
MINISTRY'S REACTION
In its reaction, the Transport Ministry said the opposition was showing it was not interested in an improved bus service.
The Transport Ministry never said that the service will be perfect from the word go- Ministry
"The Transport Ministry never said that the service will be perfect from the word go, but it is absolutely not true that the service is a failure as Dr Portelli is trying to allege. The Opposition's negativity will not do any good if one really wants public transport to get on its feet."
It said the bus service was a failure under the former government when, despite the subsidy, the operator was bankrupt, the service was bad and bendy buses went up in flames.
Although the current service had not reached the desired standard, hard work was being put in for matters to improve, with the focus being on punctuality and timely information to commuters, the ministry said.
Under the new operator, 24 new routes were introduced, 43 routes were modified, more drivers were recruited and 143 new buses were bought. The buses were now covering 2.5 million kilometers per year more than last year, an increase of 400 trips per day.
The opposition had done nothing other that sow doubt and negativity among the people, the ministry said, adding that it would continue to insist with the operator that it should provide an acceptable level of service.